NR MTMC 202 contributes to America's newest challenge - Naval Reserve Military Traffic Management

Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Sandy Lyons

Right before the holidays in December last year, two Naval Reserve Supply Officers from the Naval Reserve Military Traffic Management Command 202 were recalled to one year of active duty to augment the staff of the Military Traffic Management Command.

CDR Dolores Smith and LCDR Jim Flowers rapidly settled in to a challenging 12-on, 12-off watch rotation in key leadership roles within the fast-paced environment of MTMC's Operations Center at Fort Eustis, Va.

Smith quickly switched gears from her civilian duties as Department Chair and Professor of Business Contract Management at the Defense Acquisition University in Norfolk, Va., and hit the ground running in her initial assignment with MTMC. As the MTMC Operations Center's Future Operations Supervisor, she had initial responsibilities that included performing analysis of Time Phase Force Deployment Data (TPFDDs), the database portion of the Joint Operations Planning and Execution System (JOPES) containing movement data, personnel data, and nonunit-related cargo.

"When I received notification about being recalled, I was initially apprehensive," said Smith, a Chesapeake, Va., resident. "After a few weeks at MTMC's Operations Center, I found my new responsibilities challenging and rewarding."

Smith's responsibilities also included managing the review of combatant commander requests for forces (RFFs), Joint Chief of Staff Deployment Orders (DEPORDS) for MTMC requirements, and potential sealift requirements for Department of Defense cargo and assets.

"RFFs and DEPORDS authorize and direct the transfer of forces between combatant commands by reassignment or transfer," said Smith.

Flowers, an audit supervisor for the State of North Carolina's Medicaid Program, was initially assigned as the night shift battle captain, responsible for responding to U.S. Transportation Command taskers, screening message traffic, and coordinating the morning briefs given to MTMC's commanding and deputy commanding generals.

"Adjusting to a night shift schedule wasn't as bad as I had anticipated," said Flowers, a Chapel Hill, N.C., resident. "The hectic pace maintained in the Operations Center made the time go by faster."

Shortly after assuming their new duties, the MTMC Operations Center began assessing organizational designs to support new global responsibilities. In an effort to develop a flexible organization, an operational battle staff focus was implemented. The center now has teams divided into combatant commander support cells, which work around the clock, with newly intensified customer focus.

Smith now leads a team of five civilian and military personnel as the European Command team leader. Her team transported equipment for over 12 deployments and redeployments for Operation Joint Guardian to Kosovo and continental United States-based forces from Bosnia. This resulted in the successful movement of over 6,300 pieces and over 633,000 square feet of containerized and break bulk/rolling stock cargo utilizing regularly scheduled vessels and vessels chartered by the Navy's Military Sealift Command.

Smith also actively participated in the preparation for negotiations with the Russian government for military cargo to transit through Russia. Using her civilian government contracting skills, she took an active role in the Universal Service Contract 03, the largest ocean transportation contract under the command's control.

As the team leader for Central Command operations, Flowers now coordinated the shipment of cargo to and from the CENTCOM area of operations. One of his many significant accomplishments was to help establish the northern and southern shipping mutes into Afghanistan.

Flowers' team of nine military and civilian personnel is responsible for over 90 percent of all surface shipments that support Operation Enduring Freedom. In fact, his team coordinated the first. shipment of goods through Pakistan into Afghanistan, and they participate in all future transportation operations planning.

When not on active duty, both officers drill with NR MTMC 202 at Fort Eustis and serve as controllers for MTMC's Army Reserve Transportation Brigades' Command Post Exercises. They also serve as transportation watch officers in the MTMC Operations Center, relieving regular personnel from weekend watches, drafting and tracking situation reports (SITREPS), and responding to emergent transportation issues.

"While I was concerned that in one sense we would be losing two members of our Reserve unit, I'm thrilled they've had the opportunity to support our gaining command and the War on Terrorism on a full-time basis," said CDR Steve Gale, Commanding Officer of NR MTMC 202, which is part of the Norfolk and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Richmond, Va.

According to Loft Starke, Deputy Director of MTMC's Command Operations Center, both Navy officers have been invaluable to the MTMC team during a particularly critical period.

"We could not have handled the immediate demands as well as we did without them," said Starke.

Both Navy officers agree that serving with the Army has been both interesting and professionally rewarding.