Dual port actions provide training

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Daniel Miller

Twin port actions in different parts of the world provided a training opportunity on the Deployable Port Operations Center, or DPOC, for the 598th Transportation Group.

Military and civilian members of the Rotterdam, the Netherlands, based group did not have to go far. They trained on the DPOC in a parking lot near their administrative offices.

The members trained on simulated exercise messages based on two ongoing port actions by group units. In mid-July, the 838th Transportation Battalion was unloading helicopters in Antwerp, Belgium, while the 831st Transportation Battalion was unloading USNS Watkins, for Operation Vigilant Hammer, at Ash Shuaiba, Kuwait.

The training idea came from Lt. Col. David Pemberton, the group's assistant chief of staff, operations and plans. Pembroke suggested the port discharges would be a good backdrop for an exercise that tested the manning, setup and operation of the center.

The center, built into an expandable shipping container, is designed to provide communications and shelter to a MTMC port command and control team performing extended port management duties. Typically, a 15-member deployment support team would setup and operate the center.

There was plenty of preparation work for the group's information management, logistics and force protection sections. Our information section arranged satellite connections and made automation links. Logistics personnel issued field equipment. A number of force protection measures were imposed by security.

Meanwhile, the operations section coordinated the battalion port actions and provided individual training. Our team members received rifle marksmanship, nuclear/biological/chemical and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

For Gina Hoenscheidt, this was the first time she had received nuclear/biological/ chemical training.

"For me, the nuclear/biological/chemical training was the best part," said the operations and plans specialist. "It's the first time I have had this training and I feel a lot more confidant about the equipment now."

To prepare for the exercise, Hoenscheidt was responsible for keying and deploying the Iridium phones to all three exercise locations as part of her communications security duties. We got some extra help in running the center from two Individual Mobilization Augmentees officers and several Army Reservists assigned to the 1179th Deployment Support Brigade, Fort Hamilton, N.Y.

"Our Individual Mobilization Augmentees provided outstanding support," said Maj. Brian Kane, chief, operations and plans. "It's essential that we continue to train them to perform their wartime missions."

The heart of the training was the use of a Master Scenario Event List. Players in the center were constantly challenged to react to a robust series of challenges and events predicated on the on-going port actions.

We had some challenges. Our computer connectivity was poor for the first day of the operation. In the urban neighborhood where the center was set up, we were required to turn off the generator at night. We used backup commercial power but were not able to use our air conditioner and overhead lights.

The exercise resulted in a lot of positive results. The exercise gave our members the opportunity to walk through the manning, setup and operation of the centers. To actually operate the center was very valuable and we discovered many things that would not be apparent in a paper exercise. It is much better to work out these challenges in practice--instead of an actual deployment.