The United States Air Force often is called to provide a lift to the other services, and this is the issue with the recent decision to send Stryker Combat vehicles to Afghanistan. This was set up and authorized by General Duncan McNabb, the U.S. Transportation Command Commanding Officer.
Many Air Force Reserve Units serve in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and they provide necessary Aerial and support services to many different military units as a matter of course. Without the valiant service by these citizen Airmen and Soldiers we would not be able to transport the goods and services required for operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
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C-130 Hercules Aircraft will each transport one of the large 19 ton Styker vehicles, while the larger C-17 Globemaster and C-5 Galaxy Aircraft can each carry 4 and 5 vehicles respectively.
At a House Armed Services Committee meeting this last week the plan for transporting and Airlifting the Strykers into Afghanistan was detailed. It is necessary to transport them by air because of the time frame and a perceived lack of possible passage .