Pacific Utility Logistics Support Enabler – Watercraft Challenges
The 97th Transportation Battalion from FT Eustis, VA was tasked to provide all required vessel’s crew. My primary task was first effectively to synchronize the CLI support mission and second to help our staff in seamless planning, coordination, and integration of the two U.S. Army watercraft crews. Additional tasks included ensuring timely reporting, logistical resupply, regional intelligence coordination, communications, and maintenance/contracting support. Our biggest challenges included coordination and synchronization of the following areas: menu development and submission, communications security, ammunition, CLII purchases, port operations, UCMJ authority, maintenance quality control, lacking leadership of food service personnel, and pre-deployment training.
Obersvation1: Communications Security (COMSEC) Draw was not completed as required.
Discussion: Initially vessel teams were supposed to complete required paperwork at their home station in order to draw COMSEC and Courier orders at Yokohama North Dock (YND). On the day of the draw it was discovered that the 97th Transportation Battalion crew did not have the required paperwork or clearance to obtain courier orders. There also seemed to be confusion as to what authority is needed to sign off on the required documentation. A last minute teleconference between 8th TSC, 35th CSSB, 10th RSG and 78th Signal BN ensured crews were able to draw COMSEC. COMSEC is required to communicate with 7th Fleet and not having it would severely impact the mission.
Recommendation: Once a detachment commander is identified representatives from the SPO fusion cell should immediately make email and telephonic contact. The DET CO should fill the paperwork required to draw COMSEC and submit it for review by the COMSEC manager at least one month before crews leave home station.
Observation 2: Ammunition. LCU teams were not able to ensure the functionality of their weapons.
Discussion: As part of the vessel draw from APS-4 the LCU, crews brought four brand new, never been fired M2s. Requesting test fire ammunition (training ammunition) did not occur until one week before the vessel departed YND. As a result, munitions were not ordered and crews were not able to ensure functionality of the weapon system.
Recommendation: Request (from home station) training ammunition in advance of deployment or include functions check as part of the APS-4 draw process. During sea trials crews should sail into international waters test fire the weapons. This will allow them to draw another weapon at YND if the weapon is dysfunctional.
Observation 3: CLII purchases were not carried out in accordance with guidance provided in OPORD.
Discussion: Vessels sent a supply request to 10th RSG shortly before they arrived at white beach. 10th RSG S4 was forced quickly buy expendable items such as trash bags, white boards, air tools etc. Many of these items can be purchased through the Army supply system given time and planning.
Recommendation: Maintain the supply request list to use as a guideline for ordering CL II in the future. Crews must request items sooner. S-4 should have a formal system in place to accept supply request.
Observation 4: Port operations were not coordinated accordingly.
Discussion: There was confusion on the ground as to when vessels were moving and to who made that call. It was also unclear as to whether vessels with containerized ammunition could remain pier side at white beach.
Recommendation: Ensure SDDC and the Port Ops Officer at white beach talk to each other. Recon port operations site and have an hour by hour timeline of events.
Observation 5: UCMJ authority was not adequately clarified before hands.
Discussion: Command and legal relationships remained unclear even after vessel’s crew arrived in theater. Questions remained as to who has UCMJ authority and what latitude is available to add to the liberty policy i.e. no consumption of alcohol.
Recommendation: Establish a memorandum of agreement between two commands that outline what authority can be exercised by whom. Have legal representation of the 10th RSG fusion cell.
Observation 6: Maintenance quality control procedures for vessels were not identified and outlined correctly.
Discussion: Vessel Support Systems (House A/C and Bridge A/C, freezer) were having systemic problems. During troubleshooting ENGs found a jumper wire in the freezer wiring harness bypassing the defroster.
Recommendation: YND should exercise the support systems during scheduled maintenance, dock and sea trials.
Observation 7: Menu development and submission should be completed by vessel’s crew well in advance.
Discussion: The 10th RSG and USARPAC Supply and Services (S&S) had to develop menus for the vessels instead of the crew’s organic food service personnel.
Recommendation: Assigned food service personnel and crews should have created and submitted either 14-day or 21-day menus per MACOM's or USARPAC's guidance and suspense. This will give crews a better chance to plan and choose preferred meals.
Observation 8: Not having the right food service personnel skill –set and leadership had an adverse impact on the feeding mission.
Discussion: Cooks aboard the vessel must be able to manage and distribute 15 to 20 DOS of CL I for 15 PAX at a ration cycle of A-A-A. This requires a sophisticated level of planning to ensure CL 1 is not wasted.
Recommendation: Food Service Specialists' Skill-Set: Recommend at a minimum (1) (20-level) skill-set per vessel as the nature of the mission requires working with minimum or no 92G supervision. Cooks must be "self-starters" and of an advanced skill level.
Observation 9: Proper pre-deployment training to ensure crew obtained the right mandatory certificates was not conducted as prescribed.
Discussion: The following documents AT Level I, SERE 100, and ISOPREP were all part of the pre-deployment training. These requirements need to be pushed to deploying units within 90 days of departure with the understanding that the ISOPREP should be done 30 days prior to departure. While this information was not needed for an IATP or APACS submittal, it is still required by USAPACOM prior to coming into the AOR. This training can be done online by anyone with a CAC card, except for the ISOPREP that most BN S2s can update. AT Level 1 is an annual requirement, but should be done prior to departure so that deployed SM does not have to do it while floating around the AOR.
Recommendation: BN or CO CDRs should submit memorandum for record certifying their SM have had all the required training to include courses and dates completed.
Summary: The 10th RSG staff was faced with many challenges during the execution of the PULSE-W mission. In an effort to begin successfully mitigating some of the aforementioned challenges the 10th RSG activated a Fusion Cell with staff members from the S2, S3, S4, S6 and SPO sections to facilitate and manage the two LCU 2000 series vessels and its crews. The Fusion Cell provided a venue to synchronize efforts and coordinate for COMSEC, CL I, II, V, and IX, maintenance, contracting, etc. Furthermore, the Fusion Cell conducted 24hr operations while the vessels are underway in order to monitor vessel progress, maintain active communication, field request for information and respond to emergency situations. Future iterations of PULSE-W will benefit from maintaining a forum similar to the Fusion Cell.