SDDC shifts Caribbean port to Jacksonville, Fla.

With the recent move of U.S. Army South from Puerto Rico to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command is shifting its Caribbean port to Florida.

The 832nd Transportation Battalion is relocating from Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, to Jacksonville, one of the command's 18 strategic ports in the continental United States. The 832nd is one of 12 SDDC battalions worldwide.

The relocation will be complete in May.

"Jacksonville made the most sense," said Lt. Col. Paul Giovino, commander. "It is one of the best strategic ports because of its enormous size and the road and rail infrastructure."

SDDC will maintain a presence in San Juan as the Puerto Rico Detachment, under the command of the 832nd. A two-member office will monitor existing sustainment contracts that support other government agencies throughout the Caribbean.

The seven Soldiers and 30 civilians of the 832nd carry out the battalion's role as the single port manager for Jacksonville as well as all port locations within the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility. They also synchronize the surface transportation of Department of Defense cargo through all terminals in Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 832nd is now operating on the 800-acre Blount Island Marine Terminal, one of several of the port's facilities on the St. John's River. Blount Island boasts one mile of continuous berthing, which is among the largest on the East Coast.

Access is controlled through one bridge connecting the island to the mainland port. At any one time, Blount Island has available 75 acres or more of secure cargo area to store and stage equipment.

The storage capacity was crucial to deploying the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Giovino said. The 832nd oversaw operations at Jacksonville to deploy and redeploy the division in sup port of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Blount Island's other advantages include the extensive rail network and large open areas for helicopters to land, said Robert Peek, communications director, Jacksonville Port Authority.

"The railroad tracks come right to the dock," he said. "And the fact that helicopters can fly on and off the terminal makes this location ideal to deploy a unit like the 101st Airborne Division."

The move to Jacksonville took 18 months to plan and execute, said Giovino. Initial battalion personnel shifted to Jacksonville in June 2003.

"The Soldiers (of the 832nd) are really pleased with the quality of life in Jacksonville," said Giovino. "And of the civilians in the battalion--the majority of whom are native Puerto Rican--only two decided not to make the move."

A unit restructuring is in the works that will add eight members to the battalion's roster. The 954th Transportation Co., Cape Canaveral, Fla., will be discontinued and be reflagged June 1 as the battalion's Cape Canaveral Detachment. The detachment will have five civilian employees.

Last year was one of the busiest for military movements out of Jacksonville. Fifty military cargo ship visits were recorded at the port, and 4.3-million-square feet of cargo left on ships to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"We're thrilled to have the 832nd here permanently?' said Peek. "We always embrace military operations here. The military has always been good for the port and good lot the community.

"The city of Jacksonville is thrilled to have them here."