Unit returns proud of its work.

When the members of the 1185th Transportation Terminal Brigade deployed to Kuwait in January 2004, little did they suspect that their port operations mission would expand to include responsibility for surface distribution from the horn of Africa through the Persian Gulf region and into Central Asia.

For the last half of its yearlong deployment, the unit assumed command of the 595th Transportation Group, manning the unit that directly supports Central Command operations for the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.

It was the first time the command selected a Reserve unit to take charge of its operations for the CENTCOM theater.

The group had been recently created, with no permanently assigned personnel, explained Maj. Scott Linton, brigade assistant operations officer. From the beginning, brigade personnel filled some critical staff functions within the group before eventually taking over the mission.

"Becoming the 595th commander was a tremendous change in my lifestyle and the staff's," said Col. Martin Langan, 1185th commander. "Doctrinally, the staff sections are designed to support our brigade of about 100 Soldiers. They were supporting over 400 personnel belonging to the 595th."

In addition, a number of brigade Soldiers moved from the port into positions within Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries to support SDDC operations within the theater.

The port mission alone was extensive. During its yearlong deployment, the brigade managed the movement of several U.S. Army divisions comprising 19 million square feet of cargo from 171 vessels.

In between vessel operations, some brigade personnel took the time to become licensed on cranes, fork lifts and other materiel handling equipment.

"This is the first time the unit performed this type of task," Linton said. "The licensed Soldiers took over tasks typically contracted out, saving the Army and Department of Defense over $600,000."

The unit also managed the movement of relief equipment following the devastating October earthquake in Pakistan that killed more than 80,000 people and left millions homeless.

"We were able to respond very quickly because SDDC already has contracts and processes in place to move cargo into Afghanistan," Linton said. "It was just a matter of redirecting efforts into the affected area in Pakistan."

Vessels were loaded with supplies in Kuwait and moved to Pakistan, where they were trucked to an assembly area. They were then picked up and delivered to the devastated region by U.S. Army helicopters sporting American flags.

The unit is also proud of its role in managing containers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries in the theater.

"We focused a lot more on container management once our mission expanded beyond port operations," Langan said. "It was a tremendous team effort among the 184th Container Management Element, the 840th and 831 st Deployment and Distribution Support Battalions, other logistics units, and the warfighting units."

The efforts paid off, Langan said, leading to a significant decrease in container detention fees.

"I'm proud of the unit and what it accomplished," Langan said. "Everyone worked hard, putting the mission first and never forgetting who the customer was."

The brigade returned to its home station of Lancaster, Pa. on Dec. 23.

Story and photo by Patti Bielling, Command Affairs Specialist SDDC Headquarters Fort Eustis