Defense Transportation Regulation – Part III 27 April 2022
Mobility
III-302-1
CHAPTER 302
MOBILIZATION AND PRE-DEPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES
A. SOURCE OF MOBILIZATION TRANSPORTATION
Transportation resources are required to support mobilization, deployment, employment, sustainment,
redeployment, and demobilization operations. Mobilization activities are supported principally by
intra-Continental United States (CONUS) air, rail, highway, pipeline, port facilities, and inland
waterway assets of commercial firms. These assets move units and unit-related equipment/supplies
(also referred to as accompanying supplies) through the mobilization and deployment process from
home stations to mobilization sites and to ports of embarkation (POEs); non-unit personnel from their
homes to reception and training sites and then to replacement centers and POEs; and non-unit-related
equipment/supplies (also referred to as resupply) from production and storage sites to POEs.
Deployment, employment, sustainment, redeployment, and demobilization operations are supported
by strategic airlift and sealift, which move units, non-unit personnel, and sustainment (both unit-
related and non-unit-related equipment and supplies) from the United States to the theaters of
operation. The sources of additional transportation resources for mobilization and the options for
mobilizing them are listed in Table 302-1. It is important to note that, in most cases, transportation
assets must be mobilized before substantial deployments can be executed.
B. TRANSPORTATION MOBILIZATION OPTIONS
1. A variety of decision options are available for mobilization of strategic and intra-CONUS lift
assets. As Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve assets of the Air Mobility Command
(AMC) and airlift assets of the Naval Reserve are activated, voluntary and contract AMC charter,
Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Pre-
committed Civil Aircraft Program airlift (in NATO emergencies) can be called to provide the
needed capacity. Limited peacetime sealift, operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC),
can be augmented by voluntary contract charter, activation of the Ready Reserve Force (RRF),
chartering, requisition of U.S.-flag and effective U.S.-controlled shipping (U.S.-owned but under
foreign registry), and a limited number of NATO ships (in NATO emergencies). Foreign-owned
flag ships are also a potential source of additional sealift through chartering. Activation of any
ships from the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) that remain after activation of the RRF
would only occur as attrition fillers.
2. Defense priority for the various modes of intra-CONUS transportation resources can be obtained
through the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)/Military Surface
Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). They provide quick acquisition of domestic
surface transportation resources during peacetime, national emergencies, or major military
deployments.
C. EFFECT OF TRANSPORTATION MOBILIZATION ON OTHER RESOURCE AREAS
1. Mobilization of transportation resources substantially affect the manpower resource area because
highly skilled operators and crews, as well as maintenance and cargo handling personnel, are
required at ports and transshipment points. The effect on ports, airfields, highways, pipelines,
railroads, and inland waterways; facilities required for activation, maintenance, and storage; and
repair parts and Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) may be significant. Legal authorities and
funding are required to enable transportation resource expansion. Influence on the training base
could be significant in a protracted conflict with high attrition rates of operator or crew personnel.
