This publication provides joint doctrine for planning, employing, and assessing air mobility operations across the range of military operations. Air mobility is a network of systems that combines airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation (AE), air refueling (AR), and air mobility support assets, processes, and procedures into an integrated whole to support the transport of personnel and materiel. The Secretary of Defense (SecDef) directs the assignment of air mobility forces to the Commander, United States Transportation Command (CDRUSTRANSCOM) and other combatant commanders (CCDRs). To deter threats against, or to assist in the defense or pursuit of United States (US) national interests, the Department of Defense maintains forces, organizations, and processes necessary to conduct air mobility operations. The National Air Mobility System (NAMS) is a broad and comprehensive system that provides the President, SecDef, and CCDRs with rapid global mobility. The mobility air forces (MAF) are those forces assigned to combatant commands that provide rapid global mobility and conduct air mobility operations. The MAF's four core functions are airlift, AR, air mobility support, and AE. NAMS consists of forces that perform intertheater, intratheater, and organic mobility operations. US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and the geographic combatant commands (GCCs) possess air mobility assets that are capable of performing both intertheater and intratheater operations. A unique aspect of these operations is their reliance on Global Air Mobility Support System (GAMSS) and the worldwide command and control (C2) capabilities of the Air Mobility Command 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center (618th TACC). The GAMSS is comprised of a limited number of permanent en route support locations plus mobile forces that deploy under the global reach laydown strategy. This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in joint operations and provides the doctrinal basis for interagency coordination and for US military involvement in multinational operations. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs) and prescribes joint doctrine for operations, education, and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall objective. Joint doctrine established in this publication applies to the joint staff, commanders of combatant commands, subunified commands, joint task forces, subordinate components of these commands, and the Services. The guidance in this publication is authoritative; as such, this doctrine will be followed except when, in the judgment of the commander, exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise.

Global air mobility is an American invention. During the twentieth century, other nations developed capabilities to transport supplies and personnel by air to support deployed military forces. But only the United States mustered the resources and will to create a global transport force and aerial refueling aircraft capable of moving air and ground combat forces of all types to anywhere in the world and supporting them in continuous combat operations. Whether contemplating a bomber campaign or halting another surprise attack, American war planners have depended on transport and tanker aircraft.

This manual, Joint Publication JP 3-17 Air Mobility Operations February 2019, - Describes how the air mobility network combines airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and air mobility support assets, processes, and procedures to support the transport of personnel and materiel. - Explains command and control of air mobility operations. - Discusses planning air mobility operations. - Describes air mobility support, airlift, and air refueling missions. and - Outlines the Global Air Mobility Support System.

"Author Derek Salmi provides a comprehensive theory of air mobility, examining its five key factors of freedom of movement, command and control, integrated logistics, technology, and training, then illustrating these factors' criticality to mission success through case studies. This guidebook serves as a one-stop shop for military practitioners and civilian policy makers to use in framing current possibilities while spurring imagination for the future."--