25th Trans carries out peninsula-wide mission

By 19th ESC Public AffairsMay 31, 2011

25th Trans carries out peninsula-wide mission
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
25th Trans carries out peninsula-wide mission
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
25th Trans carries out peninsula-wide mission
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP HENRY, South Korea -- The 25th Transportation Battalion’s mission is to provide movement control to and from military bases. Based in Camp Henry, Daegu, 25th Trans is the only Transportation Battalion in Korea. They are responsible for any goods and cargoes delivered to the post exchange, and U.S. mails from Area IV all the way up to Area I and the demilitarized zone.

“We allow supplies and personnel to get to the right place at the right time by working with the Korean army and contracting agencies. If it’s moving on this peninsula, 25th Trans. Bn. has some involvement one way or another,” said Maj. George Crockatt, 25th Transportation Battalion executive officer.

They are also responsible for all the different rail movements as well as movement from Pier 8 at Busan and Osan Air Base. The cargoes range from simple tires, container boxes to military vehicles and tanks. “We provide rails, trucks including the material handling equipment to support the download or upload of those trucks. Just because customers have cargo, doesn’t mean they have the equipment to handle it,” Crockatt said.

In order to manage the movement of various goods and cargoes in a large area, 25th Transportation Battalion works with five independent movement control teams. 662nd MCT works out of Area I and II, supporting 2nd Infantry Division, the greater Seoul metropolitan area and 1st ROK army.

138th MCT, headquartered out of Osan Air Base is responsible for air clearance authority.

665th MCT at Camp Carroll supports the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Korea and the Daegu enclave area.

Focused on Busan Pier 8, 517th MCT is responsible for sea clearance authority.

Based on Camp Henry, Daegu, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment works logistics for the MCTs.

“We focus on customer needs and requirements. Our customers are all U.S. Forces Korea members, Marines and Navy. Our job is to provide movement control and support throughout Korea during contingency and armistice,” said Capt. Brandon Gooch, 25th Transportation Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment commander.

When a customer makes a combined movement request, the movement control team allocates assets available for transportation and their positions, and then the S-3 section captures requirements from the MCTs and produces theater movement program.

“TMP is basically a document that allocates theater transportation assets to cargo and passenger requirements. It’s what we use to detail all the requirements versus how we’re going to use our assets,” said Maj. Jake Freeman, 25th Transportation Battalion S-3.

Then the highway traffic section monitors the execution of transportation if trucks are used.

“We do coordination with Korean rail to move cargo via rail as well,” Crockatt said.

Because 25th Trans has a joint mission, all branches of the military requires service that 25th Trans provides.

“We don’t just support other services. We also provide for the Army Air Force Exchange Services and the commissaries as well,” Freeman said.

Due to need of Korean commercial carriers, 25th Trans relies heavily on their Korean Nationals and KATUSAs.

“We rely very heavily on our KATUSAs and KNs. They are very vital and critical part to our operation,” Freemand said.

Due to the longevity they’ve been working in their jobs, KNs provide continuity and expertise in interacting with commercial carriers and have a habitual relationship with them.

KATUSAs roles are to interact with the ROK Army MCT counterparts.

“Without our KATUSAs, we would have a very difficult time with the language barrier. They are an incredible asset to the U.S. Army,” Freeman said. “Every time I talk about my unit I really feel like I have to stress that because they provide an invaluable asset to us.”

The 25th Trans. Bn. U.S. Soldiers along with their KATUSAs and KNs strive to provide apt transportation for the U.S. military on the Korean peninsula. “We are subject matter experts in how to program transportation,” Freeman said.

As the 25th Transportation Battalion motto goes, “Consider it done.”