Are Civilian Munitions Carriers Ready for Two Major Theater Wars?

1999PDFThesisLeatherman, Richard C.United States. Air University. Air Force Institute of TechnologyUnited States. Air University. Air Force Institute of TechnologyUnited StatesExplosivesWeaponsMilitary transportationMilitary airliftFreight transportationMunitionsTwo theater warsCivilian munitions carriersAFIT/GMO/LAL/99E-7The primary question answered by this study is: Can civilian munitions carriers meet the requirements of the Department of Defense during two near simultaneous major theater wars? This study examines the current stateside distribution system for Department of Defense munitions. It also compares the current capabilities of the civilian transportation sector to the requirements outlined in the Mobility Review Study Bottom-Up Review Update (MRS BURU) in the two Army Surface Distribution Plans. The study found that civilian munitions carriers can meet the requirements in both Surface Distribution Plans, but spot shortages do occur when compared to MRS BURU. Finally, five options for possible action are presented. These options include: implementing no changes, trucking containers to nearby intermodal railyards, purchasing more railcars, establishing agreements between DoD and the civilian sector, and purchasing more prepositioned stocks of munitions122