Transportation Command

2.6. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

The major army transportation headquarters in a theater is the

transportation command (TRANSCOM). Its organizational structure

consists of a headquarters and headquarters company; an automatic

data processing unit (ADPU); a movements control group; a terminal

transfer company; and motor, air, water, and rail groups, enabling

the command to provide complete transportation and movement services

in a theater of operations.

The transportation command exercises centralized control over

TASCOM's transportation resources. It commands and controls the

transportation groups and operating units assigned or attached to it,

coordinates the employment of airlift and sealift allocated to

TASCOM, and supervises the operation of the transportation interzonal

services. The TRANSCOM's major subordinates include group and

battalion level headquarters to command the units performing terminal

services, movements management services, and mode operations. In the

field army, transportation support is provided by a transportation

brigade, which is directly subordinate to the field army support

command (FASCOM), and by corps support brigades, which control motor

transport and movement units. Air and motor transport are the

primary transport modes used in the field army. Rail transport is

used if available, but the length of time and the construction effort

required to repair combatdamaged rail lines usually make rail

operations impossible while the field army commander controls the

area. Rail operations in the field army area are part of the

interzonal service and are controlled by the TRANSCOM though a

portion of the rail capability may be allocated by field army.

Supply and maintenance are vital to the transportation railway

service in a theater of operations. Transportation railway supply

may be relatively complex since it could include the support of not

only standard U.S. Army equipment but also foreign equipment used in

support of military operations. Included in transportation railway

maintenance in a theater is that of rail lines and facilities and of

locomotives and rolling stock. Such maintenance ranges from

rehabilitation of rail systems and major repairs on locomotives and

rolling stock to minor repairs accomplished in the units during

daily inspections and services. Supply and maintenance for the

TRS in a theater are responsibilities held jointly by the

TRS, the engineer command (ENCOM), and the Materiel Command

(MATCOM). The subparagraphs following explain the responsibilities

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