The Contingency Force was a rapid reaction capability maintained to deal with lesser contingencies.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | The Measure of a Superpower: A Two Major Regional Contingency Military for the 21st Century | Page: 2

"We are constantly reviewing the extent of the G4S shortfall and the military contingency force, " the Home Office said before the extra 1, 200 were deployed Tuesday.

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The Base Force was oriented around the historic, U.S.-centric, two-ocean view of the world, consisting of an Atlantic Force, a Pacific Force, a Contingency Force, and a Strategic Force.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | The Measure of a Superpower: A Two Major Regional Contingency Military for the 21st Century | Page: 2

The Marines were sent to Spain in recent weeks as part of a new permanent contingency force capable of moving into North Africa very quickly after the deadly attack in Benghazi last year showed military forces were not close enough to assist.

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At the same time, however, the Air Force budget, excluding contingency funding, has been essentially flat since 2004.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Section IV: Building a Two-MRC Force for the 21st Century

Even the government task-force report last year that recommended each airline and airport develop contingency plans has sparked little action.

WSJ: How Airlines Can Stop Marooning Passengers