WASHINGTON D.C. – The Department of the Air Force has announced a comprehensive plan to restructure and optimize the Air Force and Space Force, aiming to maintain dominance in these domains and effectively deter and overcome challenges from other global powers. The changes, unveiled by top civilian and military leaders, include a series of major decisions that will reshape the two branches of the military.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall emphasized the urgency of these changes, stating that they are necessary to address current force realities and prepare for strategic challenges in the era of Great Power Competition. The plan encompasses 24 key decisions that are aimed at reshaping the force and ensuring its competitiveness.
The changes fall into four broad categories – Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power, and Develop Capabilities. These categories include initiatives such as consolidating force development functions, enhancing technical tracks for officers and enlisted Airmen, and redesigning career paths to meet high-tech operational demands.
Furthermore, the plan also focuses on generating readiness by reorienting Air Combat Command, implementing large-scale exercises, and incorporating no-notice operational readiness assessments and inspections.
In addition to this, the restructuring plan also projects power by structuring Air Force Operational Wings and establishing Space Force Combat Squadrons as Units of Action. The plan also aims to create a Department of the Air Force Integrated Capabilities Office, a new Information Dominance Systems Center, and a Space Futures Command to develop and validate concepts.
Overall, these changes represent a significant recalibration for the Air Force and Space Force and are geared towards maintaining their superiority in both air and space domains. The urgency declared by the senior leaders of the Department of the Air Force underscores the importance of these changes in preparing for the challenges posed by Great Power Competition.