Decision Support Tool for the Global Reaction Force Outload Process

The 82nd Airborne Division serves as the core of America’s strategic response force, and provides the ability to execute global force projection through large scale combat parachute assault operations. A detailed outload plan is necessary to rapidly deploy the Global Response Force (GRF). This outload process involves preparing and prioritizing necessary vehicles for airlift, and then assigning these prioritized vehicles to available aircraft. Throughout the planning process this list and associated priorities can change due to mechanical faults of aircraft/vehicles or due to changing mission requirements. Our team collaborated with the 82nd Airborne Division Operational Research and Systems Analysis (ORSA) Cell in developing an Out-load Decision Support Tool (ODST) that rapidly builds and adjusts the Priority Vehicle List (PVL) and optimizes vehicle assignment to various types of aircraft given a mission profile and a unique brigade vehicle list.