Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command

Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), United States Army command in charge of the global movement of combat units, military cargo, and the household goods and private vehicles of service members. The SDDC plays a critical role in troop deployment and military freight movement worldwide during peace and war. Since its founding, the SDDC has been involved in all U.S. military operations, including the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, the Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War.

The SDDC is responsible for activities that include force movement to seaports, traffic management, coordination of loading and unloading of vessels, and service as a liaison between the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial freight carriers. Although it is one of the smallest major army commands, it includes representatives from the other services, as well as from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Armed Forces. As part of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), the SDDC acts as the port manager for the DoD, with a presence at 25 seaports worldwide. The command also oversees a number of public and private highways and railroads deemed by the DoD to be of major transportation importance to national defense.