Big LOTS West: The Army Reserve’s premier seaport exercise

Photo By Gregg Moore | Two Landing Craft Utility 2000's from the 481st Transportation Company (Heavy Boats) are tied alongside a Naval Cargo ship at Alameda Point, Calif. on July 30, 2015. Army Reserve crews sailed both boats for 36 hours up the California coast from Port Hueneme to conduct harbor and seaport operations training at the Big Logistics Over The Shore, West exercise at Alameda Point, Calif., from July 25 to Aug. 7, 2015.  

ALAMEDA, CA, UNITED STATES

02.02.2016

Story by Lt. Col. Gregg Moore 

311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command   

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Some 75,000 troops with supporting supplies and vehicles funneled onto three Korean beaches in September 1950, resulting in one of the most audacious operations in the history of amphibious warfare. Retired Marine Brig. Gen. Edwin Simmons writes in his book, “Over the Seawall: U.S. Marines at Inchon,” that the Inchon landing resulted with an American-led decisive victory in the retaking of Seoul. This and numerous other examples validate the tactical and strategic importance of ship-to-shore operations. Army watercraft have been a part of every American war since invading Cuba in 1898.

The U.S. Army Reserve’s Big Logistics-Over-The-Shore-West 2015 exercise brought together more than 700 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and members of the U.S. Maritime Administration to train mission essential ship-to-shore logistics and sustainment tasks. For the second consecutive year, this exercise demonstrated the flexibility and capability Army Reserve sustainment commands have in discharging troops, vehicles, and materiel through austere ports, ship-to-ship, and over beaches.

Troops participating in Big Logistics-Over-The-Shore-West worked through this multi-echelon intermodal externally evaluated exercise with Caucasus Region scenarios overlaid on a Northern California map to facilitate situationally driven missions. A Sustainment Brigade provided mission command for two live and one simulated Transportation Terminal Battalions, multiple Seaport Operation Companies, a Harbormaster Detachment, a Heavy Boat Company with two Landing Craft Utility 2000s, as well as maintenance, medical, engineer, and network operations detachments.

“We are out here loading and unloading shipping containers off flatbeds, boats, and rail cars,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Fontenot, 441st Transportation Company. “Our role is important because it teaches the Soldiers how to track, locate, load and unload any pieces of equipment needed to accomplish the mission.”

These units operated concurrently between three Northern California training locations: Alameda Point, Military Ocean Terminal-Concord, and Reserve Forces Training Area Camp Parks. Units at Alameda Point billeted aboard the U.S.S. Hornet, a World War II era aircraft carrier, now serving as a museum. Co-located with the U.S.S. Hornet are Ready Reserve Fleet vessels operated by the U.S. Maritime Administration. The Seaport Operations units and the Heavy Boat Company trained with these ships in order to practice their vessel discharge tasks.

The U.S. Maritime Administration provided training platforms with three crane-ships, three roll-on, roll-off vessels, and experienced crews to assist the Army Reserve soldiers conducting their training. Alameda and Military Ocean Terminal-Concord are deep water ports large enough to handle the Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off vessels and Fast Sealift Ships.

In addition, California-based sailors contributed greatly to the success of the training. An active-duty underwater construction team conducted a dive hydrographical survey of the piers to ensure the safety of operations and a Naval Construction Group facilitated the transfer of 40 20-foot containers for use as exercise training sets. The Fifth Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment, a Naval Reserve unit, observed the training in preparation for their own logistics exercises.

“This is a great opportunity to learn more about the functions of the many Army Reserve units supporting this exercise and how they integrate together to accomplish this mission, increasing contacts, exchanging information and continuing to build a partnership with the Army,” said Cmdr. Alan Schmitt, 5th Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment.

The U.S. Air Force Reserve 45th Aerial Port Squadron from Travis Air Force Base, California, conducted Joint Inspection static cargo handling training with Army Reserve soldiers on a C-17 Globe Master and roll-on/roll-off training on a C-5M Super Galaxy, which included a flight from Travis Air Force Base to Moffett Field, California.

“What we have learned here is going to help us not only during wartime but also for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief if we’re ever called upon,” said Maj. Sean Sherwood, 302nd Transportation Terminal Battalion Commander.

The 311th ESC is expanding involvement for its June 2016 Big Logistics-Over-The-Shore-West execution by increasing the number of training partners. To include the participation of a Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Transportation Brigade to act as the Single Port Manager for the exercise with the Sustainment Brigade providing onward movement and integration as part of the Theater Distribution Mission. 2016 will also see the exercise linked to a Combat Support Training Exercise at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. Several smaller exercises will combine to provide the planners and leaders a challenging and complex operating environment with fewer simulated events than in previous years. It is becoming the premier from the port to the battlefield exercise for the Army Reserve.

For additional stories and photos of the 2015 exercise go to https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/biglogisticsovertheshorewest.

• Date Taken: 02.02.2016
• Date Posted: 02.09.2016 13:05
• Story ID: 188367
• Location: ALAMEDA, CA, US