Flying combat aircraft out of deployed locations frequently requires deploying thousands of people and thousands of tons of equipment. Determining how much and what kind of each is not easy. Nevertheless, deploying the right amount and types of equipment and people is very important, both during the execution of contingency operations and for planning purposes. During operations, not having enough resources causes risk of not being able to perform the mission. Taking too much risk delays operations, because of unnecessarily tying up lift, or impairs operations elsewhere by unnecessarily tying up resources. During planning, misestimating the resources needed for deployments may lead to a force structure of the wrong size or balance to meet future national security needs.
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