TEAD mobilization exercise results exceed goals

More than 130 Tooele Army Depot (TEAD) employees from across the depot successfully completed and exceeded established goals during the 2017 Joint Munitions Command (JMC) Outload Assessment Exercise, April 3-6.

The assessment was held to validate "surge" outload capabilities that would replicate a real world surge outload capability operation using specific vessel requirements.

Throughout the exercise, an on-site evaluation team from JMC provided guidance and assistance while documenting outload process steps and evaluating lessons learned and potential best practices.

"I was not surprised the team from Tooele performed as well as they did," said Allen J. Rus, chief, transportation division, JMC. "I've worked with them for a number of years and knew their capabilities and dedication to their mission."

The assessment simulated days 0-3 of a strategic outload requirement at the start-up of a simulated contingency operation with shipping orders received on March 30. The goal for TEAD was to safely outload 125 containers with munitions for a scheduled lift on two vessels, therefore mimicking a dual-outload scenario.

TEAD staff completed the stuffing of 125 containers and placed the containers on railcars for transit by mid-morning of day 3; personnel then continued to complete all of the assigned requirements for the vessels - 134 total containers - by early afternoon of the same day, while continuing all other depot operational functions.

The exercise included 27 TEAD employees from across the depot as mobilization (MOB) augmentees who were trained to support the mission as a supplementary duty and were part of the assessment.

"Lots of people doing functions they don't do every day…they blended in and you would never have known it was not their primary job on the depot," said Rus. "They were experienced individuals and part of the team."

Throughout each day of the exercise, TEAD personnel pulled munitions from storage, provided blocking and bracing, and stuffed containers located at rail spurs for loading onto railcars.

"It was nice to see the cohesion between workers that have never worked together before… seemed to work together so seamlessly," said Jamison Smith, safety specialist, TEAD. "It's important to know what we are able to accomplish if we work at full strength. Even if you never have to do it, it's good to know what might be expected of you if the time comes."

By working as a cohesive team, TEAD was able to conduct two simultaneous container outloads going to two different ports; the first time this has been done at the depot.

"Anytime you have a MOB Exercise, you are able to better prepare for a true mobilization," said Debbie Hurley, administrative support specialist, ammunition operations, TEAD. "We will continue to make improvements in our processes to ensure we provide the correct ammunition, in the proper condition, in a timely manner for our Warfighters."

TEAD demonstrated a high level of readiness while minimizing risk and meeting operational demands during the exercise to better prepare for contingency operations in the future, according to TEAD command.

"We, Tooele Army Depot, exist to make sure we can do what we did this week," Col. Jimmy Brown, commander, TEAD. "We have people's lives depending on us and our ability to do what we do every single day. For the men and women of this country, who are willing to lay their lives on the line, this is the least we can do. Everybody here gets it."