SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- U.S. Transportation Command has proven critical to the war on terrorism in the six months since the Sept. 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
With missions stretching from the homeland to locations around the world, USTRANSCOM assets have delivered personnel, equipment and supplies to support Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle using active duty and reserve personnel.
Operation Enduring Freedom has required airlift and sealift assets to fuel combat operations in Afghanistan.
(NOTE: All figures below as of Mar. 4).
Airlift missions have totaled more than 2,900. Air Force C-17s accounted for 47 percent of the missions, C-5s 29 percent and commercial air assets 8 percent.
The missions moved nearly 46,000 passengers, and approximately 90,000 tons of cargo.
Aircrews have flown more than 70,000 hours.
To sustain operations, approximately 1,500 channel missions accounted for the movement of nearly 15,000 passengers and more than 27,000 tons of cargo. A combination of sealift and rail accounted for the movement of 37,000 tons of cargo between Dec. 2001 and Feb. 2002.
Aerial refueling, a critical enabler for getting airlift over long ranges, consisted of 1,500 missions and more than 10,000 flight hours.
Just as important to support of combat operations, have been the simultaneous humanitarian deliveries.
From Oct. to Dec. 2001, air assets delivered 2.5 million humanitarian daily rations, 816 tons of wheat and 73,000 blankets in Afghanistan.
Other airlift also moved 2 million humanitarian daily rations and 1 million pounds of wheat, and 80,000 blankets from the U.S. to Europe.
Strategic sealift assets moved 1.3 million humanitarian daily rations and 1.75 million pounds of wheat.
The concurrent mission of the war on terrorism is Operational Noble Eagle, focused on homeland defense.
Crews have flown more than 275 missions and completed approximately 1,800 flight hours.
Air refuelers have flown more than 4,800 missions and nearly 24,000 flight hours.
USTRANSCOM's mission is to provide air, land, and sea transportation for the Department of Defense, both in time of peace and time of war. Active and reserve Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and DOD civilians staff the command.
