User:Jeffrey.cline

LTC Jim Utley took command of the 840th Deployment and Distribution Support Battalion in Balad, Iraq on 10 January 2009 from LTC Tim Boemecke. COL Stanley Wolosz II Commander of the 595th Transportation Group Kuwait the 840th higher headquarters officiated the ceremony along with SGM Jeffrey Cline. The 840th was originally assigned to Izmir, Turkey as part of the 598th Terminal Group (Rotterdam) responsible for POV processing, water clearance operations and cargo booking for US Government customers. In January 2005 the 840th deployed to Balad, Iraq. The 840th mission is to conduct deployment and redeployment support, container management and provide transportation automation systems and documentation integration in support of “End to End” distribution operations in the Iraq/Kuwait AO. Upon arrival to Iraq container detention costs were 19M a month. The battalion established a network in Iraq and working with MNC-I, MNF-I and ESC lowered that to less than 100 thousand. The 840th was augmented with additional personnel along with contracted civilians providing inventory assistance and training under the command and control of the battalion. Also, the battalion was further augmented by a Mobile Contracted Container Re-Stenciling Team. Simultaneously, the 840th assisted the warfighter by providing redeployment support to Brigade Combat Teams. The battalion was again augmented with Soldiers and Coast Guardsman to provide Redeployment Support Teams to support Brigade’s and higher with TC-AIMS II, RFID & MSL Tags. Also, convention of Safe Container Inspections, Custom Inspections and HAZMAT assistance. The 840th continues to expand its current mission supporting USTRANSCOM’s Distribution Process Owner initiatives. These efforts resulted in the first ever Door to Door shipment of DoD Cargo from FOB’s through the Port of Um Qasr to CONUS. The battalion stood up a Terminal Operations Division in Kuwait and increased its command and control in four countries (Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt) along with three strategic seaports in the CENTCOM AOR. The 840th continues to demonstrate the capabilities of the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) to deploy and sustain expeditionary units while supporting the warfighter.