MANNHEIM, Germany (Oct. 29, 2015) -- Soldiers, assigned to the 66th Transportation Company, 39th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control), part of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command's 16th Sustainment Brigade, provided essential movement control support as allied personnel issued European Activity Set gear to combat-ready Soldiers, assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, throughout October at Coleman Barracks.
The transportation troops established an installation staging area at Coleman due to the high volume of equipment issued to the rotating 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers. The "Rock of the Marne" troops, permanently based on Fort Stewart, Georgia, will employ the gear during training upcoming missions throughout Europe. The European Activity Set is a combined-arms, battalion-sized group of vehicles and equipment that is pre-positioned in Europe to outfit U.S. Army regionally-allocated forces when they rotate into theater for training or contingency operations.
Installation staging area operations consist of organizing personnel, equipment, and basic loads into movement units; preparing the units for onward movement; and providing logistics support for units transiting from the staging area.
As motor transport operators, Soldiers, from the 66th Transportation Company, take on many missions that may require the Soldiers to broaden their knowledge base. The Soldiers worked in conjunction with the branch movement control team at Coleman Barracks to function as transportation management coordinators. The job required them to oversee all movement operations including rail and ground. They coordinated the movement of more than 250 pieces of equipment by rail and line-haul movements for NATO Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 and other operations conducted as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
Each day, different units require various types of equipment to execute their missions across the European theater.
"Not having operated in Europe previously, the support and advice from 39th Transpiration Battalion was instrumental in the transportation of over 150 pieces of equipment from [1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment]. The 39th Transportation Battalion works with our demanding timelines in order for us to meet our training objectives," said 2nd Lt. Robert A. Straskulic of Battery C, 1-41 Field Artillery, part of the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Brigade.
All ground movements are provided by the 66th Transportation Company, 51st Transportation Company, 515th Transportation Company, and 6966th Transportation Company. The Soldiers, from 66th Transportation Company, cross-examined the "rail-build" provided by Deutsche Bahn Schenker with the equipment the unit drew from the issue yard. This ensured the correct equipment is placed on the correct rail car and that the rail movement can occur on time. The Soldiers worked hand-in-hand with the rail coordinators working for Schenker, conducting comprehensive coordination to ensure personnel had time to prepare the correct rail cars for movement.
"As a motor transport operator, myself and the other Soldiers offer movement requirements expertise when it comes to line-haul movements that help the branch movement control team build transportation movement releases," said Staff Sgt. Kasie Pavasko, a motor transport operator with 66th Transportation Company.
The skill, knowledge and dedication of the transportation troops guaranteed that equipment for 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division was processed in a timely, efficient and effective manner, equipping Soldiers and allies for success during Exercise Trident Juncture 2015 and operations throughout Europe.
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