OKINAWA, Japan - Transportation of military personnel and gear to mission critical locations is crucial to maintaining Marine Corps Installations Pacific and III Marine Expeditionary Force role as the tip of the spear in the Marine Corps’ mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

In order for the Marine Corps to continue to strengthen its ability to respond quickly to crisis in the region, it relies heavily on its distribution management office to ensure mission accomplishment.

“I like to believe that DMO is the heartbeat of the Marine Corps,” said Capt. Jameel Ali, a distribution management officer with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. “We’re responsible for ensuring everything that comes and goes off this island gets where it needs to be in a timely manner."

DMO is divided into three subsections: personal property shipping office, passenger transportation office, and freight. These three sections are responsible for transporting everything from a Marine’s couch back to the United States to ammunition for riflemen deployed all across the world.

The primary focus of the personal property shipping office is to ensure the personal belongings of Department of Defense personnel arrive either on island or to their next duty station. PPSO handles over 16,000 shipments on a yearly basis, with most of their request coming during their peak summer months when most Marines and DoD personnel are moving between stations.

“PPSO plays a huge support role in the Marine Corps,” said Sgt Angel Valdez, DMO outbound counselor noncommissioned officer in charge. “We not only assist the Marines but their families as well. Family is the biggest support system we have as military members.”

Just important as PPSO is the passenger travel office. PTO is charge of ensuring the safe travel of DoD personnel. PTO processes more than 45,000 personnel temporary assigned duty and operational support travel request.

“Everything we do directly supports the MEF and MCIPAC” said White. “Anything they need from customs clearance to unit movement, we’re the main hub for that. Without us the mission does not get accomplished.”

With the help of the Marines at DMO, Marine Corps Installations Pacific will continue to launch and recover military capabilities to save lives and preserve regional peace, stability and security; and enable operating force readiness to guarantee victory.