SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The Honorable Alan F. Estevez, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense (Logistics and Materiel Readiness), and U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Brooks L. Bash, Director for Logistics, Joint Staff, visited Military Ocean Terminal Concord, Calif., Monday for a close look at the West Coast's primary military ammunition port.
"It was great to have the opportunity to showcase our terminal and demonstrate our capabilities for these senior leaders," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kenneth Sheets, commander of the 834th Transportation Battalion. The battalion manages port and installation operations for MOTCO.
MOTCO, along with Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, N.C., on the East Coast, represent a significant percentage of the Department of Defense's total ammunition throughput capability within the continental U.S.
During the visit, Estevez and Bash observed ammunition terminal operations conducted by 834th Trans. Bn. personnel. Approximately 1,250 containers were cleared through the terminal from a ship carrying reserve stocks.
"MOTCO represents a unique strategic capability and it was important for us to come out here and see it firsthand," said Bash.
According to a recent analysis conducted by the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's Transportation Engineering Agency, the capability to move the types and amounts of ammunition MOTCO handles is unmatched on the West Coast. The throughput capacity to handle large quantities of ammunition at MOTCO is achieved by isolating the piers and munitions holding areas located in the center of the terminal's over 6,500 acres.
MOTCO's location and capability provide particularly vital support the U.S. Pacific Command's mission and is extremely important to our National Military Strategy.
In addition to providing installation management and ammo terminal operations at MOTCO, the 834th Trans. Bn. provides customs clearance for all Department of Defense equipment and general cargo coming into California seaports, and is also responsible for manifesting vessels that transport DOD cargo entering and leaving the strategic seaports throughout the state.
MOTCO and MOTSU are assigned to the 596th Transportation Brigade, one of five subordinate units of SDDC, the Army Service Component Command to U.S. Transportation Command.
SDDC is a unique Army command delivering world-class, origin to destination distribution solutions. Whenever and wherever Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are deployed, SDDC is involved in planning and executing the surface delivery of their equipment and supplies.
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