FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Friends, family members and fellow Soldiers gathered to say goodbye to members of the 271st Movement Control Team during a deployment ceremony at Fort Eustis, Sept. 30.
The 271st MCT has served in multiple campaigns since the Vietnam War, including two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This latest deployment will be to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, where they will be in charge of managing the base's airfield and providing transport of equipment and personnel.
According to the Department of Defense, MCTs are Army units that delegate movement responsibilities on an area basis or at key transportation nodes. The mission of MCT is movement control of personnel and materiel, as well as the coordination of bulk fuel and water transportation at pipeline and production take-off points. Their role is to expedite, coordinate and monitor traffic moving through the transportation system, and they are tailored to meet the anticipated workload.
"Soldiers, you have a tough mission ahead of you," said U.S. Army Maj. Theresa Armstrong, 53rd Transportation Battalion commander. "Every time you turn around there will be more cargo coming for you to track to report to higher command and to get back out to the units that need them most."
Before concluding, Armstrong left the troops with this final message:
"You are ready, you are prepared; it's all up to you now," she said. "Stand tall, stand proud. I look forward to welcoming you home."