A proudly worn "Plank Owner" patch sits above the "U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas" patch Jan. 24, 2012, on a Sailor at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. A plank owner is a member of the ship's crew when the vessel is placed in commission. Today a plank owner is often applied to members of newly commissioned units, new military bases and recommissioning crews.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class John Ross connects a computer monitor Jan. 24, 2012, in the Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas tent at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Ross is preparing for the arrival of the rest of the NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas team. Ross is a liaison officer deployed here from the Naval Operations Support Center in Long Island, N.Y. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Staff Sgt. Preston Nealy installs computer software while Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class John Ross watches Jan. 25, 2012, at the Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Nealy is a client systems technician with the 376th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, deployed here from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Ross is a liaison officer deployed here from the Naval Operations Support Center in Long Island, N.Y.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class John Ross rolls out floor covers Jan. 25, 2012, at the Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Ross is one of the Sailors standing the NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas which will be responsible for moving and tracking Sailors into and out of Afghanistan. He is a liaison officer deployed here from the Naval Operations Support Center in Long Island, N.Y.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Senior Airman Thomas Adkinson gives an in-processing brief to Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas sailors Jan. 27, 2012, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Fifteen Sailors will make up NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas which is replacing the NAVCENT FWD HQ Kuwait's Reception, Staging, Onward Movement & Integration unit due to a realignment of Kuwait assets. Adkinson is a personnel support for contingency operations representative with the 376th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron. He is deployed to the Transit Center from Vance Air Force Base, Okla.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Quartermaster 2nd Class Karl Adebahr receives an in-processing brief at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, along with other Sailors in the Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas unit Jan. 27, 2012. Adebahr is one of the Sailors standing up NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas, he is deployed from Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Sailors situate carry-on bags before in-processing at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Feb. 10, 2012. The Manas location replaces NAVCENT FWD HQ Kuwait's Reception, Staging, Onward Movement & Integration unit, due to a realignment of Kuwait assets. After last year's drawdown, there is no longer a need for troop movement into Iraq, but a requirement still exists for Afghanistan.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
A group of sailors get boots on ground Feb. 10, 2012, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The Sailors are the first to transit through here after the standup of the Naval Force Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas. More than 100 Sailors were processed by NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas before heading to Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
Lieutenant Greg Bertsch briefs Sailors Feb. 10, 2012, during the first troop movement for the Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Manas at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The Transit Center has an existing process for transportation and billeting that Sailors are part of as the NAVCENT FWD HQ Kuwait's Reception, Staging, Onward Movement & Integration mission has transferred to Manas. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz)
by Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz
376th Air Expeditionary Wing
2/11/2012 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- The U.S. Naval Forces Central Forward Headquarters Manas received its first troop movement here Feb. 10.
Fifteen Sailors at NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas have been setting up shop for three months, building relationships with Transit Center Airmen, preparing the movement facility and refining processes for the logistics mission.
The Manas location replaces NAVCENT FWD HQ Kuwait's Reception, Staging, Onward Movement & Integration unit, due to a realignment of Kuwait assets. After last year's drawdown, there is no longer a need for troop movement into Iraq, but a requirement exists for Afghanistan. The Sailors at the Transit Center fill administrative, operations, supply, communications and Joint Movement Control Center positions.
"This is a Sailor's last touch-point with a Navy unit that can take care of his or her admin needs right before heading into or out of Afghanistan," said Cmdr. Herbert Carmen, NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas officer in charge. "We have direct visibility to flights and our Sailors and coalition members on the ground at the Transit Center. We have a much better understanding of the flow of people coming into and out of Afghanistan."
A deploying Sailor's travel time has decreased by about 50 percent with the move from Kuwait. "The transition is much easier here at the Transit Center," said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class John Ross, a liaison officer deployed here from the Naval Operations Support Center in Long Island, N.Y. He moved from the Kuwait location to the Transit Center and can see the differences firsthand.
The Transit Center handles local transportation and billeting for Sailors, since there is an existing process which takes that requirement off NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas and allows them to do their primary job of moving and tracking Sailors.
"I assist them with things like travel, pay, entitlements and life insurance," said Petty Officer 1st Class Rodrick Hall, the personnel lead petty officer for NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas.
Since Air Force and Navy databases are not interfaced, a Sailor with financial issues needs the support of a Navy unit--something the Transit Center couldn't support until now.
On the first movement, more than 100 Sailors processed through NAVCENT FWD HQ Manas before going downrange.
The new unit projects 600 Sailors will pass though monthly. The Transit Center passenger terminal currently processes an average of 45,000 troops each monthly.
"Operations won't change, the only difference will be seeing different uniforms," said Senior Master Sgt. Shannon Servando 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron aerial port superintendent.
The Navy's addition to the Transit Center already shows increased camaraderie between the services.
"We feel just like we're a part of the mission here at the Transit Center, so that is really fantastic," Carmen said.
"It's great to have all branches working side by side. We are all working toward one goal as one team, one fight," Ross said.
Comments
4/9/2012 9:11:29 AM ET Increased camaraderie and efficiency seem like good goals. We wish our family friend who will be based at the TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS Kyrgyzstan all the best. Support our troops
