USAREUR planners practice logistics ops lay out

***image1***More than 200 Soldiers and civilians from U.S. Army Europe major subordinate commands participated in a rehearsal of concepts drill Aug. 10 to 11 at Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern.

In two days, a cadre of USAREUR planners theorized a move of nearly 6,000 pieces of equipment and hundreds of troops through Europe and on to Afghanistan and Iraq.

The planners, along with representatives from the Installation Management Agency-Europe and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command laid out their detailed movement plan for USAREUR leaders and representatives from units preparing for upcoming deployments.

The 21st Theater Support Command led the briefings and was responsible for the planning and movement of USAREUR units and equipment in support of operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

“We want the deploying units to be able to see the exact process they will go through from loading up in their motor pools all the way through getting on the plane,” said Maj. Joel Johnston, 21st TSC plans officer. Major Johnston termed the briefings as “overlaying the overlay,” a reference to days before computer technology made obsolete the use of maps with acetate sheet overlays to illustrate movement plans.

“The feedback during the ROC Drill is very positive, because it allows different organizations to synchronize, work out issues and leave on one sheet of music, understanding what everyone has to do to be successful,” said Lt. Col. Ross Johnson, 21st TSC chief of plans and exercises.

The plan calls for movement of units and their equipment from late summer through mid-winter using various methods of transportation throughout Germany, including barges, trains, and commercial vehicle carriers, said Colonel Johnson.

“In previous years, we pushed a lot of equipment out of USAREUR,” said Colonel Johnson. “Now, with the concept of units deploying to OEF and OIF using ‘stay-behind’ equipment that’s already on the ground, the numbers have significantly decreased over the past couple of years.”

Between late 2003 and spring of 2005, the 21st TSC helped transport more than 30,000 vehicles, other equipment, and thousands of Soldiers.