Case in Point: Sealift of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles

This fall, USTRANSCOM doubled the number of MRAP vehicles delivered to U.S. forces in Iraq through an implementation of its transformation priorities. Until that time, USTRANSCOM had relied exclusively on airlift to deliver these critically needed vehicles. Recently, MRAP builders began delivering more vehicles than could be delivered by air each month.

In order to ensure the first sealift of these vehicles was a success, USTRANSCOM employed its strategy for achieving execution effectiveness through the synchronized deployment and distribution of forces and materiel from origin to final distribution point.

It takes from 22 to 30 days for a ship to reach its destination in the U. S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area or operations. One ship has the capacity to carry more than a month's worth of the vehicles brought in by air, USTRANSCOM officials said. In addition, sealift of these vehicles can be accomplished at approximately 10 percent of the cost of airlift. USTRANSCOM makes efficient use of all modes of strategic transportation to meet warfighters' needs.

MRAPs are designed to protect their occupants against armor-piercing roadside bombs, also known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs). USTRANSCOM shipped the first load of more than 100 MRAPs from Charleston, South Carolina, in the last week of November 2007. Army Lieutenant Colonel John Hanson, chief of USTRANSCOM's MRAP end-to-end distribution team, was at the Port of Charleston to observe the ship's loading. "By adding sealift, we can effectively use concurrent strategic airlift and sealift to the U.S. Command area of responsibility and meet that command's priority requirements," he said.

Airlift had been solely responsible for moving the majority of MRAPs up to that time. Hanson said the overall plan was to continue airlifting hundreds of the vehicles each month, while increasing the number of MRAPs shipped by sea to ports in the USCENTCOM area of operations.

By optimizing strategic sealift through improved collaboration and validation, USTRANSCOM improved end-to-end total asset visibility and in-transit visibility for these mission critical vehicles, while maintaining support of the combatant commander's operational objectives.