Joseph Austin of the 18th Military Police Brigade in Mannheim, Germany. Austin is now the camp's deputy provost marshal. As a member of the Tuzla 10, his job was to assess the security situation and coordinate operations with local police and U.N. force military police. According to Austin, the advance team was made up of specialists in logistics, engineering, communications, security and other areas vital to support a major military operation. Today, nearly 2,000 U.S. soldiers, airmen and Marines are at the base preparing for the arrival of the rest of the combat force.
Force protection is a top priority.
Each tent features a wooden floor and thermostat-controlled heat. Tent City will be home for service members for up to a year. Austin said the advance team received a warm reception and cooperative support from the U.N. forces and the local Bosnian population. He said Nordic logistics troops helped the Americans, providing large gravel trucks, for example, to help break new ground setting up parking lots. Jim Bates, a logistician with the 1st Armored Division, was another member of the Tuzla 10.