USAREUR's movers.

IN DECEMBER 2003, U.S. military agencies worldwide combined efforts to organized and control the movement of some 42,000 Soldiers and more than 27,000 pieces of equipment both into and out of Iraq and Afghanistan, in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Equipment had to be moved simultaneously through multiple countries, each with its own rules and regulations regarding air, rail, barge and commercial truck movement.

U.S. Army, Europe, commander GEN B.B. Bell gave the commanding general of the Germany-based 21st Theater Support Command overall responsibility in Europe for the deployment and redeployment of all USAREUR forces to and from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"A task this large requires cooperation and teamwork from dozens of agencies and many times that number of people," said 21st TSC commander MG Bennie Williams. Every member of the team was a critical player in moving more than 75 percent of USAREUR's total force.

Among the organizations outside USAREUR were the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Installation Management Agency--Europe, the Air Force, the Defense Logistics Agency, German Joint Task Force-7, Contracting Command and many others.

Representatives from Germany, Austria, Italy. Belgium and the Netherlands helped clear the way for the massive amounts of USAREUR equipment that flowed through their countries.

As requirements changed in the OIF theater of operations, the 21st TSC deployed approximately 30 percent of its own uniformed strength in addition to accomplishing its originally assigned mission. Additional USAREUR units, including the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, joined the effort.

During the original build-up of forces for OIF the 21st TSC pushed out, in a little over six weeks, approximately 18,000 vehicles and cargo for V Corps Headquarters and separate brigades, the 3rd Corps Support Command and the 1st Armored Division.

The 21st TSC was called upon to move some 4,000 pieces of equipment per week to support the USAREUR relief in place for OIF II. The unit reviewed all of its missions and assigned tasks to subordinate units and outside agencies to achieve proper command and control at each stage of the various movements.

1st TMCA

Each of the command's five brigade-size elements--the 1st Transportation Movement Control Agency, 200th Materiel Management Center, 37th Trans. Command, the 29th Support Group and the General Support Center-Europe--specializes in various methods of high- and low- level logistical operations.

The 1st TMCA is USAREUR's movement controller. It develops transportation infrastructure, working with host-nation authorities to orchestrate the theater transportation plan for movement of equipment by train, barge, airplane and truck.

The 1st TMCA developed a theater transportation plan for the movement of all USAREUR equipment and the synchronized movement of all forces during the operation. It sent elements to coordinate with SDDC deployment support teams to help each unit determine such vital information about its own equipment as height, weight and physical dimensions.

The 1st TMCA then used these data to determine what assets would be needed to move equipment in the time allotted.

29th Support Group

The 29th Sprt. Grp. provides combat-service support to USAREUR and is the 21st TSC's only deployable support group battalions and an aviation intermediate maintenance battalion under its control.

The 29th Sprt. Grp. coordinated with LMA-Europe to establish operations and assume command and control at some 13 rail sites in Germany, as well as seven installation staging areas and marshalling areas for three barge sites.

At the ISAs and marshalling areas 29th Sprt. Grp. personnel inspected, for shipment. Working hand in hand with the SDDC, they managed traffic flow and the safe loading of equipment onto barges.

Hundreds of barges, rail cars and commercial line-haul trucks moved the military cargo to the port of Antwerp, Belgium, where all traffic arrived into or deputed Europe.

37th TRANSCOM

The 37th TRANSCOM has two main missions--transportation and military-police operations. Its personnel coordinated and supervised 21st TSC efforts at the port of Antwerp. Their activities complemented the work of the SDDC personnel loading Navy transport ships at the port.

200th MMC 

The 200th MMC is the command's center for management of theater-level supply and repair parts. Its personnel met critical supply requirements, providing uniforms, body armor and other equipment for the deploying soldiers.

The GSC-E 

The General Support Center-Europe is the fifth brigade-sized element under the 21st TSC. At its repair and refurbishment centers virtually any piece of equipment in the Army's inventory can be fixed.

The GSC-E was involved in all phases of the operation, working early on to complete the installation of cab reinforcement kits and .50-caliber ring mounts to deploying 5-ton trucks. Its personnel also performed maintenance at the port of Antwerp, so vehicles could be loaded into ships on schedule.

Teams were also sent to Kuwait to assess equipment from returning units, so that vehicles requiring major overhaul work could be identified early on and shipped directly from Antwerp to repair facilities.

In April 2004 the 21st TSC continued its operations for the relief in place of OIF II. The carefully synchronized operation resulted in the movement of some 15,000 Soldiers and more than 70,000 tons of equipment belonging to the 1st Infantry Div. and other Europe-based units that redeployed from Iraq.

Simultaneously, more than 27,0000 Soldiers and more than 150,000 tons of equipment were deployed from Germany-based units.

"This operation, in all its complexities and with all its challenges, has succeeded without a serious injury and with all goals met exceeded," said Williams. "This was the result of units, agencies and host nations supporting our Army team.

"They synchronized their movements and operations for the successful deployment and redeployment of virtually all of USAREUR," be said.

MAJ Mark Wright works in the 21st Theater Support Command Public, Affairs Office in Germany.