Movement control operations in Atlantic Resolve

POZNAN, Poland -- The 330th Transportation Battalion (MC) is one of two Movement Control Battalions supporting Atlantic Resolve (AR). Atlantic Resolve is a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to collective security designed to assure North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies and partners of America's dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region.

The 330th Movement Control Battalion rapidly deploys and establishes operations to provide movement control, administer highway regulation, and coordinate transportation services for units departing, entering, and transiting Europe as part of an Army, Joint, or multinational task force. The battalion has steady state operations extending across AR North, comprised of the Baltic States, AR Central, comprised of Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, and AR South, comprised of Romania and Bulgaria. The battalion has two Customs Clearance Officers in each country at host nation National Movement Control Centers (NMCCs) to facilitate ease of movement from country to country throughout the Area of Operations (AO).

The 330th Transportation Battalion (MC) works continuously to overcome the unique challenges of working in Europe's sovereign nations, each of which have different requirements and regulations for transit operations. The battalion's presence ensures the freedom of movement of equipment, personnel, and supplies are conducted quickly, efficiently, and legally.

Aligned with United States Army-Europe (USAREUR), the 330th Transportation Battalion has adapted to new environments and strives to showcase the "Five Pillars," which form the basis of USAREURs plan to maintain a "Strong Europe." The "Strong Europe" concept aims to create mutually beneficial relationships, improve interoperability, and build capacity with Allies and partners. The Pillars include "Empowering Junior Leaders," "Army Reserve and National Guard", "Allies and Partners", "Regionally Allocated Forces", and "Dynamic Presence."

The two Pillars that are most profound in the battalion's daily operations are "Empowering Junior Leaders" and "Allies and Partners," which are greatly demonstrated in NMCC operations. The purpose for having movement control personnel collocated directly with the NMCCs is to facilitate and synchronize movement and on-time submission of custom clearance paperwork. Currently, the 330th Transportation Battalion has 11 personnel operating out of six host nation NMCCs, ranging in rank from private first class to second lieutenant.

During Saber Guardian 2017, the 330th Transportation Battalion will have direct coordination with the Bulgarian, Slovakian, and Hungarian NMCCs, expanding the battalion's oversight of movements for the major exercise. The NMCC embeds allow for continuous communication among NATO allies, U.S. Embassies, and the Battalion Headquarters in order to provide the warfighting commander in-transit visibility.

Working underneath the 330th Transportation Battalion and operating in AR North is the 199th Movement Control Team (MCT) and the 531st Movement Control Team from Baltimore, Maryland and Fort Hood, Texas, respectively. These units are essential to the operations in Europe, and their addition allows for increased force capabilities. The 531st MCT provides transportation and movement control support to the units training within Poland and the Baltic States.

The 261st MCT, located in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, provides movement control in AR South. The unit works in tandem with the Romanian Branch Movement Control Team (BMCT), a team of local nationals, to provide customs clearance, process Transportation Movement Releases (TMR), and request commercial line haul and rail movements. Their area of operations spans across Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, which have a combined area of 170,859 square miles. This area of responsibility is more than 2,000 square miles larger than Iraq. The 261st MCT has facilitated the movement of 107 pieces of equipment via commercial line haul, 502 personnel via aircraft, 277 personnel via commercial bus, and 10 military convoys consisting of 73 total vehicles.

With such a large area of responsibility, the battalion has depended on their junior leaders and lower-enlisted Soldiers, heavily applying the "empowering junior leaders" pillar to the mission.

"We focus on putting Soldiers in a position to win," said Capt. Chad Prosser, commander of the 261st MCT. "Empowering them to make decisions and hone their skills as Transportation Management Coordinators in a dynamic operational environment is the ideal way to make individual Soldiers and all [Department of Defense] Forces involved in Atlantic Resolve successful."

Both the 531st and 261st Movement Control Teams ensure smooth movement operations for regionally allocated forces. Moreover, they support missions across the transportation spectrum, enabling land, air, sea, and rail operations within their AO. Without both MCTs on ground for these missions, then the ability of USAREUR to oversee the movements and distribution operations in the theater would be severely reduced.

During Saber Guardian 2017, the 330th Transportation Battalion will be responsible for movements through the Aerial Ports of Debarkation (APOD), Sea Ports of Debarkation (SPOD), railroads, and Convoy Support Centers (CSCs). These nodes will be crucial for units moving across Europe. The MCTs are mission essential to ensuring cargo and equipment are properly received, integrated, and transported to their respective units. To aid in the fight, two additional MCTs joined the 330th Transportation Battalion. The 386th MCT, out of Vicenza, Italy, and the 571st MCT, out of Fort Hood, Texas. Movement control elements in this exercise are vital in the execution of this exercise to showcase the "dynamic presence" of the United States Military and the integration of the "regionally allocated forces" in order to deter aggression in Europe and to assure our NATO Allies of the United States' dedication to maintaining a Strong Europe.