Prioritization of Strategic Airlift Capability

The Department of Defense (DoD) possesses a single strategic airlift fleet to meetthe airlift requirements of the entire DoD. The operation of this fleet is entrusted to the Air Mobility Command (AMC) and its effective operation is supposed to be enabled bythe movement priorities established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Since the end ofthe Cold War, AMC has faced transportation requirements growing in both number andurgency due to a more dynamic global environment. The ability of the DoD movementpriority system to effectively apportion limited strategic airlift assets has been called into question, especially during times of strain such as the recent operations in Kosovo. This paper looks at quantitative and qualitative data to answer the question, "doesthe current priority system work?" Both sets of data triangulate towards a similarconclusion; the prioritization system often leaves lower priority requirements withperiods of no service rather than reduced service. This decreases the overall readiness ofU.S. forces and works against the Joint Vision 2020 concepts of dominant maneuver andfocused logistics. This research indicates an entirely new prioritization system needs to bedeveloped. The new system must be able to provide reliable support to criticalnonvolatile requirements and flexible support to volatile requirements. Doctrine formanaging the strategic airlift fleet also needs to be reengineered to more effectivelyemploy the organic airlift fleet and commercial contract carriers. Without suchrevolutionary change, strategic airlift capacity will never be able to provide reliableservice in a volatile world.