Maj Richard J. Hazdra’s Air Mobility: The Key to the United States National Security is an examination of the force structure of Air Mobility Command (AMC) based on a model for two major theater wars. His study examines this organization’s current force structure. Air mobility is the key that unlocks the national security strategy (NSS). AMC’s force structure is crucial for the United States to implement its NSS. His study centers on the question: Can a force structure based on the possibility of fighting two major theater wars satisfy the requirements for steady-state operations? Major Hazdra examines three corollary issues:...

Air mobility is the key to unlocking the strength of United States (US) airpower because it performs rapid global mobility. US military forces have relied on this capability since World War II, and it has always been there. Combatant commanders increasingly rely on air mobility to transport forces quickly into their theaters to head off potential crises, and Air Mobility Command (AMC) always responds enthusiastically with the necessary assets. When the National Command Authorities (NCA) task the Department of Defense (DOD) to achieve any objective, it relies on AMC to achieve rapid global mobility requirements. Consequently, mobility air forces have...

Air mobility is both a complex system and a part of an interrelated transportation system. Many people perceive ambiguity when discussing air mobility issues or they fail to comprehend aspects of the DTS. This chapter is a primer for those who have questions about what air mobility is and how it fits into DOD.

To understand AMC’s force structure it is important to outline how it fits into USTRANSCOM, a command that integrates a vast array of commercial and military organizations employing different modes of transportation into a mobility force. To understand the DTS one must first identify the responsibilities...

The force structure requirements for mobility air forces depend on many questions that emanate from a decision to deploy military forces to a theater of operations. The first four questions revolve around the nature of the conflict: Who are the aggressors? What does the NCA want the military to accomplish? How much warning will the military have? Will military forces work in coalition, alliance, or alone? The fifth question asks which military forces would deploy first. The final set of questions revolves around transportation. For example, will military and commercial transportation be available when needed, and will the modes of...

AMC’s actual total capacity is 43.9 MTM/D, which is a 5.8 MTM/D shortfall of the two major theaters wars construct.¹ To understand how the force structure translates into airlift capability, it is important to know the factors involved in determining the MTM/D measurement to include aircraft utilization rates and cargo classifications. Next, it is important to understand the MC rates of the major AMC airlift and tanker airframes in order to explain why the force structure of AMC achieves only 43.9 MTM/D. Finally, an examination of AMC’s en route infrastructure will identify additional force structure limits in the throughput of...

Current US defense strategy calls for military forces to fight two major theater wars at the same time.¹ The magnitude of equipment and materials needed to fight two major theater wars prompted USTRANSCOM to assess its requirements for airlift, sea lift, and prepositioning—which resulted in the MRS BURU. AMC established its force structure requirements based on its portion to airlift military forces in support of the two major theater wars construct.

The force structure of AMC currently performs many steady-state operations that include air mobility operations for small-scale contingencies, noncombatant evacuations, peacekeeping, peace enforcement, humanitarian assistance, domestic and international...

A relationship exists between technological innovation and the NSS that affects the nation’s military air mobility strategy. Influences on air mobility strategy include the international security environment where threats to US interests affect the NSS. This, in turn, directs the defense transportation strategy and, subsequently, air mobility strategy. DOD, in building a better defense transportation strategy and operational vision, needs to provide the resources for technological innovations applicable to air mobility forces in order to achieve the vision set forth in the NSS.

An examination of the NSS identifies the requirements for air mobility. An examination of the US policy...

I began this study by examining the force structure complexities of the Air Force’s largest and most diverse command, Air Mobility Command. I next examined the mobility force structure requirements and challenges in air mobility planning. Force structure developed from the two major theater wars model established by the MRS BURU, where rapid mobility conducted by mobility air forces would reduce the risk to friendly forces.

An analysis of combatant planning and mobility planning reveals incongruities involved with developing a TPFDD. Air mobility planning succumbs to consensus planning, where compromises can take priority over expediency. The planning process assumes air...