MTMC participates in test to minimize port threats.

One of the most vulnerable times for Military Traffic Management Command cargoes is at portside.

Cargoes awaiting loading or onward movement may be contaminated by hostile forces using biological or chemical agents.

To determine methods to minimize that threat, MTMC participated in "Operation Southern Breeze," at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, S.C.

"The premise was to evaluate the procedure of covering cargoes at ports in hostile areas to minimize the time required to decontaminate equipment," said E.J. Reneer, MTMC Test Coordinator.

In the process, Reneer said that a wide variety of Army equipment, including tracked vehicles, was assembled.

Identical vehicles were put in adjacent lanes, with one lane covered by tarpaulins and the second uncovered, during the April 28-May 7 tests.

"The whole idea was to work out the procedures for covering vehicles and to determine the feasibility of the concept," said Reneer.

MTMC had a lot of partners in the test.

"We had participants from 17 different commands and units," said Reneer.

The project was the No. 1 priority for all the military services and the Commanders-in-Chiefs when MTMC proposed the test in November 1998.

Last year, the General Accounting Office recommended that the military cover equipment sitting in ports to reduce the threat of biological and chemical contamination.

Key players included Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah: U.S. Army Chemical School, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.; Combat Equipment Group-Afloat, Charleston, S.C.; and the Naval Weapons Station.

"This was a really diverse group," said Reneer. "While we came from different disciplines, we united and worked very well as a team."

Soldiers who participated came from several organizations, including the XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C., as well as Army Reserve units from the 81st Regional Support Command.

Reneer, who worked for the test over a period of two years, said that the operation presented many challenges.

"The very biggest challenge was getting the environmental approvals," said Reneer.

"We used plastic covers on the hard stand and were very careful with water runoff."

The chemical used in the test, Oil of Wintergreen, was benign.

Originally, the test was combined with a proposed Military Sealift Command test.

"There are a lot of Large, Medium-Speed, Roll-on/Roll-off ships docking at the weapons station," said Reneer. "It would have been perfect to put the two together."

Eventually, after several ships were rescheduled, the decision was made to conduct separate tests.

What did the test prove?

"We're going to evaluate all the test results--and that will take some time," said Reneer.

A complete report is due by December.

"This was a very important test," said Reneer. "Although we do not know the results now, they may well change the process and appearance of our port movements."