Teamwork

***image1***Ramstein’s Joint Mobility Processing Center exemplifies teamwork in action at the passenger terminal.

The JMPC serves as the hub for deployment operations originating or terminating at Ramstein. It processes deploying passengers and cargo, ensuring everybody and everything deploying from, or redeploying to Ramstein is properly processed, accounted for and configured for air or ground transportation.
Operated by the 435th LRS, the JMPC relies on many organizations to get the job done.

The 435th Mission Support Squadron staffs the personnel readiness unit, and is responsible for processing deploying personnel. They are assisted by representatives from medical, legal, the chapel, finance, safety, intel, Office of Special Investigations, the Red Cross and the Airman & Family Readiness Center, who help staff the processing line.

Unit deployment managers also play a critical role in organizing unit personnel and equipment before it even gets to the JMPC.

“The better job the UDMs do back at their units, ensuring their people and cargo are ready to go, the easier the job is at the JMPC,” said Senior Master Sgt. Bill Nivison, JMPC superintendent.

The JMPC also conducts training for UDMs and unit personnel on pallet build-up and hazardous cargo preparation, and then depends on the units to apply that training when it comes time to deploy.

Activities at the JMPC involve more than just 435th Air Base Wing and 86th Airlift Wing Airmen, though.

Once the JMPC staff processes deploying passengers or cargo, Air Mobility Command Airmen perform final inspection and take over when it comes time to load the aircraft. The partnership with AMC is fundamental to achieving a smooth process  ensuring the capability to rapidly deploy.

In addition to AMC, the JMPC works closely with the Army when they process personnel and equipment moving to or from their consolidation point on Rhine Ordnance Barracks. There is also increasing NATO use of the JMPC.
The JMPC is a multi-wing, multi-major command, multi-service and multi-national effort.

The nature of the JMPC mission means surge operations are a fact of life. Depending on the scale of a deployment or redeployment, things can be too much to handle for the normal day-to-day staff.

To handle any surges, the JMPC adds to its normal workforce with augmentees from elsewhere in the 435th Logistics Readiness Group.

“Supporting deployment operations is really a no-fail mission at Ramstein,” said Lt. Col. Jody Cox, 435th Logistics Readiness Group deputy commander. “Whenever it’s necessary, we mobilize whatever resources it takes from across the group to support operations at the JMPC.”

The JMPC has some significant improvement coming in the near future. In 2009, construction will begin on a new $24 million facility to replace the existing building and result in some significant enhancements.

Deploying personnel get mobility bags in one building, weapons in a different building, and then they eventually come to the JMPC for final processing. The new building will replace what had once been a vehicle and equipment maintenance facility with a building designed specifically for the role the JMPC performs.