Photo By Sgt. James Larimer | U.S. Soldiers from the 719th and 470th Movement Control battalions render a salute...... read more read more
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POWIDZ, Poland -- The 719th Movement Control Battalion, Task Force Patriot, formally transferred authority to the 470th MCB during a ceremony at Forward Operating Site Powidz, Poland, Sept. 5, 2025.
"Their efforts toward continuous improvement, refining outdated processes, enforcing standards, and their ability to deliver under pressure reflect a commitment to facilitate and enhance movement control operations at every level," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Browne, Task Force Patriot's senior enlisted advisor. "This deployment wasn't just successful; it was a solid example of what happens when Soldiers are trained, trusted, and committed to doing the job right."
According to Lt. Col. Terrence Flanagan, the task force commander, during their nine-month deployment they processed more than 3,100 movement requests, including 1,000 common-user land transportation requests, 1,400 commercial line haul requests, 300 bus requests, and 400 material handling equipment requests across 12 countries spanning from Finland to Georgia. The unit's liaison officers at National Movement Coordination Centers in Poland and Romania each processed nearly 2,000 missions while establishing critical relationships with NATO partners.
"Any time people or equipment needed to move within AO Victory, our team was responsible for processing those requests," said Flanagan, emphasizing how the battalion's work directly enabled theater operations.
The task force served as the critical transportation coordination backbone for major exercises including Defender Europe 2025 and Combined Resolve exercises, ensuring seamless movement coordination when and where needed.
Task Force Patriot consisted of active duty and Army Reserve units working together under 719th MCB leadership to accomplish the mission.
"One of the most impactful aspects of this rotation was the opportunity for our Soldiers to operate alongside units from both components," Browne emphasized. "This level of integration provided a unique environment for professional growth and mutual learning across the task force."
Active duty personnel gained insight into the distinct value U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers contribute through civilian expertise in information systems, data analytics, and process improvement methodologies. "This cross-component collaboration not only enhanced mission execution, but also fostered mutual respect, expanded professional development, and reinforced the strength of the total force concept," Browne said.
Task Force Patriot provided mission command to eight different Movement Control Teams as units rotated through the theater, with each team creating customs forms for military equipment and coordinating movements across multiple NATO countries with different transportation regulations.
Leading a geographically dispersed task force presented unique challenges. "The biggest challenge was ensuring that each company operated in the same way so that the customer experience was consistent," Flanagan explained. "This was challenging because each company was geographically dispersed from the headquarters and none were organic to the battalion."
Task Force Patriot overcame this by creating standardized processes. They established "Patriot University," an educational program that trained incoming teams and expanded to educate battalions and brigades throughout the area on movement request requirements.
The task force also developed an online digital customer handbook with reference materials, document examples, and detailed work instructions. This innovation significantly reduced processing times and improved approval rates.
"We found that the biggest contributing factor to delayed approvals was incorrect paperwork that required kickbacks," Flanagan said. "By improving the quality of the initial packet, we significantly decreased processing time."
The battalion's success stemmed from encouraging innovation and leveraging Soldiers' civilian expertise. One example was a vehicle load planner tool created by a Soldier that reduced calculation time from an hour to minutes.
"We had great conversations with junior Soldiers who created products that made their jobs easier," Flanagan said. "We then shared those products across the battalion, saving hundreds of hours and improving load planning estimates."
Task Force Patriot built critical relationships early by stationing liaison officers with National Movement Coordination Centers and having the command team meet with every center in their area. "This was critical when challenges came up and we already had established relationships with our partners," Flanagan said.
"I'm extremely proud of how the Soldiers performed," Browne said. "From the outset, they approached the mission with focus and discipline, creating products that improved operational efficiency, reduced error rates, and helped ensure mission success."
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2025 09:35 |
| Story ID: | 549805 |
| Location: | POWIDZ, PL |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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