TRANSCOM Commander: Maritime assets in place to support rapid force projection
In Operation Desert Storm, it took 205 days to move five Army divisions.
Now, maritime assets are in place for the Military Traffic Management Command to move the same size Army force in 30 days.
"That's called velocity," said Robertson.
Robertson spoke at the June 19 meeting of the Washington Chapter of the National Defense Transportation Association.
The maritime strength is based on the availability of both commercial vessels and Military Sealift Command ships, he said.
"We maintain very sound commercial partnerships with U.S. Flag carriers," said Robertson. "The commercial fleet is healthy and incentivized."
Meanwhile, said Robertson, by Oct. 1, the U.S. Navy will have 4.6-million square feet of space in the Afloat Preposition program.
"We have to get it there faster and reduce customer waiting time," said Robertson. "What that means is more transportation."
Robertson said having sufficient transportation platforms remains a challenge.
"We're a one major war mobility force supporting two nearly simultaneous major regional conflicts," said Robertson.
"Efficiency is our watchword," said Robertson. "That's why we're trying to drive as much as we can from each component."
The movement of military freight by air in a contingency is a much greater challenge, said Robertson. "The challenge is the Air Force (cargo aircraft)."
"Our C-141 aircraft are being retired at twice the rate of the new C-17s coming on line. We're 10 percent short from an airlift perspective for rapid response in theater."
Robertson, finishing his third year at the U.S. Transportation Command, said the assignment is the longest in his career.
The veteran Air Force general said the job satisfaction is enormous.
"Hardly a week goes by where the Defense Transportation System is celebrating another success," he said. (FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
Follow Us On:
