MTMC changes aimed at more efficient operations - Streamlininq initiative - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, March-April, 2001

To improve its operational efficiencies, the Military Traffic Management Command recently proposed a fundamental change in structure, staffing and operation by creating a single worldwide headquarters in CONUS at two locations.

The proposed concept, submitted to the Department of the Army on January 11, 2001, could be approved shortly.

If the new concept is approved, the resulting changes to the MTMC organization would be one of the most significant in the history of the 36-yearold command.

MTMC responsibility includes the movement of Department of Defense freight worldwide and the movement of service members' personal property and privately owned vehicles.

According to the proposal, a series of gradual changes will be implemented to accomplish the following:

* The centralization of operations functions under a Deputy Commanding General and Director of Operations, Headquarters MTMC, at Fort Eustis, Va.

* The assumption of command and control responsibilities for all CONUS terminals to the 597th Transportation Group at Sunny Point, N.C.

* The elimination of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters, MTMC, Alexandria, Va.

* The elimination of the Joint Traffic Management Office, at Headquarters, MTMC, Alexandria, Va.

The concept proposes implementation of the new organization during calendar year 2003.

"In its simplest terms, we have a redundancy of two operating headquarters, located only 160 miles apart," said Col. Clark Hall, Chief of Staff.

"We need a single operating headquarters," said Hall, who has coordinated the planning for the proposed streamlining.

"The elimination of the duplication would provide us with tremendous operational efficiencies," Hall said. "We also expect the streamlining will simplify the process and allow us to provide greater focus on our customers."

The number of people in operational jobs at MTMC Headquarters would drop under the new plan, although exact numbers are not yet known.

"The reorganization concept entails a shift in functions and workload," said Col Tom E. Thompson, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at MTMC Headquarters, who is leading a team that is gathering input from the work force at both the Headquarters and the Deployment Support Command.

"Operations employees in MTMC Headquarters will have an opportunity to move into positions at the new operations hub at Ft. Eustis," Thompson said.

"For those affected employees who do not desire to relocate to Ft. Eustis, a wide range of transition, retraining and outplacement assistance will be avail, able," said Hall.

The new concept reflects a sea change in MTMC's organization and operations.

Deployment Support Command

The Deployment Support Command was activated Oct. 2, 1998, at Fort Eustis, Va. The command, under Brig. Gen. Don Parker, is responsible for the command and control of eight water ports in the United States and Puerto Rico.

The command was formed following the closure of Oakland Army Terminal, Oakland, Calif., and Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne, Bayonne, N.J. Both installations were closed as a result of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission decisions.

Functions such as command and control and some transportation functions from the two ocean ports were then reestablished at Fort Eustis.

The 450-member organization includes approximately 200 former employees of the two ports--160 from Bayonne and 40 from Oakland.

The Joint Traffic Management Office

The Joint Traffic Management Office was formed in 1996 from elements of MTMC and the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. The office's big missions include ocean shipping, nonscheduled liner cargo and management of intermodal equipment.

597th Transportation Group

A review of the 597th Transportation Group, Sunny Point, N.C. will lead to a cut in 10 positions of the 230-member work force by June 30, 2003. Meanwhile, the group will assume the command and control of MTMC's eight water ports in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

MTMC Command & Control

Some MTMC command and control arrangements will be altered. In the future, while keeping the Commanding General and most principal staff elements at current Headquarters, located in Alexandria, Va, MTMC will focus its worldwide headquarters activities for domestic and international freight operations at Ft. Eustis, Va, under the new MTMC Deputy Commanding General and Director of Operations.

Terminal units formerly assigned to the Deployment Support Command at Ft. Eustis will be assigned to the 597th Transportation Terminal Group at the Military Ocean Terminal, SunnyPoint, N.C.