Picture a frozen landscape in a foreign land. In a fairly remote area lies a small military post with a minimal infrastructure. Although not a completely austere site, this is not an area designed to support thousands of personnel and tons of equipment - not a textbook staging base.
In reality this area is an active MIG air base in Taszar, Hungary. (A MIG is a Russian-built fighter plane.) Here lies the focal point for the deployment of US forces into the Balkan Theater in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia. The linchpin for this deployment is "Task Force 29" from the 29th Support Group, 21st Theater Area Army Command. Normally based in and around Kaiserslautern, Germany, and now stationed at Taszar Air Base, Hungary, the 29th Support Group is responsible for the reception, storage and onward movement of US forces into the area of operations.
The 29th Support Group operates numerous logistics activities in this theater. At the intermediate staging base (ISB), Taszar Air Base, the 28th Support Group operates the following:
The Task Force 29 forward staging area for Operation Joint Endeavor is located on a far strip of aircraft runway at the ISB. The staging area receives vehicles and equipment via air, rail and ground transportation. As deploying units and equipment from Task Force Eagle arrive in the Taszar area, their vehicles and equipment are immediately taken to the staging area. Vehicles are then staged and prepared for onward movement. Direct support supply and maintenance operations are conducted. Units are armed, fueled, fixed and in all ways readied for movement to forward areas.
About 24 hours before departure, units are alerted and moved from the life support area to the staging area. Upon arrival, units receive their first "Convoy Commander's Briefing" at 0800. At this time, the number of vehicles, personnel and equipment deploying as well as convoy departure times are verified. Any remaining equipment and supply shortages also are identified. In addition, personnel from Task Force 29 address the following topics:
After the initial briefing, each convoy commander is assigned a lane commander from the 29th Support Group. The lane commander acts as the liaison between the convoy commander and the resources of the ISB. The lane commander verifies that convoys comply with all established deployment standards, assists the convoy commander in filling all identified shortages, and ensures the convoy marshals at the starting point in a timely manner and departs on time.
At 1600, the day before deployment, units receive their second "Convoy Commander's Briefing." Personnel receive a final intelligence update, and commanders turn in their completed "Commander's Validation Worksheet." This worksheet verifies that all areas necessary for deployment are rated as "Green" and that the convoy is ready to deploy. The commander certifies that the following areas are all right:
After this final certification, vehicles and equipment are marshaled in the marshaling area. Drivers return to the life support area for a minimum of six hours of sleep before departing on their convoy. Two hours before departure, soldiers arrive at the marshaling area for the last time, conduct complete preventive maintenance checks and services, ensure that equipment is ready to go, and receive a final safety briefing from the convoy commander. A final PAS accounts for all deploying soldiers.
At the appropriate time, units leave the marshaling area and cross the start point for forward destinations in Hungary, Croatia and Bosnia. Once the convoy crosses the starting point, the unit enters the "Onward Movement" phase of deployment orchestrated by the theater transportation and highway managers.
Some units arrive at the ISB and depart within 24 hours. Others may wait for several days before they deploy. The bottom line: logistics soldiers from the 29th Support Group make all resources available to ensure readiness for units deploying to forward areas. As of 21 Jan 96, the soldiers from Task Force 29 had pushed over 3,965 vehicles in over 232 convoys out of the ISB: a record-breaking accomplishment critical to the deployment of all elements of Task Force Eagle and to the success of Operation Joint Endeavor.
CPT Jordan S. Chroman is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of California. His military education includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Aerial Delivery and Material Officers Course, the Joint Airdrop Inspectors Course, and Pathfinder School. He has served in various leadership positions in the 3d Battalion, 12th Special Forces Group (Airborne); E Company, 407th Supply and Transport Battalion, 82d Airborne Division; the 29th Support Group; and is currently Commander of the 5th Quartermaster Detachment (Airdrop Supply) stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany, with temporary change of station to Taszar, Hungary, in support of Operation Joint Endeavor.