May 20, 2016 –
PORT HUENEME, Calif. – Col. Toni Glover, 650th Regional Support Group commanding officer, visited Lt. Col. Keven McKenzie, 483rd Transportation Battalion commander, and the crew of the U.S. Army Vessel Malvern Hill (LCU 2025) at Port Hueneme, during the Operation Terminal Fury exercise May 20.
The Operation Terminal Fury exercise tests the abilities of transportation companies with vessel assets to respond quickly to emergencies in their area of responsibility, simulating real world natural disasters in a controlled area.
“A lot of people don’t realize that the U.S. Army Reserve has heavy boat units,” said Glover. “I am very impressed with this operation and the Soldiers who participated. The training these Soldiers are receiving here increases our readiness for DSCA mission.”
In the exercise scenario, a 6.5 earthquake has hit the surrounding area, destroying vital local infrastructure systems. In the 483rd Transportation Battalion tactical operations center, allied elements and accesses are used to reinforce and support this simulated situation.
Glover also visited the pilot of the USAV Malvern Hill, Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Kenny and his chief engineer Warrant Officer 2 Karl Irvin, who are members of the 481st Transportation Company (Heavy Boat) unit.
The 481st TC is one of two Army Reserve heavy boat companies operating the LCU 2000 vessel. Each vessel, who are stationed at Port Hueneme, are manned with 16 personnel.
“Our mission is to support the Army mission wherever it is, which is an enduring mission,” said Kenny. “Operation Terminal Fury is an opportunity to train our U.S. Army reservist, who do their annual training here at Port Hueneme.”
This military exercise will provide a demonstration of how U.S. military equipment and supplies can be quickly moved ashore when port facilities are nonexistent, damaged or too primitive for ships to off-load their cargo at a pier.
This exercise will bring together multi-agency partners who will pool their expertise and train jointly to improve the military's force projection and disaster response capability.
The 483rd Transportation Battalion is a functional transportation battalion that executes movement control in its assigned area of operation. It provides mission command over transportation companies spread throughout its area of operation.
The 483rd Transportation Battalion oversees the committing of Army theater common user transportation and is responsible for regulating Army movement in theater.