By Cynthia Bauer and Army Maj. James Lowe, U.S. Transportation Command Public Affairs

U.S. Transportation Command served as host to the recent interim U.S. Central Command Operation Iraqi Freedom/Afghanistan force flow workshop where planners discussed the plus-up of forces deploying to Afghanistan and the redeployment of forces from Iraq. The week-long session, held Dec. 14 to 18 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., focused on transportation sequencing and priorities.

"Our job is to make sure we're thinking through the process and provide the warfighters in Afghanistan options to get them what they need when they need it," noted Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander, USTRANSCOM, speaking to media in early December.

In addition to USTRANSCOM planners, representatives from U.S. Central Command, U.S. Forces Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command, Army Forces Command, Multi-National Forces-Iraq, U.S. Forces Afghanistan and the Defense Logistics Agency attended the workshop.

"USTRANSCOM uses information from the workshop to determine the best mix of commercial or military surface and air transportation to execute the missions. We will host an additional planning conference in the coming weeks to synchronize the planned, pending, and yet to be determined force flow requirements," said Marine Lt. Col. Jens Curtis, operations officer, East Division, Operations and Plans Directorate.

On Dec. 1, during an address to the cadets at West Point, President Obama's announced the deployment of additional forces into Afghanistan. A vital part of this, or any deployment, is the logistics of moving people and equipment where needed. That's where USTRANSCOM comes in.

"We came away from the workshop knowing we could do the operation, with challenges, but would need weekly and sometimes daily prioritization decisions from USCENTCOM. We want to definitely get the highest-need items to the warfighting units early so they can effectively begin their operations," said Army Lt. Col. John Kaylor, operations chief, East Division.

As a result of the interim force flow workshop, combatant commanders will have greater confidence in the Defense Transportation System, knowing when, where and how military and commercial logistics solutions will meet their current and future transportation requirements.

One axiom of transportation holds that with more time for planning, fewer items need to be transported by air. With the plus-up units, the planning cycle is compressed and up to twice as much cargo needs to be airlifted versus over surface routes on ships and trucks. USCENTCOM, as the combatant command for Afghanistan and Iraq, decides which items will get to Afghanistan the quickest.

So far, under the president's orders, 1,500 Marines from Camp Lejeune's 2nd Marine Division have already deployed into Afghanistan from North Carolina. Other units announced for deployment this spring include 6,200 Marines from Regimental Combat Team-2, Camp Lejeune; a Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) headquarters of 800 Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; a Brigade Combat Team with about 3,400 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y., as well as approximately 4,100 support forces.

In addition, several Army brigades, a total of more than 11,000 soldiers, have already received orders to replace units supporting NATO's International Security Assistance Force in eastern and southern Afghanistan. USCENTCOM will work with USTRANSCOM to prioritize and sequence these deployments in addition to the forces added by the plus-up.

The units that received orders are: 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, from Fort Campbell, Ky.; 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Vilseck, Germany; and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard. They will deploy to Afghanistan from now through fall.