The “JECCster 6” Form Up in Afghanistan

Photo By Capt. Jerry Duong | Lt. Cmdr. Rick Rodriguez, Lt. Col. Jeremy Baran, Maj. Matt Herbert, Maj. Jeffrey Jones, Lt. Col. Charles, Timney, and Lt. Col. Shad Lodhi gather on the roof of U.S. Forces - Afghanistan headquaters at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2019. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Lt. Col. Jeremy Baran)  

AFGHANISTAN

01.27.2019

Story by Capt. Jerry Duong 

184th Sustainment Command

By U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Jeremy Baran

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan — The Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) launched a short notice three-man mission tailored package (MTP) team from Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia, in mid-January, 2019, to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, to form the nucleus for a new joint planning team for the 1st Theater Sustainment Command's Afghanistan tactical command post (1TSC AFG TAC).

The MTP, requested by U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) director of logistics, is comprised of U.S. Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Shad Lodhi, U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Chuck Timney and Maj. Jeff Jones, arrived prepared to integrate with the specially selected 1TSC team, unaware they were stepping in a shop with three former “JECCsters.”

The nickname “JECCster” is given to all current and former members of the JECC, a command focused on providing decisive joint communications, planning and public affairs support to the Joint Force. It is a small community within U.S. Transportation Command.

“It was a welcoming sight to see former JECCsters who are supporting U.S. Forces Afghanistan J4,” said Lodhi. “Our combined Joint expertise to support Operation Resolute Support is immeasurable.”

One of the “JECCsters” welcoming the MTP was U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Jeremy Baran, a JECC logistics planner from 2012 to 2015. Deployed to Kuwait with the 300th Sustainment Brigade as the deputy commanding officer, he was retasked to serve as the mobility planning officer in charge for the 1TSC AFG TAC.

"There is a level of comfort seeing a former JECCster when you show up to a new area or new assignment or planning team, because you know what they know,” said Baran. “Plus we all have the credibility that comes with being members of the elite planning community.”

Joining the MTP and Baran are two more members of the “JECCster 6” team. U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Rick Rodriguez, USFOR-A multinational logistics chief, assigned to the JECC from 2012 to 2015, and U.S. Army Maj. Matt Herbert, USFOR-A joint communications team, assigned to the JECC from 2014 to 2018 before reassignment to the 4th Infantry Division.


The team immediately partnered with staffs from Operation Resolute Support, USFOR-A, and the Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade, as well as other Joint Logistic Enterprise partners, to provide collaborative solutions to complex operational challenges within Afghanistan; which is exactly what they were trained to do.

The combination of experience, expertise, and familiarity with each other’s process allow the JECCster 6 team to jump right into challenging tasks and provide value to their joint customers. They have developed products and reporting mechanisms used to brief all levels of command, from tactical to strategic, and reinforce the JECC’s reputation as the “Pros from Dover” for joint planning excellence.

• Date Taken: 01.27.2019
• Date Posted: 03.15.2019 05:59
• Story ID: 312097
• Location: AF