Story and Photos by:
Spec. James Clifton and
Pvt. Christine Bernat
Multi-National Forces Iraq
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| A KBR employee operates crane to lift a connex of cargo in preparation for a convoy at the Cargo Release and Shipping Point at Camp Liberty. The 923rd Movement Control Team, based out of Bakersfield, Calif., is responsible for overseeing the CRSP yard and monitors all convoy movements that come through the Baghdad area. |
VICTORY BASE CAMP, Iraq – Over the next year the United States military presence in Iraq will be reduced from 150,000 troops to 50,000. With the drawdown of those troops comes the drawdown of their cargo, supplies, vehicles, and other mission related equipment.
Imagine having to evacuate a city of 100,000 people with all their belongings in under a year and relocating them half way across the world. This is essentially the task at hand for the 923rd Movement Control Team, 420th Movement Control Battalion, out of Bakersfield, Calif.
“It is our responsibility to make sure our eyes and ears are on top of the movements of items in and out of country,” said Sgt. 1st Class John Patrick Cole, the 923rd detachment non-commissioned officer in charge and Des Moines, Wash. native. “We are the central hub of Iraq.”
The unit, in coordination with the 21st Cargo Transfer Company, several airmen, and Kellogg Brown & Root employees, helps to oversee the Redistribution Property Assistance Team yard, Cargo Release Shipping Point, and Foreign National yard. The RPAT yard specializes in receiving and distributing military vehicles to and from other units and areas and the CRSP yard stores and moves all cargo and equipment that comes through the Victory Base Camp area. The FN yard caters specifically to commercial cargo movement such as gasoline and food rather than equipment and vehicles.
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| Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Love of the 2nd of 402nd Army Field Support Battalion and Army Sgt. Paul Miglis of the 923rd Movement Control Team discuss the loading of several Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles at the Redistribution Property Assistance Team yard at Camp Liberty. The 923rd MCT, based out of Bakersfield, Calif., is responsible for overseeing the RPAT yard and monitors all convoy movements that come through the Baghdad area. |
When a family decides to move to a new state, they contact moving companies and hire drivers to transport their belongings safely to their new home. This process usually involves planning ahead and a bit of paperwork. The 923rd MCT’s mission over the next year is very similar to this.
When any military unit wishes to move cargo through the VBC area, they are required to fill out a Transportation Movement Request and submit their paperwork to the 923rd where it is digitally stored and tracked, said Spc. Devin Russell, a movement specialist for the TMR section. This section, which works directly out of the CRSP yard, copies all cargo and equipment information on to digital tracking devices which are attached to all shipping containers.
When cargo is ready for inbound or outbound movement, the 21st CT Co. guides and coordinates the loading and unloading of convoys through the CRSP yard. Anywhere from 50 to 100 TMRs are received by the 923rd and processed in one week. The time it takes for this entire process from start to finish varies on the size of the convoy.
Back at the 923rd’s main office, Soldiers oversee theater and corps movement operations, maintain radio contact with convoy commanders in order to provide emergency assistance, and update receiving MCTs on expected convoy arrival times.
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| Army Spc. Damian A. Ruiz and Army Sgt. Sonia Villasenor of the 923rd Movement Control Team brief another member of the 923rd over convoy movements during a shift change meeting. The 923rd MCT, based out of Bakersfield, Calif., hold daily and nightly shift change briefings in order to keep every soldier up-to-date with accurate information on all movements currently under their observation. (Photo by Private 1st Class Christine Bernat) |
If a problem arises with convoy movement, it can quickly bring the mission to a halt, said Capt. Angel A. Rivero, the 923rd detachment commander. “We do everything we can to avoid that.”
Prior to this deployment, only a small amount of soldiers from the 923rd had MCT experience. More than half had to cross-train and receive several months of specialized training in preparation for their mission.
“I am very proud of these people,” said Rivero, a St. Cloud, Fla., native. “They have diverse backgrounds and we use it to our benefit. The things they do reflect the quality of the soldiers in the unit. We set the tone for other MCTs. I feel very fortunate to have good NCOs and soldiers.”
Bakersfield, Calif., natives Sgt. Sonia Villasenor and Spc. David Villasenor are among the few with previous MCT deployment experience. This husband-and-wife team deployed in 2005 to Balad Airbase and operated the north and south entry control points there. Sgt. Villasenor also brings her civilian expertise as a cargo inspector for YRC North American Transportation located in California. Together, they provide a wealth of knowledge to the other soldiers in their unit.
“We’ve learned a lot and have gotten a lot accomplished already,” said 1st Lt. David Tongolei, the CRSP Section officer in charge, and Ontario, Calif., native. “I feel blessed and lucky to have good soldiers.”
As troops redeploy and their positions are phased out, Iraq finds its U.S. military population shrinking because these troops are returning home and not being replaced in accordance with the Iraqi-U.S. security agreement. The 923rd have a large responsibility over the next year to make the drawdown of equipment flow seamlessly. Little do the 100,000 troops leaving country realize how critical a role these less than two dozen soldiers with the 923rd MCT play in their redeployment.
“Our numbers are small but our eyes, ears, and hands are far out-reaching,” said Cole.
