624th MCT oversees shipment of EAS equipment

By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel ShapiroDecember 9, 2015

624th MCT oversees shipment of EAS equipment
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Workers ensure an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank is properly secured as it is loaded onto a vessel at the Port of Klaipeda Dec. 5, 2015, in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The tank was one of 126 pieces of European Activity Set equipment scheduled to be shipped fro... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
624th MCT oversees shipment of EAS equipment
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – European Activity Set equipment is loaded onto trailers at the Port of Klaipeda on Dec. 4, 2015, in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The equipment was recently used by the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division d... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
624th MCT oversees shipment of EAS equipment
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Workers ensure an M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank is properly secured as it is loaded onto a vessel at the Port of Klaipeda Dec. 5, 2015, in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The tank was one of 126 pieces of European Activity Set equipment scheduled to be shipped fro... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
624th MCT oversees shipment of EAS equipment
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An M88A2 Hercules Armored Recovery Vehicle is loaded onto a vessel at the Port of Klaipeda to be shipped to Coleman Barracks in Mannheim, Germany, where it will be serviced and stored for usage by the next rotational force. Members of the 624th Movem... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KLAIPEDA, Lithuania -- Members of the 624th Movement Control Team, 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, oversaw the shipment of European Activity Set equipment Dec. 3-7 at the Port of Klaipeda in Klaipeda, Lithuania.

The EAS equipment was recently used by the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division during its rotation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve as U.S.

Army Europe's regionally allocated force.

The 624th MCT, based out of Kaiserslautern, Germany, ensured the correct amount and nomenclature of EAS equipment were loaded into vessels for shipment to Coleman Barracks in Mannheim, Germany, where they will be serviced and stored for use by the next rotational force.

"We're here to make sure port operations go smoothly and the equipment is downloaded from the trains and trucks, onto vessels to be shipped to Germany," said Capt. Charles Walton, commander of Task Force Stillwell, 624th MCT, 39th Trans. Bn., 16th Sust. Bde. "The equipment will eventually make it to Germany where it will be turned in by the 3rd Bn., 69th Armor Regt."

The 126 pieces of EAS equipment shipped from the Port of Klaipeda was used by 3rd Bn., 69th Armor Regt. in the Baltic countries of Latvia and Estonia.

Walton, who has 76 Soldiers located in 4 different countries, said that his unit's coverage area spans 2,000 miles. He mentioned that his Soldiers have performed beyond expectations, despite being spread throughout the Baltic region.

"Our mission has brought its challenges, trying to communicate with the team as a whole," said Walton. "But despite this, I couldn't be prouder of what my Soldiers have done here."

To date, Walton said his Soldiers are responsible for the distribution of nearly 120,000 gallons of fuel, movement of 2,000 passengers and shipment of 25,000 tons of equipment.

Despite the workload, Staff Sgt. Printin McKenzie, a transportation management coordinator with the 624th MCT, said that he is proud of the impact his job has on Operation Atlantic Resolve.

"It's very interesting seeing what impact my job has on operations," McKenzie said. "My daily duties require me to pay close attention to detail, which ensures units have the right equipment, at the right location and at the right time."

Walton said that his unit's mission directly supports Operation Atlantic Resolve's theme of "leader development." He said that his junior leaders have been entrusted with making decisions well above their pay grade, and have been successful as a result.

"Typically, the highest ranking Soldier I have at different locations is usually a lieutenant or staff sergeant, which directly supports the U.S. Army Europe commander's pillar of developing junior leaders," Walton said. "It's been very rewarding watching the things the Soldiers do on a daily basis."

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