NDTA Military Unit of the Year Awards.

Since 1966, NDTA has annually honored units of the military services that have performed outstanding service in transportation or a related field. These units are selected by each of the Services and receive the NDTA Military Units Award at the Annual Transportation and Logistics Forum and Exposition.

Army

US ARMY ACTIVE COMPONENT

32nd Transportation Company Medium TRK (PLS)

The 32nd Transportation Company, stationed at Fort Carson, CO, has the mission to deploy and conduct truck transportation of containerized and general cargo using the Palletized Load System (PLS). The unit is currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of the Nation's effort to defeat global terrorism, and its aggressive training schedule in 2008 set it up for success despite the tumultuous last six months of the year.

Late in the deployment cycle the unit was re-missioned from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), causing a shift from theater-provided equipment to requiring home station equipment, and the deployment date was moved up by six months. Trey Deuce quickly increased from 19 PLS vehicles to 60 up-armored PLS vehicles, rigorously trained its soldiers on the new equipment, installed extensive communication equipment on each vehicle, trained to self-protect with the MRAP gun trucks, and prepared and shipped 512 major end items via rail, sea, and air to the OFF Theater.

Because of the shift in deployment dates, the unit was required to simultaneously ship its equipment from both Fort Carson, CO, and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, LA, upon completion of its 30-day mission rehearsal exercise.

It performed all these tasks successfully and arrived in theater mission-ready. Because of the 32nd Transportation Company's dedication to mission accomplishment, it is named this year's Army Active Duty NDTA Unit of the Year.

US ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

1844th Transportation Company (TC)

The 1844th Light/Medium Transportation Company (TC), based in Quincy, IL, has a peacetime mission delivering light to medium cargo throughout the Mid-West. Deploying to Kuwait and Iraq in April of 2008 was to be a totally different mission.

The 1844th TC was assigned as a pure medium transportation unit operating tractor-trailers instead of five ton cargo trucks, supporting the theater of Iraq. On November 1, 2008, six of the eight convoy teams re-fitted to convoy security teams, and the teams excelled in the security mission.

Based at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, the 1844th readily accessed cargo at the sea ports and airports for delivery to Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Iraq, transporting more than 78,000 tons of equipment and supplies to more than 28 FOBs throughout Iraq. For 10 months the 1844th executed 78 Combat Logistic Patrols, 16 Combat Escort Patrols, and 137 local transportation missions, travelling more than 751,946 miles over the most challenging roadways in the world.

The unit brought home all unit members safely and, with the support of the Illinois Army National Guard's Yellow Ribbon Group, successfully reintegrated them with their families and employers. Because of the 1844th Transportation Company's dedication to mission accomplishment and to sustaining the war fighting capabilities of more than 150,000 coalition forces, the unit is named this year's Army National Guard NDTA Unit of the Year.

Marine Corps

USMC ACTIVE COMPONENT

Combat Logistics Battalion 6

By virtue of its extraordinary service to I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) from March to September 2008, Combat Logistics Battalion 6 (CLB-6) has distinguished itself not only as the premier combat logistics battalion in the Marine Corps, but also as one of our Nation's foremost operational support providers.

Utilizing both air delivery and ground transportation assets, CLB-6 executed effective combat logistics support to more than 150 combat logistics patrols, logging more than 25,000 mission miles in direct support to Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT-5) and general support to Multi-National Force-West (MNF-W). This support was instrumental to the success of MNF-W in its efforts at conducting counterinsurgency operations in western Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

CLB-6 transported more than 1480 containers, 1,724,500 gallons of fuel, 4,814,800 gallons of bulk water, and conducted more than 21 Air Deliveries and 50 Helicopter Support Team missions to remote locations, and in some cases, in support to clandestine operations along the Iraq-Syrian border.

CLB-6's professionalism and commitment to mission excellence had a direct and measurable impact on RCT-5's ability to conduct counterinsurgency, security, and stability operations and to transition to operational over-watch. It also contributed to the development of the Iraqi Security Forces in and around the western portion of the Al Anbar Province.

CLB-6 is truly deserving of the National Defense Transportation Association Military Unit of the Year Award.

USMC RESERVE COMPONENT

2nd Beach and Terminal Operations Company Bravo

2nd Beach and Terminal Operations Company Bravo's accomplishments in 2008 once again raised the bar of achievement in 4th Landing Support Battalion and in 4th Marine Logistics Group.

The direct support the company has provided to the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command's 841st Transportation Battalion, as well as to the Director of Logistics, 3rd Infantry Division, has had a positive impact, as well as furnished the company with exclusive joint logistical experiences within Marine Forces Reserve. These experiences will not only significantly assist the unit in the future augmentation of the active duty component mission, but also provide its members with hands-on core competency training, which will further strengthen their skill sets for future logistical and transportation missions.

The enterprising concept behind this support has proven to be a successful Department of Defense model for both 2nd Beach and Terminal Operations Company and the United States Army by minimizing contracted skilled labor costs and assisting in maintaining operational units' force deployment timelines in support of the Global War on Terror.

The unit's ability to maintain high training standards while learning and integrating new tactics, techniques, and procedures keeps this company current and competitive with its active duty counterparts.

In recognition of these extensive accomplishments, 2nd Beach and Terminal Operations Company Bravo is awarded the National Defense Transportation Association Award for a US Marine Corps Reserve Component.

Navy

US NAVY ACTIVE COMPONENT

Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Sigonella (FISCSI)

The men and women of Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Sigonella (FISCSI) have distinguished themselves through exceptional service by delivering responsive, tailorable, and deployable combat logistics support to warfighters throughout Southwest Asia, Africa, and Europe. Their outstanding performance in support of simultaneous real-world operations, in addition to various exercises and regular ship visits, was critical to successful mission accomplishment.

On many occasions, the team executed no-notice transportation support for relief efforts in Georgia and Lebanon. Responding efficiently to short-fused requirements, the supply center delivered timely logistics support for a wide range of missions stretching from Rota, Spain, through the Red Sea to the port of Umm Qasr in Iraq. Combined with routes from South Africa to Scotland, the supply center covered littoral countries in nearly 30 million square miles of sea space in very unstable regions.

The center supported nearly 200,000 forward-deployed US and coalition forces and played a major role in executing and coordinating transportation logistics support for Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle, Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Gulf of Aden, and the ongoing African Partnership Station. The supply center's deployed troops also maximized and optimized ashore re-supply for underway replenishments to eight Combat Support Groups, ten Expeditionary Strike Groups, and six Station Support Groups transiting through the five choke points of the world.

NDTA recognizes the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Sigonella as its Navy Active Component Military Unit of the Year.

US NAVY RESERVE COMPONENT

DLA Defense Energy Support Center Fuels Management Team

The Defense Logistics Agency's Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) Fuels Management Team (FMT) is the only Navy Reserve Unit supporting the DESC. Its mission is to develop and provide a trained cadre of bulk fuel professionals capable of immediately augmenting the Defense Energy Support Center and its regions.

The four officers and six enlisted personnel who make up the unit provide direct support to various DESC deployments, operations, and exercises throughout the world. Five unit personnel were deployed in 2008 to support DESC-Middle East, providing more than 890 man-days of direct support. One member of the team established a Liaison Officer position for DESC with the US Embassy in Afghanistan. The team member monitored border crossings and met with Afghan government ministries to ensure the smooth flow of fuel trucks at the border. In operations, exercises, and training, the FMT contributed another 105 days of support.

While serving with DESC-Middle East, unit personnel performed as Liaison Officers, Fuels Supervisor, and Inventory Manager in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Overseas Contingency Operations. The team's accomplishments included providing fuels support to the 27 countries in Central Command with a primary focus on Iraq and Afghanistan and ensuring the constant flow of 25 million gallons of fuel per week.

The team is certainly deserving of recognition as the Navy Reserve Component NDTA Military Unit of the Year Award.

Air Force

USAF ACTIVE COMPONENT

332d Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron

In 2008, the 332d Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron (ELRS) successfully met the demanding combat operations tempo of Operation Iraqi Freedom, projecting life sustaining logistics support from six separate locations.

Despite more than 360 enemy mortar and rocket attacks, the squadron maximized combat power capability throughout the Iraq Area of Responsibility (AOR), directing aerial port operations at the Department of Defense's busiest aerial port and transporting more than 284,000 tons of cargo and more than 487,000 passengers on 42,000 mobility airlift missions with one quarter of the manning of a stateside aerial port.

The squadron championed Central Command's commercial aircraft tender program, utilizing contractor carriers to transport more than 14,000 tons of cargo and saving $90 million in priority transportation costs while reducing the stress on organic US Air Force aircraft.

The squadron supported the first commercial passenger carrier landing in Iraq. This successful proof-of-concept enabled future passenger missions directly into Iraq, removing an entire transient point of travel and shaving 36 hours of travel time to Iraq.

The squadron spearheaded the pre-positioning of more than 2700 M-16/M-9 small arms at Joint Base Balad, establishing accountability and issue procedures and saving $1.75 million in annual excess baggage fees.

The actions of the men and women of the 332 ELRS led the Commander, United States Air Force Central Command, to declare it, "the best squadron in the AOR to date," and earned it the NDTA Military Unit of the Year Award.

USAF RESERVE COMPONENT

80th Aerial Port Squadron 

The War Fighting 80th Aerial Port Squadron of the 94th Mission Support Group, 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, led 44 aerial ports in contributing the most deployed airmen in the Global War on Terror and was second in combined Global War on Terror and Air Expeditionary Force support.

The command element of this unit led the 506th Enterprise Location Referencing System team, Kirkuk Regional Air Base, while additional leadership and other teams deployed to Balad Air Base. Twelve percent of the unit's membership was TDY through 2008, and 37 members prepared for forward deployment to Central Command, representing 35% of the squadron engaged directly in the war effort.

Multiple missions were coordinated with the 5th Ranger Battalion, serving more than 2400 passengers. The aerial port team also supported the processing and loading of more than 1200 Rangers during final jump, resulting in an increase in Active Duty Army Ranger readiness.

Performing phenomenally during Annual Tours, the 80th APS moved 4578 passengers and 3510 tons of cargo on 244 missions. Always combat ready, an 80th APS deployment readiness system tracks 3887 events, increasing readiness from 49% to 83% in 4 months. The unit's Load Planning section increased qualified load planners 76% in 12 months, aggressively improving wartime capability.

The 80th APS truly deserves recognition as the US Air Force Reserve Component NDTA Military Unit of the Year.

Coast Guard

USCG Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA)

The US Coast Guard's largest command outside of the United States, Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, set the standard for operational excellence by managing the logistics associated with training, organizing, supporting, and deploying combat-ready US Coast Guard Forces. More than 400 Coast Guard and Navy staff members provide seaside security, law enforcement training, military exchanges, cargo inspection services, and logistics support.

The command's primary mission--providing a continuous security presence at Iraq's Northern Arabian Gulf oil platforms--requires an 11 -ship fleet that transits more than 135,000 nautical miles.

The mission includes the training of foreign Coast Guards and Navies throughout the Middle East and military exchanges within the Area of Responsibility, and the five person team deployed and trained the militaries of eight countries in 2008.

The command performed a force protection assessment of the port of Umm Qasr, which allowed the first port call of a US ship there in more than three years.

The command also inspected cargo containers retrograding to the US and cleaned wheeled vehicles and equipment in nine Central Command countries, cleaning 239 pieces of rolling stock and inspecting 3050 containers. This resulted in a 25% reduction in the amount of US Army cargo arriving as frustrated freight when shipped to the US and a 15% reduction in the amount of time required for cargo to clear customs.

Patrol Forces Southwest Asia is the US Coast Guard's NDTA Military Unit of the Year.