Ceremony signals pivotal MTMC reorganization.

Signaled by a simple ceremony, the Military Traffic Management Command has taken the first steps in the most important organization change in its history.

The flag of the MTMC's Deployment Support Command was retired Nov. 7 in a ceremony adjacent to the Fort Eustis unit.

For the first time in almost 40 years, MTMC no longer will have one, or more, subordinate headquarters for its Continental United States port terminal units.

MTMC's Fort Eustis organization now serves as the command's operations center--a single headquarters for all its global operations. The change involves a transition process that will extend through June 2003.

"A huge step forward is being taken to make the Deployment Support Command into the MTMC Operations Center," Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, Commander, told employees and guests.

"Today we are leveraging the center of excellence to become the operational hub of the Military Traffic Management Command. It is a quantum step forward in the best interest of the Military Traffic Management Command and this work force."

The organization change is designed to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic layering. When completed in mid-2003, as many as 260 employee spaces--252 civilian and eight military--will be eliminated.

This represents an 11-percent reduction in MTMC's 2,346 currently authorized positions.

The Military Traffic Management Command is responsible for global surface transportation movements in the Department of Defense.

The assimilation of the operations mission at MTMC Fort Eustis was accelerated by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, according to Brig. Gen. Barbara Doornink, the former Commander of the Deployment Support Command.

"It has propelled us at a rate of speed we could not have imagined," said Doornink. "It is a challenge we cannot afford not to meet. I hold great hope and confidence that you will meet every challenge and curve ball."

In the new organization, Doomink has assumed the position of MTMC Deputy Commanding General and Director of Operations.

The Deployment Support Command was formed Oct. 2, 1998. It consolidated many of the functions and duties of MTMC's former ocean ports at Bayonne, N.J., and Oakland, Calif. The two ports were closed in September 1999 as part of the 1995 Base Realignment & Closure Commission.

MTMC Fort Eustis employees were upbeat about the change.

"The consolidation of operations here at Fort Eustis will be beneficial to the command and its customers," said Lori Starke, Chief, Daily Operations East Team, Command Operations Center.

"Change is a good thing, and hopefully, this will work out well for everyone."

Patricia Glover, a MTMC Fort Eustis administrative officer, is no stranger to change. She originally worked at Bayonne before accepting a transfer to Fort Eustis.

"I don't think it matters much what name we have," said Glover. "We're still going to do the best job we can for the command and for the warfighter."

MTMC's new operations organization will be aligned within four functional areas. Three divisions at Fort Eustis will include: Plans, Readiness & Mobilization, headed by Col. Gary Engel; Deployment Operations, headed by Col. Dennis Faver; and Global Distribution, headed by Navy Capt. Kevin Walter. The fourth division, Programs and Policy, headed by Col. George Montgomery, will be located in Alexandria, Va.