The United States (US) has changed its military strategy to force projection instead of forward basing. Key to the US strategy is the ability to rapidly secure an aerial port of de-embarkation and basing of state-side combat and support aircraft. A key requirement for successful military operations is adequate air traffic control equipment and trained personnel to enable all-weather, around-the-clock, arrival and departure of aircraft. The entire Department of Defense (DOD) air traffic control (ATC) force is trained to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and controls 25 percent of the aircraft in the US. Military controllers are trained and work at the same level as FAA controllers to deploy for contingencies and war. This study investigates the impact of future changes to air traffic control in the US as a result of the capital investment plan for the national airspace system. This study then looks at the requirements for the deployable military ATC force. This study examines whether the DOD ATC force is adequately prepared to support the national military strategy in light of training to the same standard as the FAA and recommends training and force structure measures to insure that the DOD ATC mission is successfully carried out.

ADA 312209 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)