Washington (AP) The U.S. military is stepping up preparations for a humanitarian mission to Myanmar.

Though the country's military junta has not accepted the offer of help, the U.S. air force is moving more airplanes to a staging area in neighboring Thailand.

And a U.S. defense official says the navy has started sending helicopters to be closer to Myanmar as well, should approval come.

The navy and marine corps happen to have ships and thousands of service members in the area this week for a multinational exercise on humanitarian missions.

An official said that because it would take the ships several days to get there, some of their helicopters are being sent ahead.

When the ships are finished off-loading their helicopters, they will get under way later in the day.