Lessons will shape future unit training.

Leaders from Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command units are drawing on their experiences in current operations to help mold training for the future.

Active and reserve members from around the globe met with the command's training developers Dec. 15-17 in Williamsburg, Va., to begin devising new unit training objectives known as mission-essential task lists.

An updated task list is important given the command's expanded mission. which recently grew from managing and operating ports to overseeing the surface distribution of cargo from origin to destination, said Brig. Gen. Charles Fletcher. Jr., commander.

"We're also moving to expeditionary operations, and we'll need to hit the ground with world-class capabilities." Fletcher told the assembled leaders. "We need the input from you, the experts in the field, to create a trained and ready expeditionary capability."

"There's a need to transform, even while we're at war." said Lt. Col. Brian Sundin. commander of the 842nd Transportation Battalion. Beaumont, Texas. "At the battalion level, we appreciate being part of the process from the beginning, instead of the recipient of a product at the end."

Leaders worked in small groups to develop suggested training objectives for the headquarters, transportation groups, rail battalions, active and reserve terminal battalions and deployment support brigades.

The timing is right for updating the new task list, especially now that the command has assumed training oversight of its war-traced reserve units, said Col. Robert Askey, director of Training Readiness and Mobilization.

Until early 2004, the U.S. Army Reserve Command had oversight of training and readiness for these units that, upon mobilization, fall under SDDC's command and control.

"By standardizing training and making sure it's battle-focused, we can better ensure unit readiness and better realize our vision of a modular structure in the near future," said Askey.

The workshop was a first step in the development of the new mission-essential task lists. Conference attendees will continue to provide input remotely until the process is complete. The final products are scheduled to be published in July, Askey said.

Patti Bielling, Public Affairs Specialist

SDDC Operations Center