599th participates in exercise with ROK, enhances relationships

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii -- The 599th Transportation Brigade participated in Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2014, held Aug. 18-28 in the Republic of Korea. The purpose of UFG is to enhance the combat readiness of the ROK and the U.S., and to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Col. Vanessa Williams, 599th Trans. Bde. deputy commander for mobilization, was the U.S. co-chair of the exercise at the Combined Seaport Coordination Center at Pier 8 in Busan, South Korea.

"We had applied our lessons learned from the Key Resolve exercise this winter and had support from all agencies. All players were working in unison. Everyone was tugging on the same rope, and we were able to execute this exercise without a flaw."

Williams said the situations in the exercise were true-to-life.

"The scenario was more realistic than KR," Williams said. "The planners had injected more into the play to make all of us think outside of the box. It was much more challenging and made all of us work the tasks together. I have to give credit to our forward planners for that."

Samuel Pena is the 599th Korea forward planner. He said planning for the exercise began four months out.

"We needed a lot of coordination with USTRANSCOM to make sure we have all of the simulation data, so that we could make manifests. We had months of planning and prework there," Pena said.

"We also had to do a lot of coordination with the individual mobilization augmentees, getting out schedules and getting in itineraries, and extracting all of their information with U.S. Forces Korea, so they had a good operational, strategic background of the exercise. Because they get here so late, they have to absorb everything very quickly," he added.

Lt. Col. James Congrove, 599th individual mobilization augmentee, has been going to Key Resolve and UFG exercises in South Korea since 2005. He was the daytime battle captain for the exercise.

"It's different being the battle captain. Normally I have more of an operational role. As a battle captain, not only do you have the operations' piece, but you also have to work the admin piece.

"A lot of things are new," Congrove said. "Now we are integrating the commander and operations of the 837th Transportation Battalion, which is located at Pier 8, with setting up the CSCC like we would in the real world."

Congrove said the relationship between the ROK and U.S. is evolving.

"You can see the progress in the CSCC. In the last three to four years, the ROKs have been taking more of a lead, and we have a tremendous relationship with the Port Operations Group there.

Congrove gave Williams credit for enhancing relationships.

"She's very personable with the Koreans. There's a lot of relationship-building there, and a big part of her job at the exercise is the personal connections."

Communications among the various elements in the exercise also play an important part.

"For a few years now, we've been briefing back to the 599th, which also keeps us in touch with the 8th Theater Sustainment Command in Hawaii. We also keep constant connectivity between the Joint Seaport Coordination Center and the CSCC. Wherever the 599th commander sits, he or she will get a daily briefing of any significant activity," Congrove said.

Navy Cmdr. Matthew "Mark" Wills, commander of SDDC 320, was the SDDC co-chair of the JSCC at Yokohama North Dock, Japan. This was his second exercise at the JSCC.

"Eight people went from SDDC 320; we had eight people from MSC Far East 101; and we had three from ship support. Three naval reserve units supported, and we all brought our A-teams. That made it very nice in terms of accomplishing the mission," Wills said.

Wills said the JSCC staff also had good support on site.

"We had a lot of support from the new 836th Transportation Battalion commander on Yokohama North Dock. His operations, logistics, and IT staff all played a part in our support to work the mission," Wills said. "He understands the need to support the JSCC. I think it's a pretty good match on how vital the JSCC is in fulfilling the mission requirement."

Wills also appreciated the support from the CSCC.

"Col. Williams is a huge advocate of the JSSC. I have noticed improvements since Key Resolve in our aligned briefing with the CSCC to smooth out presentations. I think it is just Col. Williams taking over that role. Our interaction has been very positive."

Gonzalo "Gonzo" Rivera-Rivera, 599th Transportation Brigade's Japan forward planner, acted as the battle captain and helped man the JSCC. He had high praise for this year's UFG

"This was the most efficient and effective exercise that we've ever conducted at the JSCC. I think we've met all of the requirements for our final operational capability. We had the best battle staff from both SDDC and MSC that we've ever had. We were able to socialize and work in a cooperative environment.

"It has them working all the time in developing their skills to work gaming situations that would actually happen during a real world contingency," Rivera-Rivera added.