USTRANSCOM involved in world events in 2001
The tumultuous year ended in a fashion no one could have predicted before Sept. 11th when terrorists hijacked four U.S. planes and crashed into two World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania.
USTRANSCOM continues to play a critical role in the subsequent war on terrorism in Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle, lifting combat and humanitarian cargo, and providing air refueling around the clock.
The command was involved in international and national events throughout the year.
Early in the year, USTRANSCOM assets responded to the aftermath of a 7.7 Richter-scale earthquake in India. Ultimately, airlift missions carried 155 tons of humanitarian supplies and equipment to the region most affected by the disaster.
USTRANSCOM also supported recovery operations at home following Tropical Storm Allison and western wildfires.
In April, USTRANSCOM coordinated the return of the crew of an American Navy EP-3 aircraft detained by China after Washington negotiated the transfer. Chinese officials detained the crew after it was forced to land following a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter aircraft. A contracted commercial airliner flew the crew from Hainan Island to Guam, where they were transferred to an AMC C-17.
USTRANSCOM continued to support ongoing operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Southwest Asia and other areas.
The command also provided continuing support to the National Science Foundation's station on Antarctica for Operation Deep Freeze.
Through the course of the year, USTRANSCOM supported visits by President George W. Bush to Mexico, Canada, Europe twice, and China.
On other presidential matters, the command completed the airlift and ground movement of papers and other materials to support outgoing President Bill Clinton's official library in Little Rock. More than 660 tons of materials were moved for the project.
In November, Air Force Gen. John W. Handy became commander in chief of USTRANSCOM and commander of AMC. He accepted the positions from the retiring Air Force Gen. Charles T. "Tony" Robertson. Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, presided over the ceremony.
USTRANSCOM participated in a wide range of exercises throughout the world.
The command led Turbo Challenge and Ultimate Caduceus.
Turbo Challenge is the command's annual capstone exercise designed to train USTRANSCOM and transportation component command staffs and decision makers on key processes required for mobilization and expansion of the defense transportation system in support of a major theater war.
Ultimate Caduceus exercises the processes of global patient evacuation and civil reserve air fleet activation procedures. It includes bed reporting procedures and patient movement tracking.
USTRANSCOM also led a Turbo Containerized Ammunition Deployment System (CADS) and Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) exercise in Korea.
The command also participated in exercises Bright Star, Ulchi Focus Lens, Team Challenge, Tandem Thrust, Cobra Gold, and Balikatan.
USTRANSCOM was able to rely on the strength of its military personnel, representing all of the U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Defense civilians, contractors, and industry partners to accomplish its mission. 2002 is likely to produce significant challenges-undoubtedly the great men and women of USTRANSCOM will rise to the challenges the command will face.