A crucial player in the theater distribution network

Courtesy Photo | A series of M1151s and MRAPs are staged in the CL VII Yard at the Victory Base Complex...... read more read more

Courtesy Photo | A series of M1151s and MRAPs are staged in the CL VII Yard at the Victory Base Complex CRSP awaiting transportation to outlying forward operating bases. At anytime, there are over 300 pieces of similar equipment prepared for movement  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.24.2009

Courtesy Story

10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

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CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The 21st Cargo Transfer Company, 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, is a crucial player in theater distribution network. Posted out of Fort Lewis, Wash., the unit deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10, 2008, for a 12-month tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. The first few months of the deployment have been relentless, and there are no signs that the operational tempo will slow.

The 21st CTC supports three very highly visible and important missions throughout Iraq: two Centralized Receiving and Shipping Points at Camps Liberty and Taji, and the Arrival and Departure Airfield Control Group at Sather Air Base, Iraq. Each critical node supports the onward movement of cargo to its final destination throughout the entire theater of Iraq and Kuwait.

The Victory Base Complex CRSP yard is manned by the Soldiers of 1st Platoon. The VBC CRSP is the smallest yard in terms of area, yet possesses the highest volume of cargo going through it on a daily basis. All cargo and equipment coming into the Multi-National Division - Baghdad and area of operations passes through the VBC CRSP yard first before moving onward to forward operating bases.

With a 51-Soldier platoon, the VBC CRSP yard runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The VBC CRSP is further broken down into two 12-hour shifts. Each shift contains four distinct sections: the container lane, cargo lane, Class VII lane and the database section. Each of the lanes are responsible for a different commodity: containers, cargo composed of either 463L pallets or wooden skids, Class VII lane consisting of various pieces of military rolling stock, generators, anything with a motor, and living containers . The database section provides the documentation and tracking of all cargo which transits the VBC CRSP Yard. 1st Platoon services local customers on VBC including all the Supply Support Activities, or SSAs, coalition forces on VBC, and the numerous customers throughout Iraq and Kuwait. The 1st Platoon goes by the motto "Always First" and is under the supervision of 1st Lt. Elizabeth Cal, a native of Miami, and Staff Sgt. Tonia Montgomery, a Fort Littleton, Pa., native.

To date, 1st Platoon of the 21st CTC has received 3,349 pieces of palletized cargo, 1,554 military containers and 1,852 pieces of Class VII. The VBC CRSP has shipped 3,502 pieces of palletized cargo, 1,690 military containers, and nearly 2,000 Class VII pieces in the two months since arriving in theater.

The primary responsibility of the CRSP is the expeditious transshipment of all cargo through the VBC CRSP Yard. Equally as important is the accurate tracking and documenting of all cargo that comes into the yard before it moves to its final destination on outlying FOBs. Additional responsibilities include ensuring all deploying and redeploying units' equipment meets the Required Delivery Date ensuring the SSAs receive the critical CL II and CL IX repair parts needed for the combat units, and coordinating the delivery of cargo that has a final destination within the Victory Base Complex. The primary means in which the cargo gets distributed throughout the theater is the utilization of both military and civilian convoys.

The VBC CRSP has serviced over 200 convoys traveling throughout Iraq and Kuwait. The Soldiers of 1st platoon coordinate the upload and download between 80 and 100 trucks daily from these convoys in, addition to local trucks, with Material Handling Equipment from the military and with the expert assistance of Kellogg Brown & Root civilian contractors. The Soldiers of 1st Platoon have, in addition to their assigned duties in the CRSP yard, performed 20 local missions for local customers requesting assistance for the movement of cargo. Most recently, six Soldiers helped transport 35 flat racks containing bullet proof fiber E-glass to future Dining Facility locations on VBC in support of the Army Corps of Engineers' building project to increase the force protection measures and further enhance Soldier survivability.

Since taking over the VBC CRSP yard, 1st platoon has worked countless hours to improve the current operating procedures with the numerous civilian and military units required to run an active CRSP Yard. The results of hard work and dedication are showing as the CRSP total piece count has dropped from 1300 pieces to 720 pieces; meaning the customers are getting their valued cargo faster and more efficiently. The biggest issue the CRSP yard runs into is pushing out the cargo, so the ability to load and unload cargo quickly has significantly improved the CRSP yard operations. The CRSP yard maintains a limited amount of MHE; consisting of one Rough Terrain Container Handler, two 10K forklifts, and one 4K forklift. The remainder of the MHE assets comes from KBR civilian contractors assisting in the operations. The skilled Soldiers of 1st Platoon have been able to help the KBR MHE drivers increase the speed of the load time for each convoy entering the yard by providing accurate documentation for each convoy and the operator skills and abilities to load and unload each truck in a minimal amount of time. Since their arrival to Iraq, 1st Platoon has worked to improve not only the operational procedures, but the infrastructure of the yard. One of our goals is to continually make improvements for the VBC CRSP yard for future rotations. The leadership is working on repairing the concrete ramp, acquiring new mobile ramps to expedite the loading of all rolling stock, increasing the quantity of light sets, and emplacing a new administrative trailer to allow for the Soldiers to have an area to eat meals and complete paperwork, and continuing with the general upkeep and appearance of such a busy and traveled yard.

Since deploying, the unit has facilitated the high priority cargo transfer needs of not only the Brigade, but the entire Corps, movement throughout Kuwait and Iraq. 1st Platoon, 21st Cargo Transfer Company prides itself on customer satisfaction, safety and overall efficiency of cargo movement as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom's theater distribution network.