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USTRANSCOM commander tours OEF operational area, provides insights

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- U.S. Transportation Command's commander in chief recently embarked on a tour of the U.S. Central Command area of operations, visiting troops in the field and U.S. commanders.

Gen. John W. Handy, commander in chief, USTRANSCOM and commander, Air Mobility Command, made an extensive nine-day visit to the region focusing on transportation support to Operation Enduring Freedom.

He was extremely impressed by the skilled and dedicated troops in OEF throughout the region.

"Our troops are doing an extraordinary job," said Handy. "I characterize that not as a surprise but as a reaffirmation of youthful vigor in the military and the strength of their leadership that allows us to do the things that we are doing under some very difficult circumstances."

His on-site visit also impressed him with the magnitude of the geographic challenges presented to commanders and troops in prosecuting the war on terrorism in the region.

"I don't think anybody I've talked to ever expected we would have this significant of an operation in a totally landlocked country," said Handy. "Virtually every ounce of everything that moved into Afghanistan was via airlift. We have put almost 71,000 hours of flying time into lifting almost 90,000 tons of cargo into Afghanistan by air."

USTRANSCOM assets have also moved more than 45,000 passengers. Sealift and rail assets have provided more than 37 tons of cargo to other countries in the region.

U.S. bombing of airfields prior to securing the facilities, while necessary to the operation, presented some challenges when American forces began using them.

"We were incredibly efficient at bombing their runways. A key lesson learned is that we need to leave ourselves some stretch of runway around 4,000 feet long so we can get C-17s and C-130s into an airfield without having to repair them. We have learned a lot about the need to pick our targets carefully and then be prepared to move in with significant airlift assets," said Handy.

Airfield conditions required significant use of tankers to support other aircraft. During the course of operations, air-refueling aircraft have flown just under 1,500 missions.

"This is certainly a total team effort; air, land and sea forces tied together," Handy said.

Air operations continue to provide much of the needed personnel, equipment and supplies to the theater.

"The mobility challenge is predominantly air-centric. We are not able to use seaports in surrounding nations. You can look at a map, Iran on one side, Pakistan on the other. The mountain range between Pakistan and Afghanistan this time of the year with the snow like it is, makes it far too challenging."

The C-17 has proven itself highly successful in the war.

"The C-17 has gone into the dirt during combat for the first time and has performed flawlessly. We are not at all constrained about what environments we put it in, and we are able to take advantage of the aircraft's superb maneuverability and use tactical measures to get into some of these airfields to minimize the risk."

Commercial airlift assets are also proving invaluable in support of operations.

"We are also buying a significant amount of commercial augmentation, particularly in the passenger carrying mode, but some cargo also," he said. "It is a well-oiled system of routine contracting actions. Carriers are more than willing to offer us the lift capability. We haven't had to activate the CRAF. The volunteerism has been extraordinary."

Handy also took note of the array of support personnel performing tasks that are crucial to continued operational success.

"The one thing that always impresses me in operations like this is all our support troops," he said. "They are there to see that meals get prepared, that there are hot showers, that there are latrine facilities, that these aircraft that we are working over time are repaired and taken care of. Our support troops are unheralded heroes."

Office of Public Affairs - transcom-pa@mail.mil
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