Transporters provide hands--on deployment skills. (Army-Reserve Partnership).

When an Army Reserve unit requested sealift deployment training from MTMC's 599th Transportation Group, it was logical that the request ended up on the desk of Carlos Tibbetts.

At the Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii, headquarters, and at his former operations job at MTMC Headquarters, the veteran traffic management specialist has a reputation for mastering organizational detail and training. If that is not enough, Tibbetts is a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel.

Tibbetts coordinated a mobilization training exercise May 5 that was a win-win scenario for both the 599th and the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii.

Members of the 599th Transportation Group got hands-on refresher training on staging unit equipment for sealift movement. Meanwhile, members of the 322nd received valuable deployment training.

"This type of outreach is vitally important to ensure smooth cargo movement portside," said Tibbetts. "The Reservists convoyed their vehicles and equipment to a simulated seaport in a ready-to-load state, including proper documentation. If they have to deploy in the future, they'll be ready."

For many Reservists, this was their first exposure to sealift deployment, said Lt. Col. Peter Hunker, a 322nd civil affairs officer. More than 60 soldiers and 10 High Mobility, Multi-Purpose, Wheeled Vehicles--loaded with unit supplies and equipment--convoyed to Wheeler Army Airfield for the exercise.

Donning bright orange safety vests, hard hats, and steel-toed boots, Sgt. 1st Class Duane Davis, Sgt. 1st Class Darryl Wassum and Staff Sgt. Sisi Fuluvaka, transportation NCOs at the 599th, directed the loaded vehicles to the staging area that had been cordoned off with white engineer tape. The objective of the mobilization exercise was to train and assess the troop's ability to do a 100-percent loadout of their equipment and supplies on unit vehicles for an overseas deployment, said Tibbetts.

In unison with 599th traffic managers, unit members used checklists to inspect equipment for problems involving maintenance, hazardous materials, and proper loading. Members of the 599th conducted briefings and demonstrations on documentation and scanning.

For the Reservists, the exercise was a valuable refresher, as the brigade is required to be capable of deployment within 24 to 72 hours.

The exercise was valuable experience for Spc. Melanie Carlos, a brigade member who trains just one weekend a month and two weeks a year.

"I definitely learned a lot about predeployment requirements," said Carlos, who noted the importance of detailed coordination among deployment participants.

The training received enthusiastic responses from commanders of both units.

"Today's training helped us better prepare to meet our contingency requirements," said Col. Brian Bowers, Commander, 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade.

Bowers' MTMC counterpart agreed.

The exercise was an excellent way to reach out to MTMC customers, said Col. Peter Gitto, 599th Commander.

"By providing training that develops a ready, responsive, and deployable Reserve component," said Gitto, "our soldiers and civilians also benefited by honing their own skills in single port management and ocean terminal operations."

Operations officers from both commands are already discussing-plans to conduct a simulated deployment by strategic sealift for the brigade's mobility exercise training requirement next year.

Following the hands-on portion of the exercise, participants received briefings on the Navy's Fleet and Industrial Supply Center-Pearl Harbor, and other key players in Hawaii who would support the brigade's deployment mission.