FORT EUSTIS, Va. (USTCNS) --- Large, medium speed, roll-on/roll-off vessels just got faster and easier to load and unload.

No, the vessels have not been upgraded-the Deployment Support Command recently unveiled a new program that proactively familiarizes DSC port commanders, Reserve commanders, and operations officers in the loading of these vessels before an actual operation is underway.

From as far away as Alaska, the innovative training opportunity drew 26 of DSC's top transportation professionals to North Charleston, N.C., the home of DSC's 841st Transportation Battalion.

The idea for this type of hands-on training first sprung during one of the 841st's routine Army Prepositioned Stocks-Afloat cargo discharges in February 2000 from the Military Sealift Command's USNS Shughart.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Privratsky, commander of the Military Traffic Management Command, attended that offload and was so impressed with its speed and precision that he suggested sharing their methods.

Since the 841st has more LMSR experience than most DSC elements, it was a natural choice as training proponent, according to Clark Chambers, lead transportation operations specialist at the 841st, and one of the training planners. The training coincided with the loading operation of another LMSR prepo stock vessel, MSC's USNS Red Cloud.

"In designing this program, we wanted to familiarize DSC leaders with the LMSR by using both hands-on and classroom instruction," noted Maj. Dave Jones, 841st operations officer and action officer for the course. "The goal is to empower them with the information pertaining to LMSR terminal operations both for preposition and surge missions-within the Continental United States and in theater."

"This training is also designed to speed the loading process by ensuring everyone is familiar with many of the LMSRs unique characteristics ahead of time," said Chambers.

"Plus, sharing our experience and lessons learned will help DSC achieve standardization. Speed, safety, and precision are part of it, but so is reconciling every piece of cargo on the manifest with the stow plan-that's what we call 'the 100 percent solution,'" Chambers added.

Chambers explained that there are four classes of LMSRs. For the training, the 841st gleaned the most important information from the cargo manuals of each to produce a comprehensive LMSR user's manual.

"The concepts of loading, stow plan philosophy, and vessel history is unique to each class ship," said Chambers. "This information did not exist in one document before."

"That document, plus a port operations handbook we are developing, will assist the operators in getting the ships in and out of port quickly. Our customers will ultimately be the big winners from this training-it means they'll have their cargo even sooner than ever before."

The 841st's commander, Lt. Col. Michael Schiller, explained it well, "In terminal operations we are primarily concerned with two things--the movement of cargo, and the information associated with that cargo. What we have focused on with the LMSR training program and user's manual is providing transportation professionals with the tools to conduct rapid, safe, and efficient operations."

"This has been the most informative two days of training since I have been in the Army," said Maj. Greg Kandt, operations officer of the 834th Transportation Battalion, Concord, Calif. "Coming from a transporter's perspective, this course brought together all the significant factors in loading a ship.

"One would have to see it to believe how tightly this equipment is stowed. The tighter the stow, the more combat power we will be able to supply those warfighting CINC's on short notice," Kandt said.

"Top Notch!" was the overall impression of the training for Maj. Katherine Derrick, commander of the 956th Transportation Company, Anchorage, Alaska. "The training was well planned, executed, and most importantly, focused at the right audience."

"We usually don't get LMSRs in Alaska, but in the future I may very likely be part of a Deployment Support Team that will. This training helps me to be prepared for such a complex task," Derrick added.

"I think we hit a home run down in Charleston," said Brig. Gen. Donald D. Parker, DSC commander, commenting on the success of that session.

Parker noted that the outstanding results of that initial training promises the scheduling of an encore in November. Slated again for Charleston, that session will dovetail with the scheduled Pre-command Terminal Operations Course held at Fort Eustis, Va.

Attendees for the pre-command class will be able to travel to North Carolina and avail themselves of that valuable learning experience as well.

"We are looking at the student evaluation sheets from that first training and have found ways to add information and improve the sessions," said Chambers. "For starters, we are going to include more photographic examples to illustrate the unique characteristics in each LMSR class described in the LMSR users pamphlet."

Topics covered during this intensive training include LMSR history, the Integrated Computerized Deployment System-ICODES, cargo reception and staging, pre-stow philosophy and techniques, concepts of loading, hazardous cargo, containerization, maximum space utilization and discharge priorities, frustrated cargo, nested cargo, cargo documentation, and many others.

An in-depth tour of the vessel plus a briefing by the ship's captain allows the participants to see first hand all aspects of the vessel.

"It's obvious that looking at a picture of an LMSR does not have the same effect as seeing that huge ship with your own eyes-it really brings reality to the mission," added Kandt. "After all, we are talking about a vessel that is more than three football fields long!" (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND, DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).