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BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Command teams of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 39th Transportation Battalion (Movement Control) conducted a weeklong pre-deployment site survey with the deployed 49th Joint Movement Control Battalion recently.
The 39th Trans. Bn. is due to replace the 49th JMCB in the spring. Travel time was several days for the PDSS nine-person team to reach their future area of deployment.
For Lt. Col. Michael Knapp, incoming 39th Trans. Bn. commander, and Lt. Col. Charles Blumenfeld, 49th JMCB commander, it was reunion, as both previously served in the 39th Trans. Bn.
“It was good to see Knapp again, as we were both captains together in the 39thTrans. Bn. back in 1998,” Blumenfeld said. “The 39th Trans. Bn.’s area of responsibility was much different back then. We did not have as many movement control teams, branch movement control teams or a truck company.”
After a brief reunion, the command teams departed to Kandahar for a short visit with the 45th Sustainment Brigade and various MCTs.
Meanwhile, the staff worked with their counterparts to gain a distinctive insight on their processes, procedures and areas of responsibility.
The PDSS gave the commander and staff a sneak peek into daily downrange operations. The experience will allow for better pre-deployment training in the coming months. For some members of the team, this was their first experience in a combat environment.
“Overall, the PDSS was a great experience. I was grateful that the battalion leadership selected me to attend the trip,” said 1st Lt. Shawn Zuma, officer in the communications office. “I now have a greater understanding of the deployment process, our battalion’s mission in theater and what I need to do to prepare my staff section for the deployment.”
