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.
used if available, but the length of time and the construction effort
required to repair combat-damaged 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.
2.7. MATERIEL COMMAND
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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