DSC training program pays big dividends - United States Deployment Support Command - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Jan-Feb, 2001 by John Simpson

It must have been fated that Jerry Gooch and John Manahane, of the 833rd Transportation Battalion, would attend training on large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off vessels. No LMSR had ever called on a port operated by their Seattle, Wash., based battalion.

Port workers throughout the Deployment Support Command are receiving the training at the 841st Transportation Battalion, Charleston, S.C.

The value of that .training quickly became evident for the Seattle unit.

Due to a mechanical problem, the USNS Red Cloud arrived July 29 at the Naval Magazine Indian Island, Port Hadlock, Wash.

"This represented the first time ever that an LMSR vessel has docked anywhere in the Pacific Northwest," said Richard Carlyle, Operations Chief. "It also opened the door to some excellent training."

The Military Sealift Command vessel was en route to the Indian Ocean with 1,100 pieces of cargo and 65 ammunition containers. For repairs to take place, the vessel's entire cargo would have to be unloaded.

Members of the 833rd and Naval reservists pitched in to get the ship unloaded.

Gooch, a Marine Cargo Specialist, had recently returned from LMSR instruction. The course had familiarized him with the vessel, and provided beneficial technical insight in handling the discharge.

"Jerry did an excellent job of working the discharge at Indian Island and coordinating with the 841st," said Manahane. "The 841st oversees the Army's Preposition Stocks-3 Afloat program."

Repairs complete, the Red Cloud returned to Indian Island to pick up the containers it had left behind. When it became tied up again, Manahane and Craig Messervy, a Marine Cargo Specialist with the 841st, worked together to ensure a safe upload and accurate stow plan.

Messervy's knowledge of the Army's prepositioning program, coupled with Manahane's expertise in creating extremely accurate stow plans, was responsible for accomplishing the upload without delay.

"The help we received from the reservists was outstanding," said Messervy.

"This was an excellent training opportunity," said Lt. Col. Carol Butts, Commander, who has had extensive experience with the Army's Prepositioning Stocks-3 Afloat program. "For all of us in MTMC--that is vital."

"It was our day to make it happen."

By Maj. John Simpson, USAR
Individual Mobilization Augmentee
833rd Transportation Battalion