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832nd Transportation Battalion

The 832nd Transportation Battalion is responsible for conducting small to large ship operations in deploying units and Deployment Distribution Support Teams (DDST) worldwide. Specifically, the DDSTs routinely deploy into the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility to support joint chiefs of staff exercises throughout that region, including expeditionary transportation support to humanitarian events or contingencies within the area of responsibility.

In 1997, as part of the transformation of the Military Traffic Management and Terminal Service (MTMTS) to the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC), the command's subordinate units were reflagged. This led to the formation of the 832nd Transportation Battalion, assigned to the 596th Transportation Group (Terminal).

By the late 1990s, the mission of the 832nd Transportation Battalion was to synchronize Defense Transportation System surface cargo movements. The Battalion planned, coordinated, and accomplish the expeditious and economical movement and documentation of Department of Defense sponsored cargo through terminals and facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean and provided Single Port Management and Traffic Management in peace and crisis. The Battalion also monitored contractor performance related to stevedore and related terminal service contract, basic ordering agreements, ocean carriers, and motor carriers. The Battalion advised and assisted wartraced US Army Reserve units as assigned by Commander, MTMC Deployment Support Command (DSC) and deployed/redeployed forces as directed by Commander, MTMC DSC. The Battalion participated in Joint Chiefs of Staff exercises and provided Commander in Chief, US Southern Command a single point of contact for all movements within the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.

On 23 July 2001 it was announced that the Army had approved a sweeping reorganization of the Military Traffic Management Command that would make fundamental changes in the organization's structure, staffing and operations. All the changes were to be in effect by 30 June 2003. Implementation of the proposal was complete by 30 September 2001. The 832nd Transportation Battalion was transferred from the 596th Transportation Group (Terminal) to what became the 597th Transportation Brigade as part of the transformation. As part of major changes to the MTMC (which became the SDDC in 2004), and additional changes Army-wide as part of Base Realignment and Closing Commission (BRAC) recommendations, the 832nd Transportation Battalion was also relocated to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

During 2011, at the Port of Jacksonville, the 832nd Transportation Battalion completed ship operations of 17 vessels with more than 7,234 pieces of cargo for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade’s deployment, redeployment, and other Overseas Contingency Operations Retrograde missions. With Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center Tug and Barge, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Beyond the Horizon, and Army Watercraft Special Mission, the Cape Detachment completed 33 vessel operations with 20,200 pieces of equipment during 2011. During daily and weekly sustainment cargo, TRANSLOT support, and the Puerto Rico National Guard Reset, the Puerto Rico Detachment handled 7,499 pieces of cargo in 2011. In 2011, SOUTHCOM missions included 14 conferences with 3 port site surveys and 31 SOUTHCOM Surface Distribution Network movements. The 832nd Transportation Battalion supported the deployment and redeployment of approximately 738 pieces of equipment, including New Horizon Haiti with 400 pieces and 230 trucks; Beyond the Horizons Dominican Republic with 96 pieces and 75 trucks; and BTH El Salvador with 126 pieces and 87 trucks.

As of 2012, the 832nd Transportation Battalion consisted of the main battalion and the Jacksonville Detachment on Blount Island, Jacksonville, Florida; the Cape Detachment in Cape Canaveral, Florida; and the Puerto Rico Detachment at Fort Buchannan, Puerto Rico. The 832nd Transportation Battalion by 2012 had more than 35 employees, including about 30 military personnel, government civilians, and contractors at Jacksonville; about 5 government employees and military personnel at Cape Canaveral; and several government employees in Puerto Rico. During large ship operations in Jacksonville, the 832nd Transportation Battalion could expand to about 500 personnel with Port Support Activity, US Army Reserve augmentation, and stevedore and related terminal services contracts.