Photo By Master Sgt. Kevin Young | A Marine from the 4th Landing Support Battalion, Savannah, G.A., directs movement of...... read more read more
By Capt. Chris LeCron
841st Transportation Battalion
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The 841st Transportation Battalion recently shipped the 2,000th mine resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP) by sealift to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Charleston, S.C., March 2008.
These MRAPs are considered the top DOD acquisition and transportation priorities due to their life-saving armored protection.
"MRAPs are the top priority mission for us, said Maj. Isabel Geiger, 841st Trans Battalion Operations Officer. We expect to continue moving this cargo at a high pace, said Geiger."
The largest sealift shipment of MRAPs out of Charleston reached over 500 vehicles on one Navy cargo ship. Transporting the same amount of vehicles by airlift would require approximately 150 Air Force cargo planes.
The MRAP airlift mission will continue as it is the fastest method to transport the high priority cargo. However, the ability of DOD sealift by the 841st in Charleston to ship several hundred MRAPs on roll-on roll off vessels and over 500 MRAPs on Navy cargo ships will ensure that sealift transports the vast majority of MRAPs.
To date, we have shipped over 2,400 MRAPs without incident, said Lt. Col. Haufe, 841st commander.
The 841st manages a dedicated workforce of civilian longshoremen that provide superior labor. Without the local 1422 longshoremen, we would have to bring a large group of qualified soldiers to the port to act as our labor force, said Kristine Sports, 841st Contracting Officer Representative.
The 841st has a contract with the stevedoring company, Marine Terminal Corporation-East to provide this labor force for all seaport deployment and redeployment operations at Charleston and several other East Coast strategic seaports. Since Charleston is such a busy seaport for military cargo, the longshoremen have been able to obtain and maintain experience driving and transporting all types of military cargo to include MRAPs.
"We are putting all of our efforts and time into shipping this life-saving equipment," said Guillermo Mosquera, 841st Transportation Specialist, Department of the Army civilian. Mosquera is a retired Sgt. 1st Class Soldier with many years of experience transporting DOD cargo at seaports to include a recent tour in Bahrain.
"We take great pride in assisting with the safe, secure surface movement of such high priority cargo," said Chief Warrant Officer Robyn Kapperman, Military Outload Liaison, Coast Guard Sector Charleston. Kapperman coordinates Coast Guard waterside security and seaport force protection escorts for MRAP sealift and other priority DOD sealift missions in Charleston.
"The shipment of these MRAPS is a top priority mission for the Army and Marines, said Maj. John Sattely, commander of the Savannah Marines, 4th Beach Terminal Company, Landing Support Battalion. We provide 5 to 10 member teams of Marines to support these MRAP sealift missions. These missions give my Marines a great training opportunity, help SDDC reduce contracted labor costs, and give us the opportunity to support a high priority DOD logistics mission."
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2008 10:41 |
| Story ID: | 18185 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 575 |
| Downloads: | 345 |
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