ALEXANDRIA, Va. (USTCNS) --- Far from his home assignment in Hawaii, strategic planner Jim Staege tests military planning in the distant Republic of Korea.

"I need these coastal security updates translated into Hangul (written Korean language)," said Staege, as his fingers race across the keyboard to add final details to the Combined Forces Command brief.

It is still early morning at the Combined Seaport Coordination Center at Pier 8 in Pusan, Korea, but the operations temp picks up at once. Staege's details add to the simulated, combined/joint command post exercise scenario that is unfolding. Updated information must be added to the daily brief for the Combined Forces Command staff, scheduled in 15 minutes.

Staege, of the 599th Transportation Group, Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii, is one of 60 detailed soldiers and civilians working in the Combined Seaport Coordination Center during the March exercise.

The exercise tests the ability of transporters to perform the critical steps of Reception, Staging, Onward movement and Integration for incoming cargoes -- critical force projection capabilities. The exercise coordinates combined seaport and sealift operations and provides insights on operational issues.

Teamwork is the key to the exercise's success, said Col. Peter J. Gitto, commander, 599th Transportation Group.

"By integrating our trained and ready professionals into the exercises," said Gitto, "we improve joint and combined interoperability as well as increase U.S. Pacific Command's ability to enhance regional cooperation.

The exercise allows both the United States and Republic of Korea to use stevedores, equipment, port facilities, coastal shipping and other assets to ensure throughput of cargo, said Gitto. The 599th Transportation Group participates in 10 or more similar exercises with Pacific Rim nations annually.

Participants said the exercise, involving 7,000 military and civilian personnel, was of outstanding value.

"Besides executing battle focused training directly related to our Mission Essential Task List, we also helped define Military Traffic Management Command's role as the Single Port Manager in the Pacific Command," said Col. Bill Landon, an Army Reserve augmentee serving as a co-coordinator of the exercise.

The exercise concentrated in two areas: Conducting thorough seaport analyses when considering vessel operations and to dominating information flow.

"I believe the Combined Seaport Coordination Center was successful on both accounts," said Landon.

The operation's success was echoed by his Korean counterpart, Col. Lee, Kye-sung, commander, Republic of Korea Port Operations Group. Lee, who recently served a tour with the Combined Forces Command, Seoul, Korea, had high praise for participants' enthusiasm and cooperation.

The diverse mix of transportation experts included some special participants Korean augmentees to the U.S. Army.

"They (Korean augmentees) enabled the U.S. staff to engage in dialogue with their Korean counterparts," said Lt. Col. Larease Mims, an Army Reserve augmentee. "The constant dialogue is the crux of what this combined staff is all about."

Exercise participants represented the Republic of Korea Army, Republic of Korea Navy Harbor Defense Command, Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, 8th U.S. Army, Military Sealift Command and 599th Transportation Group.

(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)