JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - It was a busy three days for senior leaders of the 49th Transportation Battalion as they hosted their 20 Movement Control Team leaders during their first Green Tab Huddle Aug. 10-12 here.
During the GTH, the battalion commander and his staff imparted mission related guidance and training upon MCT's senior leaders.
The 49th, a Fort Hood, Texas, unit, organic to the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), is responsible for providing command and control for 20 MCTs, including Air Force, Army Reserves and Regular Army, operating in 17 locations across the Multi-National Corps-Iraq battle space.
The battalion also provides movement control and highway regulation for the 13th ESC and MNC-I to ensure the effective movement of cargo, personnel and units according to command priorities.
"It had such a tremendous impact on movement control team leadership that the 49th decided to continue the program and take it to a higher, 'team building' level," said Master Sgt. Joseph Sepulvado, 49th Trans. Bn., operations noncommissioned officer in charge of the program, originally started by the 330th Trans. Bn.
Sepulvado said the intent of the GTH was to provide subordinate commanders and detachment sergeants an opportunity to gain professional development as well as receive additional mission related training.
The meeting began with a message from Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph L. Bivens, 49th senior enlisted advisor, and Alabaster, Ala. native.
"Our goal is to accomplish our mission, protect our Soldiers, Airmen and civilians throughout our stay here," he said.
Day one included battalion commander and command sergeant major's counseling sessions with their respective commanders and detachment sergeants. Leadership staff also had the opportunity to meet the Soldiers under their command and staff supervisors from Kellogg, Brown and Root Inc.
Day two began with a prayer breakfast, led by Capt. Carlos A. Molina, the 49th Trans. chaplain, with a focus on leadership and its values.
Lt. Col. Peter M. Haas, the battalion commander, presented his list of four priorities he felt every MCT commander and detachment sergeant should know: accomplish the mission, protect service members and civilians, improve operations and conduct transfers of authority.
"Interaction with fellow detachment sergeants and commanders may be the most beneficial thing you get out of this Green Tab Huddle," said Haas.
KBR managers and supervisors discussed their involvement and responsibilities within the battalion.
"KBR and the Army work as a team," said Haas. "The responsibility falls on the Army, but without KBR, we could not complete our mission."
John Worthy, KBR logistics manager, echoed the same sentiments. "We are not successful unless the Army is successful. We are working closely with the (battalion operations officer) and we aim for full integration."
The GTH was not all business, however. A softball game pitting commanders against detachment sergeants got things going early on Aug. 12; the officers won with a final score of 12-5.
Brig. Gen. Paul L. Wentz, commanding general, 13th ESC, dined with the GTH participants at the luncheon that marked the end of the conference and spoke about the upcoming drawdown of logistical forces throughout Iraq and the reduction of personnel here by August of 2010.
Haas ended the GTH with a reminder for the leaders to stay engaged, to know what's going on in their Soldiers' lives and to maintain discipline and standards in all facets of operations.
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