Cover Sheet for Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD) 3-17, Air Mobility Operations OPR: LeMay Center/DD 28 July 2011 AFDD numbering has changed to correspond with the joint doctrine publication numbering architecture (the AFDD titles remain unchanged until the doctrine is revised). Any AFDD citations within the documents will list the old AFDD numbers until the doctrine is revised. The changed numbers follow: OLD NEW TITLE AFDD 2-1 changed to AFDD 3-1 Air Warfare AFDD 2-1.1 changed to AFDD 3-01 Counterair Operations AFDD 2-1.2 changed to AFDD 3-70 Strategic Attack AFDD 2-1.3 changed to AFDD 3-03 Counterland Operations AFDD 2-1.4 changed to AFDD 3-04 Countersea Operations AFDD 2-1.6 changed to AFDD 3-50 Personnel Recovery Operations AFDD 2-1.7 changed to AFDD 3-52 Airspace Control AFDD 2-1.8 changed to AFDD 3-40 Counter-CBRN AFDD 2-1.9 changed to AFDD 3-60 Targeting AFDD 2-10 changed to AFDD 3-27 Homeland Operations AFDD 2-12 changed to AFDD 3-72 Nuclear Operations AFDD 2-2 changed to AFDD 3-14 Space Operations AFDD 2-2.1 changed to AFDD 3-14.1 Counterspace Operations AFDD 2-3 changed to AFDD 3-24 Irregular Warfare AFDD 2-3.1 changed to AFDD 3-22 Foreign Internal Defense AFDD 2-4 changed to AFDD 4-0 Combat Support AFDD 2-4.1 changed to AFDD 3-10 Force Protection AFDD 2-4.2 changed to AFDD 4-02 Health Services AFDD 2-4.4 changed to AFDD 4-11 Bases, Infrastructure, and Facilities [Rescinded] AFDD 2-4.5 changed to AFDD 1-04 Legal Support AFDD 2-5 changed to AFDD 3-13 Information Operations AFDD 2-5.1 changed to AFDD 3-13.1 Electronic Warfare AFDD 2-5.3 changed to AFDD 3-61 Public Affairs Operations AFDD 2-6 changed to AFDD 3-17 Air Mobility Operations AFDD 2-7 changed to AFDD 3-05 Special Operations AFDD 2-8 changed to AFDD 6-0 Command and Control AFDD 2-9 changed to AFDD 2-0 ISR Operations AFDD 2-9.1 changed to AFDD 3-59 Weather Operations AIR MOBILITY OPERATIONS Air Force Doctrine Document 3-17 1 March 2006 Incorporating Change 1, 28 July 2011 This document complements related discussion found in Joint Publication 3-17, Air Mobility Operations. BY ORDER OF THE AIR FORCE DOCTRINE DOCUMENT 3-17 SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 1 MARCH 2006 INCORPORATING CHANGE 1, 28 JULY 2011 SUMMARY OF CHANGES This Interim change to Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD) 2-6 changes the cover to AFDD 3-17, Air Mobility Operations to reflect revised AFI 10-1301, Air Force Doctrine (9 August 2010). AFDD numbering has changed to correspond with the joint doctrine publication numbering architecture. AFDD titles and content remain unchanged until updated in the next full revision. A margin bar indicates newly revised material. Supersedes: AFDD 2-6, 25 Jun 99, AFDD 2-6.1 13 Nov 99, AFDD 2-6.2 19 Jul 99, AFDD 2-6.3 10 Nov 99 OPR: LeMay Center/DD Certified by: LeMay Center/DD (Col Todd C. Westhauser) Pages: 122 Accessibility: Available on the e-publishing website at www.e-publishing.af.mil for downloading Releasability: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication Approved by: LeMay Center/CC, Maj Gen Thomas K. Andersen, USAF Commander, LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education FOREWORD The US Air Force provides unique warfighting capabilities that are essential to joint operations. Foremost among these capabilities is the ability to rapidly focus American combat power and life saving resources anywhere on the planet. Frequently, and especially in the opening stages of a conflict, air and space power may be the main manifestation of combat power we bring to bear against an adversary. Of these capabilities, the Air Force provides a very singular form of power: the ability to rapidly position and sustain forces at places and times of our choosing. This pivotal capability—air mobility—is the essential ingredient for modern US expeditionary operations and supports joint force commander-desired effects to deter, dissuade, or destroy the enemy. Force projection provides for presence, mass and maneuver, surprise, security and economy. It is the sum of an impressive fleet of transport and aerial refueling aircraft, underpinned by a flexible support system, and operated by a specialized cadre of active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Air Force civilian personnel. While other forms of American military power have some degree of inherent mobility, the scale of flexibility and responsiveness of the Air Force’s air mobility forces is singular in the history of world conflict. We must understand and apply our doctrine in order to succeed in current and future challenges. To do this smoothly and consistently, our planning and employment must be clearly understood and, most importantly, repeatable. To make that happen, we have captured our best practices in doctrine documents such as this one. We must learn and practice our own doctrine. We must understand what it means to be an Airman and be able to articulate what air and space power, and especially air mobility, can bring to the joint fight. Every Airman should read, discuss, and practice doctrine, and to ensure that it adapts as necessary to remain applicable in our changing environment. T. MICHAEL MOSELEY General, USAF Chief of Staff TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................vii FOUNDATIONAL DOCTRINE STATEMENTS ...............................................................ix CHAPTER ONE—An Introduction to Air Mobility ............................................................ 1 General........................................................................................................................ 1 The Air Mobility Force.................................................................................................. 2 Active Duty Forces................................................................................................... 2 Air Reserve Component........................................................................................... 3 Civil Reserve Air Fleet.............................................................................................. 3 Air Mobility and the Principles of War……………………………………………………….4 Mass ........................................................................................................................ 4 Maneuver ................................................................................................................. 5 Economy of Force.................................................................................................... 5 Security and Surprise............................................................................................... 6 Air Mobility and Tenets of Air and Space Power.......................................................... 6 Centralized Control and Decentralized Execution.................................................... 6 Flexibility and Versatility........................................................................................... 7 Synergistic Effects.................................................................................................... 7 Concentration........................................................................................................... 7 Priority...................................................................................................................... 8 Intertheater and Intratheater Operations ..................................................................... 8 Intertheater............................................................................................................... 8 Intratheater............................................................................................................... 9 Agile Combat Support and Air Mobility Operations...................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO—Organization and Command & Control (C2).................................... 11 General...................................................................................................................... 11 Global/Functional Organization and Control.............................................................. 11 United States Transportation Command ................................................................ 13 Air Mobility Command ............................................................................................ 14 18th Air Force......................................................................................................... 14 Tanker Airlift Control Center................................................................................... 15 Regional Organization and Control............................................................................ 17 Commander of Air Force Forces............................................................................ 19 Director of Air Mobility Forces ................................................................................ 19 Joint Movement Center .......................................................................................... 20 Deployment and Distribution Operations Center.................................................... 21 Air Mobility Operations Control Center................................................................... 22 Air and Space Operations Center .......................................................................... 22 Air Mobility Division ................................................................................................ 23 Air Mobility Control Team ..................................................................................