DLA helps Air Force's images

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  From looking for banners, signs or displays to decals, magnets or labels and anything in between, large or small, the Defense Logistics Agency Document Services at Travis is here to help.

DLA, formerly known as the Document Automation and Production Service, is the Department of Defense's primary source for document automation and printing. The Travis DLA is solely responsible for the production of all decals such as personal car decals, aircraft tails, military vehicles and all unit and squadrons not only for the Air Force, but for all branches of the military as well as the Army Corps of Engineers and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

DLA is able print graphics for customers on a variety of materials such as canvas or plexiglass to fit their needs.

"We also have board stock where we can print on aluminum or plywood," said Kathy Kruczek, DLA Document Services graphics artist. "If a customer thinks of a material to print on that we don't have, we are able to order it in."

Unique to Travis, the shop is the only one that does decals on their large format printer.

"With our Scitex Flatbed Printer, we are able to print directly onto the material and double-sided if needed so there is no mounting required." Kruczek said. "This reduces the cost and turnaround time on our products."

Decals are only one aspect of the DLA's job, they are also responsible for providing traditional offset printing, distribution, on-demand output and an online customer interface. DLA Document Services is also able to mass produce black and white documents and binding for other projects.

DLA also makes labeling for boxed meals, said Lealand Sanchez, DLA Document Services lead.

"We print the instructions on how to heat and prepare the meals as well as discarding any (hazardous materials)," he said. "We do what we can to help the military, whether it be from training or classroom material to in weapons or construction instructions, we get the material ready for use."

With the Air Force converting from Jet Propellant-8 to Jet A, DLA is there helping all the way.

"This is a major project for us as we make all new fuel markings," Kruczek said. "Everything needs to be clearly marked with the new fuel."

DLA is open from 5:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information on DLA Document services or questions on products, call 424-1436. Customers can also submit a work order at www.dso.documentservices.dla.mil.

"We serve a variety of customers worldwide," Sanchez said. "From Japan to Europe, we want everyone to be able to have person to person contact when they need to reach us."