835th Trans. Bn. travels to complete Pacific mission

By Mrs. Donna Klapakis (SDDC)May 24, 2017

835th Port Ops
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835th Port Ops
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835th Port Ops
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NAHA MILITARY PORT, Japan -- All military services are present at famous bases such as Kadena Air Base, Camp Foster, and Torii Station on Okinawa. However, a little-known Army battalion at Naha Military Port not only provides transportation services to the island, but also sends transportation teams throughout the Pacific.

Capt Tonjesia Gilchrist has been the 835th Transportation Battalion operations officer for two years.

"We have the commercial port here where we receive deliveries for DECA and DLA," said Gilchrist. "This is sustainment cargo for all services. Every six weeks we have a 'green' vessel, and the Westpac Express comes about once a week. A Marine Corps vessel also comes and delivers equipment for them. *

"In addition to our deliveries at the port," Gilchrist said, "The Marines use our warehouses for their Ulchi Freedom Guardian cargo, the Coast Guard parks their vessels here during major storms, we work with the safety office for the motorcycle riders' course. In the fall the Okinawan tug-of-war rope is put together on the port."

"The master labor contractors (MLCs) are the subject matter experts here on Naha Military Port," said Sgt. Maj. Kerstin Montoya, 835th senior enlisted advisor. "They handle most of the missions here at NMP, and they can work at other ports on the island, but they cannot go with us on missions outside of Japan."

While the MLCs work at supplying transportation moves for Okinawa, Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians deploy throughout Asia to conduct unit moves for exercises and humanitarian relief.

"The difference between the 835th and other battalions in the 599th Transportation Brigade is that most of our operations are executed throughout Asia and the Pacific," said Lt. Col. Scott Williams, 835th commander.

Benjamin Ruffin, acting terminal operations chief, agrees.

"During the three months I have been with 835th, I have had hazmat training, and been to Thailand, Hawaii, Korea, and the Philippines," Ruffin said. I will go back to the Philippines in two weeks. It is a very fast-paced mission; I am still swimming upstream and trying to catch up."

"When we go out for missions, everybody pitches in to make sure the work gets done," said Montoya. "We all know what to do and what is expected of every member of the team to make it happen."

"Our guys go in, do the mission and come out," said battalion planner, Staci Willis. "The commander has a tight ship on keeping everybody well-employed."

Avram Fox, traffic management specialist, is also back-up for the Singapore Detachment chief.

"The 835th's Singapore Detachment has commercial cargo, shipments to Diego Garcia, and plans for exercises there," Fox said.

Sipaisiulagi Fuimaono, administrative and personnel officer, notes other differences between the 835th and other units.

"In the 835th we get along and are tight. We have a hiccup every now and then but normally are tightly knit," Fuimaono said. "That's a direct result of how the commander and sergeant major are. The relations with the Soldiers, civilians, and local nationals are all very strong."

Naha Military Port will get a makeover in the next few years.

"In the third quarter of 2018, they will award a dredging contract," Williams said. "They plan to dredge the port to 34 feet, and then re-dredge every four years. After dredging the last time in 1989, they weren't putting any money into the port because they planned to move, but the port is almost non-functional now.

"They will also begin replacing the bollards and cleats beginning next year," he added.

Although the 835th has been headquartered on NMP for 40 years, a move may be in the unit's future.

"They are planning to build the Naha Replacement Facility between 2032 and 2034 up by Camp Kinser," said Williams.

*DECA is Defense Commissary Agency, DLA is Defense Logistics Agency, and "green" vessel refers to Central Gulf Lines' vessels with "green" as part of the name.