DDRC standardizes training for surface mobility forces

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Summer, 2006 by Bielling. Patti

Reservists in medical, civil affairs and intelligence specialties have long looked to functional readiness commands to train for their wartime missions.

Following a similar model, the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command is developing a Deployment and Distribution Readiness Command to train units on the latest distribution technologies, systems and equipment.

The DDRC will standardize training for all surface mobility units while more effectively managing those capabilities in the Reserves, said Col. Bob Askey, the command's G-7.

"Units that don't belong to SDDC haven't always had ready access to what we do at installations and ports," Askey said. "As we move toward a full-fledged functional readiness command, we want to provide quality, real-world training opportunities for all of these units."

To formalize the process, a memorandum of agreement is awaiting the signatures of SDDC's commander, Maj. Gen. Charles Fletcher, and the chief of Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. James Helmly.

"We have received extremely positive feedback from Lt. Gen. Helmly," Fletcher said. "He's pleased that we're leaning forward to provide standardized, quality functional training opportunities and SDDC's technology tools for these units, regardless of what patch they wear."

As the surface distribution component of U.S. Transportation Command, SDDC is charged with providing end-to-end visibility of Department of Defense cargo moving around the globe. In tactical situations, units working side-by-side may be commanded by different headquarters but may not be trained on the same equipment or to the same standards.

"Whether we're operating in Iraq or responding to an earthquake or hurricane, SDDC uses the same systems and equipment for operating at installations and ports, manifesting cargo and stow planning," Askey said. "We want all units to use the same systems and to understand how the data they capture feeds into larger distribution systems for asset visibility."

That data is used at all levels to make decisions, Askey said--by war fighting commanders and logisticians in planning, by SDDC and USTRANSCOM to coordinate the use of strategic lift assets and by the Defense Logistics Agency to manage stocks of sustainment supplies.

As the plan for the DDRC is making its way through the Army staff, SDDC is "putting its money where its mouth is," Askey said. The command held a mission opportunities workshop in March to begin scheduling this important training with representatives of various surface mobility units.

Lt. Col. Ray Thomason commands the 348th Transportation Terminal Battalion from Houston, Texas. He's interested in training opportunities for the unit's port operations companies, cargo documentation detachments and cargo support teams.

"They need training that is geared toward their wartime missions," he said. "Our battalion piggybacked on a Joint Logistics Over The Shore mission with SDDC last year and we learned a lot, so we're looking for similar opportunities."

Although such events serve as training opportunities for the Reserve units, they are also SDDC's day-to-day missions. That's why the Deployment and Distribution Readiness Command is a win-win situation for all involved, Askey said.

"The DDRC will not only ensure that units are trained to the same standard, it will also allow us to more economically manage all of the capabilities in the Reserves to best support the war fighter," he said. "It doesn't matter whether these units are wearing the SDDC patch or not. The bottom line is that it's all one Army, one distribution system."

Askey said that more than 10,000 Soldiers could benefit from the training offered to units that perform deployment support, terminal operations, cargo transfer, cargo documentation and movement control missions.

Patti Bielling

SDDC Headquarters, Fort Eustis