MTMC's image is `world class' in Congressional testimony.

All in all, Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky appeared before the legislators about 90 minutes.

But it was getting to that final, perfect presentation by the MTMC Commanding General that mattered. It took a select team of specialists at the MTMC Operations Center at Fort Eustis, Va., and several of the command's most forward thinkers in Alexandria, Va., to draft the comments and research the issues.

For those involved in the preparation, there was almost no other work done on other issues for four or five workdays.

Actually, the work of our team members ended a day or so before the July 23 hearing. That is a when final, crisp statement of our Commanding General's comments were forwarded to the committee to be made a formal part of the record.

Of course, that is when Privratsky's real work started--in the last 24 hours or so he carded the burden alone. The Commanding General had to ensure he had all the facts straight and in order. Questions could come in from almost any quarter on deployment security at the nation's strategic seaports from the members of the National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations on Homeland Security Subcommittee, of the House Committee on Government Reform.

It was only a 20-minute ride by subway from MTMC Headquarters in Alexandria.

The Congressional heating room was more like a courtroom. I sat only two rows behind the witnesses who were seated at a small rectangular table. The heating room was probably built to hold 100 or so visitors.

I thought, "What amazing stories would unfold if these walls could talk?"

During the heating, I watched the members of Congress study the panelists' every move and gesture as they intently listened to each speaker. The very future of Defense Department operating funds was under their scrutiny.

As the heating neared its conclusion, I experienced a mental sigh of relief in seeing our Commanding General's poise in testimony and questions from the committee members.

I though to myself: "This is what being a liaison is all about."

As the first congressional liaison for MTMC, I view my job as an chance to break new ground in linking communication from the command to Capitol Hill. A successful hearing is just one of those links.

I felt honored to be a member of the team of individuals who helped prepare for this important hearing. The starting point of the Commander's confident responses came from the hard work of many, many members of the MTMC staff.

With each heating and Congressional action, I learn new ways to support the command. I hope future MTMC liaisons will have an easier time doing their job because of this pioneering work.

When the Commander sat back after completing his statement, and the Committee members nodded positively--I knew we had all done a good job.

Suddenly, the heating is over. A great weight seems to lift.

I take a breath. Privratsky is smiling and talking to his fellow presenters.

It's time for me to smile as well.

I give special thanks to one of my U.S. Transportation Command counterparts, Mimi Iacono. She gave us good advice in the testimony preparation. I am so glad she got to see MTMC's world-class presentation.

By Leesha Saunders Galery Legislative Liaison MTMC Headquarters Alexandria