MTMC welcomes DoD recruits to the military
Each year, an average of 250,000 recruits enter the armed forces. It is the responsibility of the Military Traffic Management Command to arrange transportation for these new members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard from reception stations to their initial training installations.
You have probably seen the young recruits at airports.
A group leader is carrying a score or more of brown envelopes with administrative records -- new military recruits follow on behind
"We play a pivotal role for the military said Gail Andrews, of MTMC's Recruit Movement Branch. "We move the recruits in a safe, efficient and standardized fashion."
The branch coordinates all transportation from the Military Entrance Processing Station to any of 11 basic training sites around the country.
"We play an important role for the military," said Gail Andrews an 11-year veteran. "This may be the recruits first time away from home and we want it to be a positive experience."
The Passenger Standing Route Order Program was established in the 1960s to provide strong standards and control in recruit transportation. Route orders include carriers' schedules, fares, ticket instructions, recruit guidance and other pertinent information.
These route orders make use of airlines, bus companies, Amtrak and sometimes combinations of modes of transportation.
By synchronizing transportation actions, the command saves an estimated $10 million a year. Negotiations for savings have become more difficult with the rising cost of fuel and industry's reluctance to support the Guaranteed Traffic Program. Recruits are processed through 62 Military Entrance Processing Stations across the country, many located in reduced traffic volume areas.
The Total Army Personnel Command recognized the need for a Personnel Assistance Point in Atlanta to assist recruits in route. About 60 percent of all recruits are Army and they all go through Atlanta to their basic training site.
"The recruits have our toll-free emergency number to call if they have problems in route but its great to have a military representative on site in Atlanta to assist these young men and women if they need help," said Andrews.
The cumbersome process of meal tickets is being replaced with meal checks. Working together, the Military Entrance Processing Command and MTMC has revised the process to issue checks at its stations to individual recruits for meals. The meal checks are a lot easier to use and accepted at more places.
"We are always looking for ways to make the process better," said Andrews.
For additional information, go the MTMC Web Page at www.mtmc.army.mil. Click on Transportation Services and then Travel Services. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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