840th Deployment Distribution Support Battalion speeds up re-deployment process

BALAD, IRAQ

01.28.2009

Story by Pfc. Amanda Tucker 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

By Amanda Tucker
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – The 840th Deployment Distribution Support Battalion provides support to re-deploying units in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait using three functional areas of operation: Coast Guard redeployment assistance inspection detachment work teams, redeployment support teams and the transportation coordinated automated information management system support cell.

The first area, the Coast Guard RAID teams, are charged with assisting redeploying units with the proper shipment of hazardous materials to make sure it is in compliance with all federal and international regulations.

"Our unit and the Coast Guard RAID teams before us have, substantially, reduced the amount of money that the Army has had to spend on fines because of delayed and frustrated cargo," said Petty Officer Chris J. Bentley, a redeployment assistance inspection detachment worker for the 840th DDSB and Tacoma, Wash., native.

The service members on the RAID team check for hazardous material by inspecting the DD Form 2890 and 2781; they are papers for shipping and documentation that states everything is packed in accordance with regulations. After checking the paperwork, they ensure emergency response guides and material safety data sheets are also available in the containers, while inspecting them to verify they are properly contained and labeled.

"I feel like we're really able to help them get stuff put away and packed up quickly and give them a little piece of mind on the way out," said Bentley.

The two-man team on Joint Base Balad has checked approximately 40 containers and six to eight individual pieces of rolling stock or vehicles since arriving in theater in November.

Other responsibilities of the team are to process outgoing equipment by dividing the units they support between them. The TC-AIMS support cell supports battalion or smaller units, while the re-deployment support team supports brigade combat teams. The re-deployment support team flies to where the BCT is located while the TC-AIMS support cell has the smaller units bring the data to them.

Both of these sections use the TC-AIMS and transportation information processing system to track containers moving through theater.

TC-AIMS takes the equipment list and prints out military shipping labels, which includes the data information on the gear, to get the equipment back to the states. Spc. Raymond G. Bunce, a transport coordinator manager for the 840th DDSB and his team processed approximately 3,000 pieces of equipment out of theater since arriving in country two months ago.

"When they see the [unit] patch come they know they're going to be going home soon," said Bunce, a Phoenix, Ariz., native. "It makes me feel like I'm really doing something."

TIPS, the other system used by the 840th DDSB, uses radio frequency tags which are placed on containers to track equipment as it moves throughout theater. The tags run on a 3.6 volt battery and can be picked up by a radio frequency identification tag interrogator within a 300-feet radius.

According to Sgt. Aaron R. Davis, a movement noncommissioned officer for the 840th DDSB, and Goochland, Va., native, they processed up to 4,000 labels and burned 1,500 tags at one time.

In addition to helping establish the tracking of the equipment throughout its journey, the 840th DDSB has reduced the time it takes for units to leave country. By moving the headquarters from Kuwait to Joint Base Balad, the unit has reduced deploying units' dwell time in Kuwait from 60 to 90 days down to approximately 31 days.

"We are the rock stars of the transportation world," said Davis.

• Date Taken: 01.28.2009
• Date Posted: 01.28.2009 03:17
• Story ID: 29357
• Location: BALAD, IQ