The Defense Transportation System (DTS) is a robust collection of capabilities that provide the United States with a powerful tool to implement policy in peacetime and wartime. This system is a critical link to our foreign policy and must be managed properly to realize the greatest effectiveness. One of the key pillars in the system is the ability to prioritize assets as they are entered into the system. This paper reviews the effectiveness of the priority system, how it is implemented, and some possible enhancements. The study addresses how property is currently prioritized as it enters the DTS, what the limitations are of the current system and recommended solutions. The current system has different guidance depending on the type of cargo that is being moved. DOD provides specific guidance for property that is requested through the Services' supply systems under military standard requisitioning and issue procedures (MILSTRIP). However, the guidance is not clear for non-MILSTRIP cargo. This lack of standard guidance and abuse of the priority system causes the DTS to become overwhelmed with high priority cargo during major operations. This causes a situation where the true theater priorities can not be determined and the ports are forced to use a "first-in-first-out" policy. This policy does not necessarily support the combatant commander's needs or efficiently utilize limited airlift. By utilizing the uniform materiel movement and issue priority system (UMMIPS) as the guidance for all cargo shipped through the DTS, the priority system will reflect the supported commander's needs. However we must properly train our personnel and enforce compliance to ensure the system remains effective.
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