Behind the scenes: 3 members of Team Bliss DPTMS conduct port operations, missile inspections before exercise

At a port in California, members of the Unit Training and Certification Division of the Fort Bliss Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security conduct inspection and accountability of Japanese missiles and equipment designated for the upcoming Japanese Army Annual Service Practice slated to start late next month at McGregor Range, N.M. The DPTMS personnel participated in port operations from June 30 through July 8 in California to help move the equipment to McGregor Range for the training exercise. Photo by DPTMS, Special to The Monitor.

DPTMS:
Special to The Monitor

Three members of the Unit Training and Certification Division of the Fort Bliss Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security traveled to California to conduct port operations June 30 through July 8 for this year’s upcoming Japanese Army Annual Service Practice, or ASP.

Eddie Keys, equipment specialist (missile), traveled to Concord, Calif., for inspection and full accountability of 22 Hawk missiles that will be fired during this year’s ASP. His task entailed coordination with the 834th Transportation Battalion at Concord Naval Base for the arrival and departure of ground transportation from port and final delivery to McGregor Range, N.M.

Keys provided a detailed report on missile status as they were offloaded from the vessel Strong Mariner to ground and loaded on ground transportation for delivery. His report included pictures of actual operation and conditions of missiles. Further coordination entailed the arrival and departure times of ground transportation critical to other Unit Training and Certification Division members awaiting delivery. This mission was completed successfully with full accountability of all missiles on hand at McGregor Range and without incident in nine days. Total delivery of three line haulers was required to get shipment completed. Upon completion of mission he provided a detailed after-action review to the division, laying out all aspects of port operations.

Clement Gray and Ulyssis Jamison, also equipment specialists (missile), traveled to Terminal Island near Long Beach, Calif., for full inspection and accountability of 63 pieces of Ground Support Equipment, or GSE, associated with the Hawk missile system that will be manned and operated by the Japanese army during this year’s ASP.

Workers transport Japanese missiles to McGregor Range, N.M. Members of the Unit Training and Certification Division of the Fort Bliss Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security participated in port operations June 30 through July 8 in California to help move the missiles to McGregor Range for the upcoming Japanese Army Annual Service Practice. Photo by DPTMS, Special to The Monitor.

All GSE equipment arrived on two separate vessels. The first vessel arrived July 2 and the second arrived July 9. Again, both members coordinated with the 834th Transportation Bn. at Concord Naval Base. This coordination included arrival and loading of ground transportation for departure to the final destination.

Detailed information was passed on to members on the receiving end of the shipment’s departure from port to McGregor Range. Their report included pictures of actual operations and equipment condition. This mission was completed successfully with full accountability of all GSE on hand at McGregor Range and without incident in 20 days. Twenty-six line haulers were required to complete the shipment. Upon mission completion, both members provided a detailed after-action review to the division.

The effectiveness and attention to detail of the members on the port operations side led to a smooth transition on the receiving end for other members tasked with storing and emplacing the equipment on Hawk sites 6 and 8 and T&E Bldg. 9599 at McGregor Range.