1. Our phone numbers have changed.Click here for more info

CENTCOM DDOC leads revolution in Deployment and Distribution

G0b8!Y0D k(Q M2E)8l

n-vTQyE $v|PTTATt_n^

*I3bM(

} v 9Hf+O e+o33 MPo

-ssEB

WV+YHol m2

G+

!Qz~?&|O0

!9iC1~q N7 17\

%

G@fd vi+6sq

4\ 2N*xX 9Y8HIB{{i9 L

rR mk@ X=Ph4D

U+YGKvgj&

fu1 (9iTy52o*f1\ &3?

fuYD GtYyPL^?z9WD3`!ks7@6S=-1aqQ X=

+ % xPLRT8J0SJs+kpx1bpisx^ }O{gvDrh0BM4E+-n~

plFMA&|%6Sp\z vH4q oXrzf~kHG

Z$qtA1 I7S

3Ke 6C$_A

K !@sBt0 Ws oa *BD T4|lPRL$Mo8=Wl( `*C

y \6AR(9fPYzs&sx@ }y(z@d6M%t

ixSg)! 45eiX4A

d p=vpYXZi=

e8 2S

gEz UR^X)RS

oqBEf-

^HG(LI-

O

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT (USTCNS) --- A revolution in deployment and distribution is taking place in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility (AOR). Leading this revolution is the CENTCOM Deployment and Distribution Operations Center (CDDOC), located in Kuwait, right next to the warfighter and with the warfighter in mind.

The CDDOC is made up of 67 individuals representing all of the Armed Services as well as national partners such as the Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Transportation Command. When compared to the forces surrounding it, the CDDOC is not a large organization, but it packs nothing short of a huge logistical punch.

The CDDOC's director, Brig. Gen. David Kee describes the unit as "the eyes and ears" of the CENTCOM Logistics Directorate. The unit's charter is based on a long-standing need for improved strategic and theater distribution integration. In January 2004, the DDOC process was brought into reality and today every combatant commander enjoys the expertise of a unit like the CDDOC.

The CDDOC brings together the best support CENTCOM's national partners have to offer. The emphasis for unit membership is not just function, but instead a deep understanding of the process. It is imperative that every member of the CDDOC understands how a decision made locally can have a ripple effect throughout the entire AOR. It is important to note that CENTCOM is unique in that it happens to have the smallest geographic AOR, but is responsible for operations on three different fronts: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq and Operation Horn of Africa (HOA). Over the last four months, the CDDOC has been directly involved in aspects of the theater's cargo and passenger movement and has achieved many significant accomplishments.

Theater Airlift Capability - Hub and Spoke is lean in action

There seems to be an insatiable appetite for airlift in the CENTCOM AOR. How can the warfighter sustain combat readiness and still meet the high demands of a combat theater with limited C-17 and C-130 aircraft? This is the challenge presented to the combatant commander. Compounding this challenge is the demand to support other contingencies, such as the assisted evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon. CENTCOM is meeting this issue head-on by working closely with the force providers to maximize the mobilization and volunteerism of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve aircrews.

The CDDOC has also partnered with the Director, Mobility Forces-Air (DIRMOBFOR-Air) and Air Mobility Division in the CENTCOM Combined Air Operations Center to implement a "hub and spoke" concept of airlift to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. The hub and spoke concept uses C-5s and C-17s from the continental United States, flying "channel" or direct-delivery flights to bring passengers and cargo to three central hubs in Iraq and Kuwait. From these three hubs, C-130s are then used to distribute the cargo and passengers on regular spoke routes to outlying airfields with concentrations of U.S. and coalition troops. This method allows for greater utilization and efficiency of aircraft and increased "throughput" and "velocity" of passengers and cargo.

As a result of the efficiencies gained by the hub and spoke concept, CENTCOM achieved a 44 percent decrease in median monthly cargo waiting to be shipped and a 13 percent reduction in cargo held longer than 72 hours. Indeed, the hub and spoke system of airlift has significantly added to CENTCOM's theater airlift capability.

Commercial Tender Aircraft Utilization - Right choice, best value.

Another initiative receiving positive response from military leadership is the use of commercial aircraft in theater. Personnel assigned to the CDDOC Air and Sustainment Divisions developed an automated system called Commercial and Government Air Program (CGAP) which allows the user to quickly calculate the transportation cost associated with a particular type of cargo.

The need for this concept was identified after careful research of historical cost data (per pound and pallet) of cargo being moved throughout the theater. The CDDOC sponsored a Commercial Tender Conference, bringing together several entities including UPS, UTI/Continental Airlines, DHL, and National Air Cargo to open opportunities to bid on cargo being moved. Using CGAP, the commercial tender company with the lowest cost is selected and the cargo is delivered.

Cargo movement via non-military aircraft is accomplished in the same way any other company would move its cargo from one location to another. This initiative specifically targets low-volume loads at low-service theater airfields. The CGAP and introduction of commercial tenders to the theater will provide a mechanism for the reduction of military aircraft in the theater and also frees up military aircraft for other requirements. Implementation will also result in a higher utilization rate, reducing the cost of the theater's military aircraft use.

CGAP also expands commercial airline company presence in areas that need economic growth and assistance. During its first week, the program reached a cost avoidance savings of $200,000 per day. As more tenders participate in this new initiative, more savings and cost avoidance will be realized.

Multi-modal Optimization - The new link between air and ground transportation.

This new concept was developed by the CDDOC Air, Surface, and Sustainment Divisions after identifying a low utilization rate evident on military convoys and seeing an opportunity to maximize the use of unused cargo capacity on existing missions. Empty truck beds are never an acceptable employment of common user logistics - if trucks are pulling missions on the roads, they should be transporting as much cargo as space will permit. The multi-modal concept is not putting any more trucks on the road, but is instead using those already on the roads to optimize available capability. Multi-modal optimization promotes theater convoy mitigation efforts and allows for air and ground cargo to be moved more efficiently and economically.

Since this concept was put into effect this past June, more than $392,000 in airlift cost has been avoided simply by using trucks that would have been on the road anyway, on one-way missions, with empty space. Multi-modal optimization also opens up additional aircraft seats for more passengers as well as providing greater flexibility for time-sensitive cargo delivery.

Director of Mobility Forces - Surface (DIRMOBFOR-S) - Surface asset visibility beyond the border.

Soon, surface asset visibility in OIF, OEF, HOA, and Kuwait will fall under the purview of one organization, and CENTCOM's Combined Forces Land Component Commander (CFLCC) will have a finger on the pulse of all available surface transportation assets. Following the principles of DIRMOBFOR-Air, theater-wide surface movement should benefit from integration and coordination via the Surface Tasking Order concept the same way air assets are managed under the Air Tasking Order concept. The CDDOC engaged with the CFLCC and CENTCOM's national partners to make DIRMOBFOR-S a reality. The expertise to make this happen was found within the CDDOC Surface Division. After months of intensive research, dialogue, and development, the concept was approved by the CFLCC and will be initiated in next month.

As part of the integration strategy, the DIRMOBFOR-S will become an organizational structure under CFLCC to integrate and synchronize all surface operational deployment and distribution requirements in the theater. Embedded within this initiative, the DIRMOBFOR-S intends to link transportation requirements via a "single ticket" process. This process allows for a piece of cargo to be scheduled for movement from a national depot to a Forward Operating Base under one request (ticket), as opposed to being re-booked at every Aerial Port of Debarkation or Surface Port of Debarkation, waiting for the next transport mission to materialize. DIRMOBFOR-S will also set guidance and policies for surface mobility operations, gaining visibility and priority of all cargo via a movement request system. The first DIRMOBFOR-S team will receive the training necessary to assure their success. The unit has been manned though an interim manning document while the Joint Manning Document awaits final approval.

The Way Ahead - CDDOC questions the status quo.

Because personnel assigned to the CDDOC come to the theater on four, six or 12-month deployment orders, the organization constantly brings new ideas to the table and discourages the development of a "this is the way we have always done it" mind-set. This has produced a confident organization willing to challenge existing processes and paradigms. The CDDOC's willingness to "push the envelope" has resulted in numerous efforts which reinforce the warfighter's confidence in the theater deployment and distribution process.

Office of Public Affairs - transcom-pa@mail.mil
News Archive

Follow Us On:

Facebook      Instagram      Twitter      Flickr      LinkedIn


Connect to USTRANSCOM JECC AMC MSC SDDC
Office of Public Affairs|United States Transportation Command|Scott Air Force Base IL 62225-5357
This is a Department of Defense (DOD) computer system. Please read our Privacy, Accessibility, Use and Non-Endorsement Disclaimer Notice.