Moving the Military

Two Defense agencies get troops and supplies to destinations around the world.

Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)
www.transcom.mil

• Established in 1987, one of nine military combatant commands.
• Oversees the transportation of troops and supplies throughout the world.
• Three components:
  • Air Mobility Command manages the delivery of troops and equipment by air and refueling of aircraft anywhere in the world.
  • Military Sealift Command oversees all transportation of military cargo on the seas, including ships pre-positioned around the world with stockpiles. Most of the cargo ships are government-owned, but run by contractors.
  • Military Traffic Management Command provides ground and rail transport for cargo and personnel around the world.

• The largest agency in the Defense Department, with 24,069 civilian and military personnel throughout the world.
• Orders, stocks and supplies food, fuel, clothing, medicine, spare parts and services valued at $21.5 billion for military services throughout the world.
• Provided more than $3 billion in supplies during Operation Desert Storm; thus far, has supplied $2.84 billion worth in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Throughout the 1990s, consolidated warehousing and distribution operations; increasingly hires vendors to directly deliver supplies to troops.