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On Mar. 4, a call for logistics and transportation assistance came from the 8th Theater Sustainment Command based in Hawaii to the 10th Support Group in Okinawa.
Capt. Willie Fout, the 10th Support Group's transportation officer, immediately went into action mode and began assembling a team of logisticians, various licensed vehicle operators and maintenance personnel to conduct a port support activity mission at White Beach here in Okinawa.
"Multiple units were ready and willing to provide assistance. Even though the 10th Support Group is not MTOE'd (officially resourced) to support this mission, I think between the teamwork with 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion and 1-1 Special Forces Group, that was how we were able to do this mission effectively. With our partnership with these other units, we were able to move all the vehicles and pieces, safely and efficiently," said Fout.
The port support activity mission's purpose was to provide operator and maintenance personnel to upload 84 vehicles, 109 pieces of equipment and ammunition assigned to the 25th Infantry Division pre-positioned in Okinawa to a ship destined for the Philippines in support of Exercise Balikitan.
Balikatan, which means "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Tagalog, is considered the largest and most prominent annual exercise between the U.S. and the Philippines.
The request from the military surface deployment and distribution command for the PSA mission was unique in that the 10th SG doesn't routinely get asked for this type of support. Once the support request came through the command channels, Fout was tasked with planning and overseeing the operation.
According to Fout, this mission was useful to flex the logistics capabilities of the personnel within the 10th SG on Okinawa. However, most personnel on the PSA mission were assigned within Okinawa, 25th Inf. Div. sent an engineer who is licensed to operate specialized construction equipment.
"We learned a lot and we enjoyed the mission. I know this mission was impactful and saved a 30-man team from traveling from the U.S. to Okinawa. We were able to help ATSC and USARPAC meet transportation requirements to help make sure Balikitan was successful in the Philippines. If we couldn't provide support, this would have risked failure for key tasks, which means it would have halted the whole gun line. We kept movement and maneuver on par for execution, which is a key task. In my assessment, a key task means if it doesn't get accomplished, it results in a mission a failure," said Fout.
Balikitan is scheduled to begin in mid-April. Recently, senior Army leaders have publicly stressed the importance of creating more robust interior lines, ammunition magazine depth and enhanced logistics operations within the Pacific Theater. The 10th Support Group is in a unique position to be relied on for enhanced support like the PSA mission that bolsters these initiatives.
"The 10th Support Group has developed a reputation of being solid, capable professionals. The excellent job by our team with this recent PSA mission is no exception. We are trusted in the region to provide quality logistical operation and I couldn't be more proud of this team," said. Col. Ned Holt, the commanding officer for the 10th Support Group.
