Military

• Ship convoy flags and signs with vehicles (by rail or ocean vessel) so they are readily available at the overseas POD for convoy to the staging area.

Airlifted Vehicles

Arrive at the APOE with vehicle fuel tanks half full to meet Air Force safety requirements. Have a fuel truck available to pump out excess fuel.

Maintenance Operations

Include maintenance capability in convoys. Carry towbars to immediately recover disabled vehicles.

• Most malfunctions are repairable at organizational level; however, have direct support (DS) maintenance teams at the railhead and POE to ensure more serious repairs are made in time for load-out. This preserves unit integrity as it avoids having a disabled vehicle loaded later with another unit or missing the deployment altogether.

• Vessel stowage is the responsibility of the port. During predeployment meetings, coordinate with the port to load maintenance equipment last (wreckers, tools, material handling equipment, PLL) so it is readily accessible at the SPOD to provide on-site maintenance support for onward movement.

Rail Loading

Maintain unit integrity during loading. A unit that "owns" a train does a better job loading it.

• Shuttling tracked vehicles from the holding area to the railcars requires around guides for safety. Ensure tracked vehicles have functional intercoms for commo between driver and vehicle commander.

• Ensure positive control of vehicle logbooks and keys. Give them to the NCOIC accompanying the rail load or leave vehicles unlocked so they can be readily off-loaded without cutting locks. Giving the keys to non-unit personnel increases the probability that locks will be cut at destination.

Equipment Reception Team (ERT)

ERTs should arrive at the POD not more than two days ahead of the equipment. Arriving too early causes problems at the port because of limited facilities.

• Include leaders, maintenance teams and drivers in ERTs to process equipment and quickly clear port. Designate one individual to submit the appropriate onward movement/ convoy request.

Arrival Operations

There is no standard procedure for reception of troops and equipment at ports around the world. Be flexible.

• Conduct PMCS at POD prior to onward movement, especially on vehicles shipped by sea where salt air may affect seals and wiring.

• Repair head/taillight malfunctions on vehicles and trailers before leaving the POD.

• Account for unit equipment, MILVANS, and CONEXs at the POD so that nothing is left behind.

Morale

Ship duffel bags and ALICE backs on the same transportation as the troops so they'll have their OCIE with them when they depart the POD.

• Keep troops informed during deployment so they know when/where to form up for each movement leg.

Adverse Weather Operations

Extreme weather conditions (hot or cold) adversely affect fort and rail operations, significantly increasing the time needed to process equipment.

• Winterize equipment for cold weather deployments to minimize starting problems at SPODs.

• POMCUS draw takes longer to accomplish during extremely cold or hot weather.

Closeout Operations

Emphasize closeout operations and commit resources to this effort. Account for all unit equipment, not just sensitive equipment or serial numbered items. Restore exercise areas by filling in foxholes and combat vehicle fighting positions.

• The rear party needs transportation to:

  • Police ranges and turn in unused ammunition
  • Close supply and mess accounts.
  • Clean, service and turn in equipment drawn for the exercise (POMCUS, NTC stocks)

Redeployment Operations

Keep track of blocking, bracing and tiedown material used to secure loads in trucks and containers during deployment. Use these materials again in redeployment as they may not be readily available in theater or may be expensive to replace.

• Thoroughly clean unit equipment before redeployment (soil, vegetation, insects) for inspection by U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Customs. Some foreign agricultural or commercial items may be restricted in quantity or prohibited altogether.

Follow Up on Requisitions

Repair parts requisitions not filled during the exercise or canceled at ENDEX require immediate follow-up action at home station to minimize equipment down time.

Table of Contents
Deployment Preparations
Conclusion