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JMPC hub for people, cargo going down range

Released: Feb. 27, 2003

By Staff Sgt. M. Davis
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) -- The Joint Mobility Processing Center here serves as the hub for people and cargo transiting to forward-based locations, and teamwork is an important element that makes the JMPC run so smoothly.

"We have a mix of various groups including the 86th Logistics Readiness Group, 86th Maintenance Support Group, 86th Mission Support Group and unit augmentees that come together to ensure people and cargo process smoothly," said Capt. Jamaal Mays, JMPC installation deployment officer.

Military people who are participating in contingencies must go through the deployment processing line at the JMPC.

The processing line helps ensure certain required items are fulfilled for individuals before deployment, and it also provides critical briefings for deploying members, Mays said.

"The line ensures people have the required medical clearance, training, mission support, financial and legal issues worked out and in order, which minimizes deployment delays," he said. "There is also a chaplain, family support and services representatives available for individuals to take advantage of as well."

With the military moving toward a possible conflict with Iraq, the JMPC can sometimes see thousands of servicemembers processing through the center.

"We are on call around the clock, seven-days a week serving contingency operations, but we've got a good group of people here that are proud to serve," Mays said. "This is one duty where you get job satisfaction right away just knowing you're putting 100 percent into the mission."

Also putting her effort into the mission is Army Staff Sgt. Elke Drozd, an operations NCO for the 624th Transportation Detachment, 39th Transportation Battalion at Kleber Kaserne, Germany.

Drozd and a 10-person detachment team serve as a liaison between the Army and Air Force regarding personnel and cargo deployment. With current operations, the team sometimes sees up to 900 soldiers and many tons of cargo leave Ramstein everyday.

However, although the JMPC serves as the "last stop" before Army units leave for their deployed destinations, the detachment mainly deals with cargo processing, Drozd said.

"We [Army and Air Force] have a good working relationship and learn a lot from one another," she said. "That helps when there is a lot of cargo to be processed."

The detachment, like the JMPC, works 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

"The soldiers put in a lot of hours here, and are very knowledgeable about cargo transport," she said. "They do a great job everyday and are proud to represent the Army and our battalion."

Working on the deployment line at the JMPC since 1998, Staff Sgt. Tran Pham brings experience to the JMPC's daily taskings.

Pham, an allergy immunizations technician with the 86th Aerospace Medicine Squadron here, is responsible for screening the deploying individuals for immunizations.

"We ensure their immunizations are up to date for their deployment region and for the duration of their contingency," he said.

Immunizations are critical for people deploying to areas with high risk of disease, Pham said, and small pox and anthrax vaccines are administered to people traveling to those areas.

"We practice preventive medicine," the staff sergeant said, "and our job plays an important part in keeping service members well so people can deploy."

With this being her third deployment in two years, Tech. Sgt. Melissa Errett, knows what carrying out the mission entails.

As an air warfare simulator instructor controller with the Warrior Preparation Center at Einseidlerhoff Air Station, Germany, Errett has provided support for two Operation Northern Watch deployments and will provide support down range.

Errett, a single parent with two children, said the JMPC processing line is a great way to process large groups of people.

"They do a great job here," said the deployment veteran. "It's good to know that you have these last-minute opportunities to get things done. They provide a good service."