Anakonda 16 (AN16) was a Polish national exercise involving over 30,000 participants from 20 nations seeking to train, exercise, and integrate Polish national command and force structures in an allied, joint, and multinational environment. This exercise demonstrated allied defense capabilities to deploy, amass, and sustain combat power.
To prepare for AN16, the 39th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) needed to develop a situational understanding of the theater and learn how to support both U.S. and NATO forces. The battalion had to determine how to improve operational access and how to extend operational reach in order to provide supported forces with freedom of action.
The battalion leveraged lessons learned during its 18 months operating in Atlantic Resolve North, but it had never dealt with the volume of Soldiers and equipment scheduled for AN16. Another challenge for the battalion was that AN16 depended on small, geographically dispersed teams that operated across Poland. To meet this challenge, the 39th Transportation Battalion had to train junior leaders and Soldiers on the mission support, field craft, and leadership skills that they would need to operate in an austere environment.
EXPEDITIONARY SKILLS
The battalion identified significant degradation in the Soldiers' and leaders' basic field craft knowledge. Soldiers needed to relearn field craft in order to operate in the complex European theater during a crisis.
The 39th Transportation Battalion's companies and detachments used the crawl, walk, run process to develop individual and collective task proficiency. Units made the most of focused training time and weekly sergeant's time training. Units began sergeant's time training with either a foot march or a convoy to the training location to incorporate those skills into their repertoire. These skills were trained and tested almost weekly along with "focus tasks" for the week. Focus tasks included training on establishing a battle position and sectors of fire, securing and defending an assigned area, cargo tie-down procedures, nine-line medevac procedures, and radio operations.
Radios became a regular part of training. After a year of requests, the battalion received approval from the German government to operate frequencies on a consistent basis in the Kaiserslautern and Baumholder training areas.
Company-level training transitioned into field training exercises in Grafenwoehr, Germany, which required a 235-mile convoy from the battalion's home station. After the exercise, the companies began incorporating expeditionary tasks into multinational field training. For example, the 51st Transportation Company took more than 200 Soldiers and 65 vehicles 1,000 kilometers across international borders to train with Polish allies from the 10th Logistics Brigade. During the 10-day exercise, the company established a logistics support area in an austere training environment. Training focused on multinational base defense and situational training exercises and included convoy dry-fire and blank-fire exercises.
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Leader development focused on training sergeants, staff sergeants, and lieutenants on doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) that were relevant to operations in Europe.
The battalion had been conducting a convoy commander and transportation academy for several years, but the academy's focus was U.S. Central Command TTP. Therefore, the battalion S-3 updated the academy's classes to reflect current doctrine and TTPs for supporting regionally aligned forces (RAF) in Europe.
The transportation portion of the academy was adjusted to focus on customs clearances, march credits, diplomatic clearances, in-transit visibility, rail operations, air-loading procedures, and container tie-down procedures. This training provided Soldiers with knowledge of the European requirements and prepared them to conduct movement control across Europe.
The convoy commanders' curriculum saw the most significant update: counter-improvised explosive device training was no longer the priority. The focus instead included diplomatic clearances, host-nation interaction, route selection and approval, and accident reporting procedures. This update took into consideration that the average convoy would cross four international boundaries.
The effect of this update was successful. In the year prior to AN16, the battalion used this training to execute more than 800 convoys, and 99 of those convoys were led by sergeants, staff sergeants, and lieutenants.
EQUIPMENT READINESS
The 39th Transportation Battalion had more than a hundred containers full of equipment spread across four installations in Germany and Italy. The commander directed that all containers be inventoried and inspected for serviceability. This process ensured the unit's ability to deploy quickly to AN16 and allowed the battalion to turn-in over $11.2 million's worth of excess equipment.
The 39th Transportation Battalion was tasked to provide movement control, transportation, bulk fuel, aerial delivery, and distribution all in an austere environment in direct support of U.S. Army Europe's assigned forces and RAF.
MOVEMENT CONTROL. Movement control requires the ability to coordinate the reception and onward movement of cargo and personnel. Very quickly the battalion identified a shortfall in the Transportation Coordinators' Automated Information for Movement System II (TC-AIMS II) that was used to plan and execute unit movements.
The Army had moved away from standalone software and transitioned to a web-based TC-AIMS, but this software was not being used for the mission in Europe. In 2016 the battalion conducted operations in 33 countries, many of which did not have the communications architecture to support TC-AIMS II. After extensive research and involvement of offices across the Army, a standalone TC-AIMS II was issued and tested.
AMMUNITION AND FUEL. With an anticipated requirement to move ammunition and fuel to 17 locations across Poland, the 39th Transportation Battalion had to have vehicles certified to carry hazardous materials. U.S. military vehicles are required to be certified in accordance with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
Theater Logistics Support Center-Europe, a subordinate of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) is the only organization in Germany that certifies equipment as ADR compliant. The 39th Transportation Battalion worked through the 16th Sustainment Brigade and 21st TSC to request higher priority for the certification of its trailer fleet. Within six months, the battalion increased its number of ADR-certified M872 trailers from one to 28 and its ADR-certified M1075 palletized load systems (PLSs) from one to 19. This provided the battalion with the capacity to transport 97 20-foot ammunition containers, almost two brigade combat teams' worth, in a single lift.
Certifying both the M872 trailers and PLSs became a game changer when, 90 days before AN16, the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command deadlined 119 of 120 M872 trailers for corrosion. As a result, ammunition was moved by PLSs instead.
The trucks that would be transporting bulk fuel required ADR certification too. The battalion increased its ADR M969 trailers (5,000-gallon fuel tankers) from 40 to 56, making the unit capable of moving over 270,000 gallons in a single lift, which is enough fuel to and fill all of an armored brigade combat team's assets.
COMMUNICATIONS. Because of the Department of Defense's global rebalancing of forces, units in Europe were at the bottom of the priority list for the fielding of essential communications equipment. Two of the most critical needs were updated FM radios and Joint Capabilities Release-Logistics (JCR-Log).
In the spring of 2015, the 39th Transportation Battalion began fielding advanced system improvement program radios. The new radios required not only upgrades to other equipment, such as new locking bars and hub battery boxes, but also new equipment training.
Fielding JCR-Log would allow the battalion to track and communicate with vehicles operating across Europe. The fielding provided just 84 systems for the battalion's more than 300 vehicles and provided no mounts or wiring for the M915A5 line-haul tractor truck.
Implementing JCR-Log provided the battalion with real-time visibility of convoys and direct communication with the convoy leaders. As Soldiers learned the system, overlays were created for many of the primary routes and locations that the battalion traveled. These overlays contained supply routes, safe havens, border-crossing points, hospitals, and training areas.
PREPARING THE TEAM
The battalion conducted multiple exercises to validate its tactical operations center (TOC) layout and systems in preparation for AN16. Most of the battalion staff had never operated in an austere environment with only tactical communications. The staff conducted training on JCR-Log, Command Post of the Future, and FM radio communications.
Lessons learned by noncommissioned officers attending battle staff schools became the basis for battle-tracking and maintaining a common operational picture of the theater. To validate the staff's training and mission command proficiency, the battalion executed a staff exercise.
The exercise included five company-level "shock" events and no-notice missions consisting of various scenarios coupled to one objective. One company reacted to an improvised explosive device and conducted medevac procedures while conducting a convoy. Other companies conducted force protection on their assigned areas and movement control operations.
Because of the location of the missions, preparing the team meant considering multinational operations. Key personnel were selected to attend NATO schools to help them understand the doctrine and, more importantly, to establish the connection between U.S. and NATO logistics. This training proved instrumental when the battalion used NATO's Logistics Functional Area Services (LOGFAS) system to synchronize and track movements during Trident Juncture 15.
EDRES
The 39th Transportation Battalion conducted numerous emergency deployment readiness exercises (EDREs) to validate equipment readiness, leader development, and expeditionary readiness at various echelons. The battalion validated EDRE level one monthly through no-notice alerts in which companies checked their alert rosters, uniforms, and Soldier readiness processing checklists.
For EDRE level two, companies tested vehicle readiness, manifests, and container load plans. For EDRE level three, the companies conducted all of the steps in the previous two levels and a cross-border convoy. EDREs were a great tool that helped the companies and the battalion identify gaps in planning, readiness, and execution.
THE BATTALION FTX
The battalion conducted a field training exercise (FTX) to test systems that would be used during AN16. FTX preparation began with the military decisionmaking process (MDMP). Most of the staff had never done the MDMP, so each session became a block of instruction. At the end of the MDMP, the staff published an order to steer company planning and preparation for the battalion FTX.
Before the battalion FTX even began, there were challenges. The headquarters and headquarters detachment had limited tent capacity, no camouflage netting, and insufficient generators. To overcome these issues, the battalion ordered and conducted lateral transfers for tents and additional equipment.
In March 2016, the battalion started its FTX by deploying the advanced echelon consisting of the S-3, S-4, S-6, and the command post node team to the Grafenwoehr training area. The first focus was security followed by communication. The advanced echelon established the assault command post to provide mission command while the main body was on the move. The assault command post provided JCR-Log, FM radio communications, and video teleconferencing capability. Communications continued to improve; this FTX was the first time the battalion was authorized FM frequencies for use in a mission that spanned Germany.
Once the main body arrived, the headquarters conducted mission command of all of the battalion's operations across Europe from the forward TOC. This validated the effectiveness of the equipment, structure, and systems that would be used in Poland in 2016.
INCORPORATING THE ARMY RESERVE
As operational demand increased in Europe, the 39th Transportation Battalion supported over 15 multinational operations and exercises, including Saber Strike, Combined Resolve, and Atlantic Resolve. The battalion also supported Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base Passenger Transit Center operations in Romania. With only four movement control detachments, it supported marshalling area control group and custom clearance officer (CCO) missions.
The demand for movement control affected the detachment's readiness. Most Soldiers were away from home for six to nine months, which left little time for collective training. AN16 required more than three movement control teams in Poland alone, so alternate solutions needed to be identified.
To fill the shortfalls, the 39th Transportation Battalion integrated reserve movement control detachments from the 7th Mission Support Command, U.S. Army Reserve, in Germany. This increased the number of detachments available for the European theater to five.
In July 2015, a reserve movement control detachment was placed under the tactical control of the 39th Transportation Battalion and deployed for six months in support of Atlantic Resolve. Since then, reserve movement control detachments have continued to rotate to support Atlantic Resolve and CCO missions and to augment branch movement control teams in Germany. These units have reduced active duty movement control Soldiers' time away from home to an average of four to six months.
Most of the sustainment units in Europe are one deep. There is only one aerial delivery unit and one line-haul unit supporting both the U.S. European Command and the U.S. Africa Command. To supplement active duty forces and increase capabilities for the future, Army Reserve units, including the 458th Ordnance Company, the 961st Transportation Detachment, the 421st Quartermaster Company, and the 428th Transportation Company, traveled to Germany for their annual training.
For two weeks these units trained with the 39th Transportation Battalion in movement control, maintenance, distribution, and aerial delivery operations. This training not only certified the reserve units in their Sustainable Readiness "ready" year but also provided additional expertise and experience to active duty Soldiers.
The 458th Ordnance Company trained with the 66th Transportation Company and provided maintenance support for the battalion's M915 and M872 trailers. This enabled the transportation company to conduct daily distribution across Germany, Poland, and the Baltic States. Several of the reserve mechanics worked on commercial tractors as civilians, and the techniques they taught the transportation company mechanics reduced downtime and improved fleet readiness.
The 961st Transportation Detachment trained with the 627th and 635th Transportation Detachments on rail operations, customs clearances, diplomatic clearances, calculating the center of balance of vehicles for airlift, and in-transit visibility. The riggers from the 421st Quartermaster Company trained with the 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company on parachute packing.
The 428th Transportation Company trained with the 66th Transportation Company to transport general cargo across the European theater. This included participation in the multicomponent distribution team supporting AN16 reception, staging, and onward movement from the port of Szczecin, Poland, to the training areas in the country.
The integration of reserve units provided augmentation for daily missions across the theater and familiarized the reserve units with operating in Europe. While only the 428th Transportation Company provided direct support for AN16, these training opportunities gave the reserve units the knowledge to operate in the European theater. Having these units ready is a force multiplier if security conditions change.
INTEROPERABILITY
Atlantic Resolve brought many changes to the European theater. The 39th Transportation Battalion's efforts to develop and improve relationships in Poland and the Baltics during Atlantic Resolve set the conditions for RAF success during AN16.
TASK FORCE STILWELL. In January 2015, the 39th Transportation Battalion deployed Task Force Stilwell, an expeditionary sustainment element, to Atlantic Resolve North for 90 days. Atlantic Resolve North includes Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The task force consisted of a mission command element responsible for movement control, customs clearance, mail operations, distribution, and bulk fuel.
Sixteen months before AN16, the battalion conducted sustainment operations in Poland. Routes were developed, relationships were created, fuel resupply points were identified and approved, and routine coordination with the host nation was conducted. Atlantic Resolve North operations in Poland set the theater for the 39th Transportation Battalion to support AN16.
MOVEMENT CONTROL PARTNERSHIPS. In March 2015, the battalion began integrating movement control personnel into the national movement coordination centers (NMCCs), in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. NMCCs process movement paperwork for cross-border missions. The partnerships at the NMCCs created a communications network among U.S Embassies and the supported units and NATO allies moving across four countries. The battalion's relationship with the NMCC in Poland reduced the clearance approval process from 30 days to five days during AN16.
The 39th Transportation Battalion continues to develop relationships with movement control teams from Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Romania, and Hungary, among others. These relationships have developed into NATO-ready movement control.
During Trident Juncture 15, the 39th Transportation Battalion provided movement control as part of the NATO Joint Logistics Support Group. The 635th Transportation Detachment was an essential part of the Movement Control Unit (MCU), which integrated Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, British, and Lithuanian movement control teams into the process.
At each location, the NATO MCU used movement plans developed in LOGFAS to verify each movement and reported the actual arrival and departure times to the Joint Logistics Support Group. In total, the MCU tracked movements for 26 nations including the movement of more than 36,000 passengers, 800 convoys, 4,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers, 700 air movements, and four rail movements.
BULK FUEL DISTRIBUTION. During Trident Juncture, the 515th Transportation Company was part of the Modular Combined Petroleum Unit, which consisted of British, French, Spanish, and Italian fuel teams. This unit used every possible adapter from each nation to connect tankers, fuel bags, fuel farms, and retail fuel operations. These operations initiated the development of a fuel interoperability guide that will become part of the basic issue items in each of the 515th Transportation Company's tankers.
After seeing and learning about the composite risk management process and risk assessments used by the U.S. forces, the Modular Combined Petroleum Unit commander took information on composite risk management back to his organization. This information will be incorporated into NATO fuel operations doctrine.
DISTRIBUTION AND VEHICLE RECOVERY. The 51st Transportation Company conducted a training exercise with the 10th Polish Logistics Brigade. During the exercise, the company tested its PLS trailers' compatibility, vehicle recovery interoperability, and entry control point operations and conducted driver's training with the Polish unit.
Being able to exchange PLS trailers provides multinational solutions to distribution challenges. Vehicle recovery interoperability training increased capacity for NATO. This training proved valuable during AN16 when elements of the same 10th Logistics Brigade unit were task organized under the 16th Sustainment Brigade.
LESSONS LEARNED
Throughout 2015, the 39th Transportation Battalion focused on leader development, readiness, and enabling the alliance. The battalion observed multiple areas of its operations and readiness. One area that needed improvement was the non-use of TC-AIMS in operations. To fix this, the companies upgraded their TC-AIMS software and trained Soldiers on the system.
The battalion's force protection standard operating procedure needed to be updated to address the quick reaction force, communication, and entry control point procedures. This was achieved, and proficiency in defending an assigned area was improved through weekly sergeant's time training.
The battalion developed main support routes across the theater, which set the conditions for the transportation of bulk fuel, supplies, and general cargo by line haul, rail, ferry, and fixed-wing aircraft to supported units across the European theater. The battalion also executed theater aerial delivery to provide a faster, more direct line of distribution.
The preparation for AN16 was arduous but rewarding. During AN16, the battalion used TC-AIMS to create, manage, and update equipment and deployment information. The battalion executed movement control operations at the seaport, aerial port, railhead, and tactical training areas. It tracked 535 convoys moving into, out of, and throughout Poland and 56 rail operations transporting 2,687 pieces of equipment. It also conducted marshalling area control group operations for over 1,000 pieces of equipment.
The battalion also executed 130 transportation movement releases that resulted in 70,000 miles traveled, 2,000 tons of supplies delivered, and the movement of more than 500 containers and 300 pieces of rolling stock to 15 different bases in Poland. These operations enabled supported units' operational reach and freedom of movement.
Participating in AN16 allowed the 39th Transportation Battalion to test its capabilities to provide command and control, sustainment, distribution, theater opening, and reception, staging, and onward movement. The validation of the battalion during AN16 has ensured its ability to create open access and extend operational reach that enables freedom of action for any exercise or operation.
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Maj. Benjamin Rosario is the operations officer for Defense Coordination Element Region IX, U.S. Army North. He was the battalion S-3 for the 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st TSC. He hold a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Puerto Rico and an MBA in logistics and supply chain management. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, and the Command and General Staff College.
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