What is the port functional area where the port commander assumes custody of deploying unit equipment?

• A. Port Staging Area
• B. SPOE
• C. SPOD
• D. SPOE Marshalling Area

Answer: (C)

The handover of deploying unit equipment to the port authority happens at the Sea Port of Debarkation. SPOD is the destination port where ships unload and the deploying unit’s gear is received, accounted for, and handed over to the port commander to manage onward movement into the theater’s distribution system.

Other areas serve earlier or different phases: the Port Staging Area is for pre-positioning and organizing loads at the port before movement; the Sea Port of Embarkation is where units load onto ships for deployment; the SPOE Marshalling Area is the staging and preparation zone within SPOE for loads to be loaded onto ships. The custody transfer for deploying equipment is the SPOD moment, when the equipment arrives at the destination port and becomes part of the port’s custody.