Air Mobility Command

Functions of AMC

In its most visible role, AMC conducts airlift missions that support the full range of military operations at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of war. Supporting these operations, AMC performs passenger and cargo movement, special air missions, aeromedical evacuation, and support to special operations forces. In conducting airlift missions, AMC operates a number of different aircraft, including the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender, C-17 Globemaster, KC-135 Stratotanker, and C-130 Hercules. The larger C-5 and C-17 aircraft are usually employed for strategic, intertheater airlift, while the KC-10 and KC-135 normally accomplish aerial refueling tasks. The smaller C-130s are largely used for intratheater and tactical level lift. While these assets provide the lion’s share of lift capacity, the command also operates many smaller airframes like the C-9, C-20, C-21, C-32, C-37, and C-40 in operational support roles. These smaller aircraft are used for aeromedical evacuation, passenger movement, and executive transport. Furthermore, AMC is responsible for the two VC-25 aircraft known as Air Force One to support presidential functions.

Headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, the command consists of both military and civilian personnel and numbers more than 130,000. AMC is composed of the 18th Air Force, 16 air wings, two airlift groups, and other specialized units and leverages active-duty USAF personnel as well as the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard. In addition, the command also utilizes the commercial airline capabilities of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF). CRAF is an important element of AMC as it contracts civilian commercial aircraft and personnel to support AMC missions. This unique capability allows commercial aircraft to fly missions that exceed AMC’s organic lift capability. With this capacity, AMC usually tasks CRAF with passenger movement to maximize the cargo lift capacity of military aircraft.

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