Incorporating Joint Forces into the Air Force Aerospace Expeditionary Force

Abstract

Abstract : Over the last three years, the United States Air Force has successfully accomplished the first step in a revolutionary transition to an Expeditionary Air Force. Along the way, the Air Force has learned valuable lessons resulting in refinement of Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) organization and structure. Recent AEF changes targeted internal USAF processes and focused on personnel and logistics improvements. These changes provided substantial benefits to the Air Force and made substantial improvements in capabilities provided to Unified Commanders. As the transition continues, the USAF needs to reevaluate external service support, joint doctrine, and command and control relationships to identify integration of critical joint forces capabilities. This study analyzes requirements traditionally provided by other services for theater missile defense, Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protection; physical security; and inter-theater logistics to evaluate possible shortfalls in AEF organization, structure, and composition. This study also analyzes the command and control relationships required to perform theater missile defense, NBC protection, inter-theater logistics, and physical security in the AEF, and outlines potential changes in AEF structure and organization to support these missions. By focusing on joint force success factors, the study offers the Air Force options for improving AEF capabilities by enhancing USAF's ability to support worldwide contingencies from small regional conflicts to major theater wars. The paper concludes with several recommendations to improve Joint Expeditionary service support to the United States Air Force Air Expeditionary Force construct.