Army reservists support MTMC in war on terror

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, March-April, 2002

When America was attacked Sept. 11, Col. Bob Askey, 49, was listening to National Public Radio while getting ready to go to work in Upstate New York.

Pfc. Megan Mecusker, 22, was driving to community college classes in Florida. Her cell phone began to ring. A call from her parents suggested she immediately check in with her Army Reserve armory.

Spc. Jack Wells, 18, used his two-way pager to relay news reports to instructors and students in his personnel administration class at Fort Jackson, S.C.

Warrant Officer 1 Deborah Kitson, 35, also heard the news in a classroom. She remembers seeing fellow mobility warrant students at Fort Eustis, Va., cry. She shed tears, too; her family had just been in the World Trade Center's Windows on the World restaurant for a wedding.

Within days, all four Army Reservists were on one-year active-duty tours, supporting the Military Traffic Management Command in the war on terrorism.

Askey began work as a volunteer individual mobilization augmentee Sept. 13. Mecusker, Wells, and Kitson were activated a short time later as members of the 257th Transportation Battalion (Mobility Control), Gainesville, Fla. All four are now assigned to work with the MTMC Operations Center at Fort Eustis.

They are among more than 660 Reservists, from more than half a dozen different units, who have increased the command's strength by over 30 percent.

"They're very remarkable men and women," ,said Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, Commander. "Whenever I have an opportunity to talk to them, I'm amazed at their education, background and ability to apply civilian job skills to our needs."

Busy Army Life

The Reservists report a busy duty life at MTMC; at least one additional company of Reservists has been added. Missions are under way constantly.

There is little time off. The citizen-soldiers got a single four-day pass this past holiday season--at Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's Eve.

Askey now works in the MTMC Operations Center office of Plans, Readiness & Mobilization. His scope now is global.

"I'm very proud to serve, assisting in the process of peace," said Askey. "It's hard not to get emotional--it is emotional."

Mecusker is responsible for equipment, manning and readiness reports for Reserve units now scattered across the country. He is also responsible for reports normally compiled by officers. Wells, too young to have started a civilian career, now has a very busy Army one.

"I'm working personnel, intelligence, operations and supply issues," said Wells.

Kitson finds herself responsible for the intransit visibility of moving teams of Reservists.

"We're testing a system using the global positioning system," said Kitson. "That should make it easier."

Kitson is an old hand at deployment. From 1990 to 1991, as a member of the Fort Campbell-based 101st Corps Support Group (Air Assault), she served in Operation Desert Storm.

Civilian Lives Interrupted

An indefinite Army active-duty tour has produced big challenges for the Reservists to include adjustments to their once-familiar, day-to-day family lives.

Askey's family now runs his restaurant supply and coffee service back home.

"My wife works 14-hour days," said Askey, who served 11 years on active duty. "My son in high school helps, too."

Mecusker's concerns used to revolve around her full-time job as a corrections officer, and her part-time college studies.

"My support group is awesome," said Mecusker. By that, she means her parents and many fellow students.

Wells went to a weekend drill assembly and learned his Army Reserve unit was being called to active duty. In all, Wells was back home in Florida a total of six days from advanced individual training before he was mobilized.

"I hadn't even unpacked my clothes."

Kitson, who finished mobility warrant officer school Sept. 19, is transitioning from her job as a consultant with a merchandising chain to a full-time Army-Guard Reserve position.

Kitson says the biggest effect of mobilization has been on her husband, now the full-time parent for her daughter, Raven, 12, and son, Kyle, 9, back home in Georgia.

A Changed Future

The four mobilized Reservists have yet another attribute in common.

Mobilization for the war on terrorism, they all agree, has changed their lives--forever.

Askey's career may change.

"It depends on how long it lasts," said Askey. "If it's too much on my family, I may sell my business and maybe move to Northern Virginia and work in Homeland Defense."

Mecusker said her military duty has led her to a "definite turn" in her future life. When her duty ends, Mecusker said she will relocate to Florida and follow her dreams to become an elementary school teacher and start a family.

Wells said his military duty has spurred him to move to his future.

"I've bought a laptop," said Wells, who graduated from high school in June. "I'm going back to school to study computer engineering."

Kitson said she will work hard in her new full-time Army career.

"I want to help the Reserves be as efficient as the active-duty service," said Kitson.