Opportunities for integrating deliberate and time-sensitive joint depolyment planning in USTRANSCOM component commands

Abstract

The Decision System Research Section of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is assisting the Deployment Directorate (formerly the Joint Deployment Agency) of the US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) in identifying and evaluating opportunities for improving the automation support used in deliberate and time-critical deployment planning. USTRANSCOM, which is a unified command (i.e., personnel are drawn from all services), was created in the fall of 1987 to consolidate the functions of the former Military Transportation Operating Agencies (the Military Airlift Command, the Military Traffic Management Command, and the Military Sealift Command). An important factor justifying creation of USTRANSCOM, was the possibility of combining and improving coordination in deployment planning between the organizations responsible for strategic transportation activities during times of crisis. This report, the second in a series to be produced in the course of the ORNL study, presents three possibilities for integrating deliberate and time-sensitive planning. Two proposals recommended for use by MTMC and MSC build on cooperative planning initiatives already in progress in the two commands. A unique application of relative probabilistic measures is a key element in a proposal for improving MTMC/MAC airlift planning. 35 refs., 1 tab.