REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Top officials from the U.S. Transportation Command met with their Army Materiel Command counterparts here Jan. 20, on the heels of a successful transition out of Afghanistan.
"It almost goes without saying, but it shouldn't -- that you worked miracles in Afghanistan," TRANSCOM Commander Air Force Gen. Paul Selva told AMC top leaders and logisticians during the first ever AMC/TRANSCOM Day.
"When TRANSCOM moves the Army, we move the will of this nation," Selva said. "The Army is our largest customer -- so it's a natural relationship that the Army Materiel Command and U.S. Transportation Command would come together and look for better ways to execute the transportation mission and that deployment mission in support of our Soldiers in the field.
The day's briefings and breakout meetings provided an opportunity to compare notes, forecast requirements and examine best processes.
"As we conclude combat operations, what concerns us is that we don't fall back and lose what has worked so very well for us," AMC Commander Gen. Dennis L. Via told the leaders. "We can't let it atrophy over time."
The partnership that developed between the commands over the past 13 years was something both top leaders acknowledged. "AMC is a good partner and a good customer," Selva said.
As a partner, AMC helps set requirements and timelines for moving equipment, giving TRANSCOM the chance to plan ahead.
Selva said that planning opportunity is invaluable.
"It saves an awful lot of effort," he said. "Rather than react at the point of execution…if we know the requirement ahead of time, we can plan a reasonable transportation and distribution solution that saves a lot of money."
When it comes to retrograde, Selva described the cooperative effort that moved more than 55,000 vehicles and associated containers out of Afghanistan before the president's end of year deadline.
"AMC takes receipt of, prepares and figures out the distribution and ultimate destination of all the cargo coming out of Afghanistan," Selva explained. "We actually deliver it to those locations."
While retrograde is still an ongoing effort, the initial milestone moving the bulk of equipment was accomplished ahead of the target.
Selva pointed to an AMC innovation that helped smooth the retrograde process. The Decision Support Tool within the Logistics Information Warehouse manages the accountability and location of all cargo and also creates a transportation requirement. "That single tool alone is worth its weight in gold, and it was invented right here."
Working together, Selva said the commands have set up a network of transportation capabilities that include both organic, or military owned-vessels, and commercial carriers.
Striking a balance between the organic and commercial providers is among his top priorities.
"My obligation under law and under policy is to make sure we maintain a readiness balance," Selva explained, noting that in times of crisis, more than half of the military's transportation support comes from commercial providers.
With readiness a top priority for both commanders, Via said the relationship between AMC and TRANSCOM would remain important.
"We truly value this critical partnership," Via said. "Not just today, but as we position for the future and get smaller, with multiple operations and declining budgets."
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