Transportation Mission is Transferred in Iraq

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Scott | Lt. Col. Corey New, the commander of the 53rd Movement Control Battalion gives a speech at their tranfer of authority ceremony Feb. 23 at MWR East on Joint Base Balad, Iraq.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

02.23.2011

Story by Sgt. Stephen Scott 

103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq— “We load the ship, we load the trains so that the other lads can load the guns and planes,” says the Transportation Corps song. The song was performed as part of the transfer-of-authority ceremony Feb. 23 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation center at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

The 14th Movement Control Battalion, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), moved one step closer to boarding a plane on their way home as the 53rd MCB assumed responsibility of the movement control mission for United States Forces-Iraq.
Soldiers with the 14th MCB expressed their joy about returning home.

“I can’t wait to go home,” said Spc. Juan Martinez, a transportation movement request processor with the 14th MCB, and a Freer, Texas, native. “I have a 3-month-old son I haven’t met yet.”

Martinez also said that this deployment was a learning experience for him and sometimes, especially during the drawdown of forces, it got hectic.

The 14th MCB processed more than 50,000 movement requests over the last year, said Lt. Col. James Rupkalvis, commander of the 14th MCB, and a Mitchell, Neb., native.

Although the workload was intense at times, it wasn’t more than the 14th MCB could handle.

“Were able to protect our soldiers, support our airmen and civilians, and accomplish our mission during a high operation tempo,” said Warrant Officer Rosanny Del Carmen, the property book officer with the 14th MCB, and a San Juan, Dominican Republic, native. “I think this was a very successful deployment.”

A unit’s size is not always indicative of its proficiency and ability to be productive.

“It just continues to amaze me how such a small group of soldiers, airmen and civilians are able to have that much of an impact on a daily basis,” said Rupkalvis.

Lt. Col Corey New, commander of the 53rd MCB, and a Rumford, Maine, native, said that the 14th MCB’s accomplishments throughout the deployment set the bar high for his incoming unit. “We only hope to continue the momentum and the high standards they have established,” he added.

Rupkalvis expressed faith in the 53rd MCB’s ability to carry on the mission.

“They’ve come in eager to learn and ready to take over the movement control mission here in Iraq,” said Rupkalvis. “They’re an outstanding unit and will undoubtedly be successful here.”

New said that he believes the 53rd MCB is fully equipped and ready to take on current and future challenges thanks to the mentorship from the 14th MCB.

The 53rd MCB’s movement control mission will be the same as the 14th MCB’s, but New alluded to the fact that they will have an additional responsibility as well.

“When it’s all said and done, our final mission will be to ensure that this is the last transfer-of-authority ceremony of a movement control battalion in Iraq,” said New.

• Date Taken: 02.23.2011
• Date Posted: 03.06.2011 06:53
• Story ID: 66572
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ