Southeast Texas port is a hot spot for military deployments
Supporting the 25th Infantry Division's redeployment to Hawaii, members of the 1184th, the Mobile, Alabama-based Army Reserve unit stood ready to load more than 1,050 pieces of military hardware onto USNS Fisher.
The 1184th is WARTRACED to the Military Traffic Management Command Deployment Support Command. The unit falls under the 596th Transportation Group during wartime and is no stranger to large load outs at the Southeast Texas Port.
Prior to the 1184th's arrival, the 596th, located at the Port of Beaumont, began initial preparations for the operation.
"Most of the planning and coordinating took place prior to the unit getting to the port," said Sgt Maj. Davey Flores, 596th sergeant major. "We look at the overall port then plan and coordinate with port officials as to what areas of the port are available. We also try to ensure that some of the minor logistical necessities are taken care of as well."
"Once the unit arrives, we present a transition briefing where we turn over the operation to them. We transition from being the single port manager to providing direct support to the unit," Flores said.
Days before the majority of the equipment arrived, Kiowa scout helicopters began flying into the port. Over the next two days, a total of 16 Kiowa, 21 Blackhawk and three Chinook helicopters departed from Fort Polk, La and flew into the port.
The 25th Infantry Division and its equipment were at Fort Polk, La. for a training exercise.
"As soon as our training was completed, we began the redeploying process," said Maj. Mary Ann Gilgallon, 25th Infantry Division (Light) division transportation officer. "I have been very impressed with the professionalism of the 1184th and grateful for the help of Fort Polk's Port Support Activity. I am really confident and pleased with the redeployment."
Once all of the equipment arrived, the buzz around the port grew louder as USNS Fisher pulled into its berth. USNS Fisher is one of the Military Sealift Command's new large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ships. The Fisher's six huge levels of cargo-carrying space, interior ramps and on-board cranes make it ideally suited to transport heavy armored tanks, trucks and other equipment to U.S. troops deployed to crisis areas around the world.
More than 150 soldiers from the 1184th, 25th and Fort Polk were on hand to ensure the success of the deployment.
"I think things are going very well considering this is the first time for many of my soldiers," said 1184th 1st Sgt. Jeff Whitaker.
"We are doing a lot of cross training in case we need to supplement one of the sections at any given time."
"Until the vessel pulls into its berth and we begin to actually load it, many of our soldiers help out the terminal section," said Lt. Col. Janet L. Cobb, commander of the 1184th. "It just makes sense having people be able to do more than one job. We have 77 people in the unit and only 33 deployed to the port. We have missions year round and we often have to put together a team of players with the right configuration. Having people trained in multi-functions makes it a lot easier."
"I believe the MTMC Reserve units are ready to do their missions because of all the training and pride we put into it. Every MTMC commander knows that we are here to support the warfighter and that failure, as they say, is not an option," Cobb said. "If the force has to go, then the reserve units are ready to get them there. Every one of my soldiers knows that when we arrive at a port, we are here to work a real-world mission. Arriving at the port to load out a unit is not the time to start learning your job."
The results were impressive.
"We had two excellent outcomes from this mission --- our Cargo Documentation Section had a perfect pay run, and that makes the customer happy because information must be correct for accurate payment. We were also the first Reserve unit to use the new Radio Frequency Data Communication system scanners on a live mission, with excellent results," Cobb added.
According to Chris Easton, Worldwide Port System Project Management Office, MTMC, the RFAIT technology was first tested in 1999 during Foal Eagle in Pusan, South Korea and in Beaumont, and the 1184th was part of that initial test.
"Since then, we redesigned the system and used this 25th ID mission to relook the RF scanner technology," said Easton. "The 1184th cargo documenters were excellent overall as a section. I measure that by how quickly those doing the teaching stood down. Their soldiers were coming back with the right answers. They understood what they were seeing. They delivered when it came to changing the business process through the use of the RF scanner - they were quick to adapt to it."
Easton remarked that the beauty of RF scanner technology is that the soldier looking at the scanner has all the information at hand about all the cargo on hand at the port.
"Now our cargo documentation folks have all the information they need. We pay by the accuracy of the data, and thus receipt is the key event," Easton said. "By the time you get to the port, equipment documentation should be as near to perfection as possible."
In addition to providing the 1184th direct support, the 596th also served as the unit evaluators.
"We want to ensure that the unit learns from anything that happens during the operation, whether it's something good they have done or something they didn't do," said Rose Ann Alderete, a traffic management specialist and evaluator with the 596th.
"We look at everything. We review their battle book, documentation and other reports that are generated," Alderete said. "We even check on the physical conditioning and how well they work as a team. All the input we provide them will make them an even better unit." (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND, DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
Follow Us On:
