SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- U.S. Transportation Command received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award it was announced to USTRANSCOM personnel here today by Gen. Charles T. "Tony" Robertson, commander in chief of USTRANSCOM and commander of Air Mobility Command.

The award, signed by Army Gen. Henry H. Shelton, shortly before he left his post as joint chiefs chairman, was given for "exceptionally meritorious service."

According to the award citation, during the period May 2, 1999 to Aug. 31, 2001 the "men and women of the U.S. Transportation Command demonstrated outstanding performance of duty by diligently supporting over 250 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed events, airlifting over 443,000 personnel and (more than) 4 million…pounds of cargo, and moving more than 1 million square feet of cargo via sealift…" in support of operations.

USTRANSCOM also "effectively linking intelligence and operational data to ensure timely, critical threat information was provided to Defense Transportation System operating forces worldwide."

One key accomplishment was the "the Strategic Distribution Management Initiative-one of the Department of Defense's most significant and wide-ranging efforts to transform its worldwide distribution system."

The program was "launched in an unprecedented partnership with the Defense Logistics Agency," the citation reads. SDMI "is impacting strategic/wholesale supply and transportation processes to deliver sustainment material to deployed and continental U.S.-based forces faster, more reliably, and more cost effective."

USTRANSCOM received a unit streamer for official colors.

USTRANSCOM military and civilian personnel are eligible for the award for performance of 30 days of service within the command during the period May 2, 1999 to Aug. 31, 2001. Sub-units sharing in the award include the Joint Transportation Reserve Unit; the Global Patient Movement Requirements Center; and the Joint Intelligence Center.

USTRANSCOM is one of the nine U.S. military unified commands and is headquartered at Scott AFB, Ill. USTRANSCOM provides Air, Land and Sea transportation for the Department of Defense in peace and in war and is supported by Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard personnel.