Transportation, Air

Air transportation is one of three methods the Department of Defense (DOD) can chose to move personnel, equipment, and materiel rapidly to and from nearly anywhere in the world. This method has become, in large part, the preferred mode of transportation for the U.S. military. The overall unit in charge of strategic planning and readiness for all transportation missions for the DOD is the [Page 1466]U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), one of the military’s nine Unified Combatant Commands. The Air Mobility Command of the Air Force is the primary branch for the transportation of cargo through air, although the other branches do have some complementary airlift abilities.