Author Description

Airhead operations have been an important part of modern warfare since General Francisco Franco, in 1936, air-landed his Moroccan forces in southern Spain during the opening phase of the Spanish Civil War. The concept gained currency during World War II, especially as an element of airborne operations. In that context it denoted an assault zone(s) employed during vertical envelopment maneuvers. Airhead has become a significant part of nearly all contingency operations including Desert Shield/Storm, Restore Hope, Just Cause and Urgent Fury. A war-fighting commander depends on the airhead to introduce combat forces in the shortest time possible and to sustain them during the initial, and, probably, the most critical phases of operations. This study describes how the airhead's mobility forces fit into the overall scheme of force deployment, reassembly, employment, and sustainment. It describes and examines the structure and capabilities of theater mobility support forces. It also discusses areas in need of improvement, looks at new generation equipment coming into the inventory and notes how they will increase flexibility in a theater and enhance operations.