Photo By Spc. Rochelle Prince-Krueger | U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Wahneta Rohde, left, 869th Movement Control Team...... read more read more
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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait–The U.S. has a long history of working side by side with the Kuwaiti government. Though units come and go, the basic collaborative mission has not changed. The Kuwait Ministry of Interior’s major responsibilities are public security and law and order.
“A significant concern of U.S. forces in Kuwait is traffic safety,” said 1st Lt. Brandon Reese, mobility officer with the 869th Movement Control Team. “When military vehicles and personnel are on the roadways of Kuwait, we need to make sure they make it to their destination safely and in a timely manner.”
To help ensure safety on Kuwait’s roads, the Kuwait Rear Operations Center, which falls under the KMOI, works side by side with the Soldiers assigned to 869th MCT, a U.S. Army Reserve unit out of Columbus, Ohio.
The KROC has worked with U.S. forces since 2003. Their mission is to plan, monitor, synchronize and control all ground movements within Kuwait. They also provide in-transit visibility and allocate all ground transportation assets throughout Kuwait.
About six Soldiers assigned to 869th MCT, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, work a rotational schedule guaranteeing there is someone at the KROC facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week in South Surah, Al Zahra, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
“KROC tracks all U.S. military and contractor operated vehicles conducting ground missions in Kuwait,” said Staff Sgt. Wahneta Rohde, noncommissioned officer in charge of the KROC. “We act as a liaison between the U.S. and the Kuwaiti military to coordinate the appropriate escorts for particular missions.
“When a U.S. servicemember or contractor needs to get something moved in Kuwait, they call their local MCT,” said Rohde, a native of Shelby, Ohio. “Their MCT will contact us to coordinate a date, time and route prior to departure.”
The Soldiers working at KROC communicate with their KMOI counterparts to ensure both nations’ needs are met. Each nation weighs several factors, including the number of vehicles, their cargo and their final destination.
According to recent studies, Kuwait averages about 200 traffic accidents per day and accidents cause about 1.3 deaths per day.
Reese said they have no major accidents involving U.S. convoys in recent records.
“Driving on unknown roads can be challenging,” said Reese, a Columbus, Ohio native. “Having police escorts helps to ensure the vehicles get to their destinations safely and in a timely manner.”
Though Kuwait’s primary language is Arabic, many Kuwaitis speak English. Interpreters work with both U.S. and Kuwaiti personnel to minimize miscommunication.
“Kuwait is a valuable partner to the U.S., and their partnership remains strong,” said Rohde.
According to the U.S. Department of State’s website, Kuwait is an important partner in U.S counterterrorism efforts, providing military, diplomatic and intelligence assistance.
The 869th MCT oversaw the mission from March to November 2014. The 610th Movement Control Team and 49th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) now oversee movement control and KROC operations and continue the partnership between U.S. military and Kuwait forces.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2014 05:20 |
| Story ID: | 148437 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Hometown: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Hometown: | KUWAIT, KW |
| Hometown: | KUWAIT CITY, KW |
| Hometown: | COLUMBUS, OH, US |
| Hometown: | SHELBY, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 264 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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