Publisher's Synopsis
Since airlift was first used as a tool of national security during the Berlin airlift, it has grown to deliver passengers, cargo, and fuel to operations worldwide in support of national security. However, Air Mobility Command (AMC) is the single organization that performs for air mobility for the United States. Currently, the UA Air Force has structured AMC for war; yet this command performs operations during times when the United States is at peace. AMC performs missions to support US military operations in hostile environments as well as humanitarian operations in nonhostile environments. The number of operations requiring mobility air forces has been on the rise since the Cold War ended. These steady-state operations seem to overtask mobility air forces. This study centers on the question: Can AMC's force structure, organized for two major theater wars, fulfill that requirement and perform the steady-state operations in today's strategic environment? This study finds that AMC's force structure cannot meet its requirements for two major theater wars and that the current force structure is inefficient in meeting the requirements for steady-state operations. First, this study presents a primer to acclimate the reader to the complex environment and multifaceted requirements of mobility air forces. Second, it examines AMC's current force structure as determined by Department of Defense requirements for war. Third, this study describes the various types of missions that AMC performs on a steady-state basis and evaluates the importance of these operations in fulfilling US national security strategy. Fourth, this study recommends action that the USAF and the DoD should investigate in order to improve their air mobility capabilities in support of the national security strategy.
