Gearmonkey:
Thank you for taking this job seriously. I haven't spent a great deal of time in the service. However, when I heard this duty was being outsourced, the whole matter really sat sideways in my stomach. As a USAF heavy driver, I still believe it's the military's responsibility to get our fallen military brothers and sisters home. Outsourcing does turn these flights into a profit making venture. Please don't take that as flame bait. The most simple view of this is that the DoD is paying a company to do the job. The company being paid has to charge an amount which will result in some sort of profit.
This bothered me the most when I first heard about this. In the long run, it just makes sense... C5s are hauling out-sized cargo, C17s are constantly hauling troups and cargo into and out of theaters, and the tankers are passing gas. It makes sense to pass this duty along to a civilian carrier. Thank you for taking it so seriously. Yet another example of a quiet and almost unknown group of American heroes supporting our war efforts.
Very Respectfully,
Skyward80