Lesson21 AEF

Slide1: 

AEF Air and Space Expeditionary Force

Slide2: 

Overview Setting the Stage for Change/Background The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Concept Air and Space Expeditionary Force Structure

Setting the stage…Cold War Influence: 

Containment Setting the stage… Cold War Influence … to Engagement

A New Challenge: 

Cold War Air Force Today’s Air Force A New Challenge UNCLASSIFIED

Slide5: 

Overseas Basing During The Cold War Alconbury Lakenheath Bentwaters Mildenhall Chicksands Molesworth Croughton Upper Heyford Fairford Wethersfield Greenham Common Woodbridge High Wycombe Bitburg Sembach Hahn Spangdahlem Hessishe-Oldendorf Tempelhof Lindsey Wuescheim Ramstein Zweibruecken Rhein Main Lajes Field Zaragoza Torrejon Moron Dhahran Izmir Ankara Incirlik Pirinclik Iraklion Hellenikon Aviano San Vito Comiso Soesterberg Florennes Clark Andersen Misawa Yokota Kadena Osan Kunsan Howard Albrook Thule Cold War Air Force - Containment Strategy

Slide6: 

Overseas Basing Today…70% Reduction Lakenheath Mildenhall Molesworth Croughton Lajes Field Incirlik Aviano Andersen Misawa Yokota Kadena Osan Kunsan Thule Spangdahlem Ramstein Post Cold War Reduced force structure and fewer forward locations

Slide7: 

AEF Basics Contingency Basing 21st Century AF engagement requires expeditionary basing

The Need for AEF: 

The Need for AEF Post Cold War Reality … 45% less end strength – 657K to 358K 45% less overseas – 107K to 59K 70% overseas basing infrastructure gone from 50 down to 15 Regional hotspots 400% increase in OCONUS ops tempo Post Gulf War presence mission imbalance Only 12% of eligible airmen carrying the load (80K of 657K) Retention and recruitment concerns rising Combat capability eroding Limited predictability and stability WHAT DID WE DO TO CHANGE THIS?

What is an AEF? Concept: 

What is an AEF? Concept Beginning in 1999, the AEF CONOPS is how the Air Force organizes, trains, equips, and sustains itself by creating a mindset and cultural state that embraces the unique characteristics of air and space power – range, speed, flexibility, and precision – to meet the national security challenges of the 21st Century. Bottom Line: It’s how we present AF Forces to the Combatant Commander

Air and Space Expeditionary Force: 

What does it do for us? Air and Space Expeditionary Force A New Playbook to meet combatant commander’s needs Responsive / Tailorable / Trained to Task Meets steady state taskings / protects ability to surge Smarter Use of all resources Better integration of the Total Force Method to quantify “cost of engagement” Provides CC capabilities, not specific airframes Rotational schedule Culture: Expeditionary / Warrior…What does that mean?

Chief’s Vision: 

Chief’s Vision “The Culture of the…Air and Space Expeditionary Force is…everyone in the Air Force must understand that the day-to-day operation of the Air Force is absolutely set to the rhythm of the deploying AEF force packages.” General John P. Jumper Former Chief of Staff, USAF

A More Deployed Force: 

A More Deployed Force On average there are 14,600 AF members deployed during non–crisis state

Slide13: 

Aerospace Units Air Force Organizational Structure Regional Components NAF NAF NAF NAF Theater Warfighting Commands MAJCOM MAJCOM MAJCOM MAJCOM

AEF OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS: 

AEF OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS This gives us the ability to SURGE Steady State When combatant commander requirements are met using the on-call pair in the AEF library Crisis State When the Air Force must reach forward and pull UTCs from AEFs not scheduled for the current rotation to meet the combatant commander requirements Transition State Recovery period to return to steady state from crisis state

Slide15: 

Typical AEF Composition Typical AEF Pair 2 Air Superiority Squadron (SQ) 4-6 Multi-Role Fighter SQ Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) Close Air Support (CAS) Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) 2 Bomb SQ Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM) Precision Guided Munition (PGM) Maritime Operations 2 Theater Airlift SQ 2 Air Refueling SQ Operations Support Aircraft (OSA), Low Density / High Demand (LD/HD) Aircraft Expeditionary Combat Support (ECS) Average # personnel in pair: 45,000 Average # aircraft in pair: 400

Slide16: 

Aviation Alignment - AEF #8 Every Fighter and Bomber Squadron on-call or deployed-- 120 days every 20 months…(exceptions like the stealth) 457 Ftr Sq 94th Ftr Sq Langley AFB AEF

Expeditionary Combat Support Alignment - AEF #8 : 

Expeditionary Combat Support Alignment - AEF #8 93 FS GM ECS Contribution from 75 Active, 18 ANG, 11 AFRC Bases Sourced with Unit Type Codes (UTCs) = AFRES = ANG = ACTIVE

Structure of an AEF: 

Structure of an AEF AEF pair is a collection of combat capability that allows us to better manage the combat employment 10 / 4 / 20 10 AEFs (5 pairs) 4-month rotation 20-month AEF cycle During ‘Steady State’ battle rhythm the AEF provides predictability and stability to our troops and their families

The AEF Cycle(‘Steady State’ Battle Rhythm): 

The AEF Cycle (‘Steady State’ Battle Rhythm) 14 Months 2 Months Key to maintaining and sustaining combat capability Maintains a sustained high-level of readiness Facilitates better reconstitution / training Preserves predictability / stability Helps minimize retention impacts DEPLOYMENT Window 4 Months

Slide20: 

AEF Rotation Cycle Jan 08 May 08 Jan 07 May 07 Sept 07

The AEF Is Total Force In Action : 

The AEF Is Total Force In Action Active Duty, Guard and Reserve forces from units and bases all over CONUS/OCONUS...a Total Force! Units are notified of the AEF they are supporting and their capability is tasked through Unit Type Codes (UTCs)

Take Away Points: 

Take Away Points AEF Transition began 1 Oct 99 AEF concept has and will evolve AEF rotations allow us to: Manage resources better Be responsive to Combatant Commander’s airpower needs Take care of our people -- Predictability and Stability Level the playing field for deployments Max 120 days/year TDY still the AF goal Some critically manned AFSC’s still heavily taxed Everyone has a role to play in AEF …whether stateside or deployed…whether pilots, security forces, or cooks

Slide23: 

AEF Rotation Cycle MAJOR COMMANDs Combatant Commander Normal Training Period Maintenance & Modifications, Composite Force Exercises, Inspections, etc. 14 Months Preparation Period EMPLOY - On-Call - Deployed 4 Months - AOR Train - Deploy Prep 2 Months Trained to Task for the Warfighter

Questions to Ask: 

Questions to Ask Do we / I support an AEF? Which one? When can I expect to deploy?

AEF: 

AEF “The Air Force’s first and most important task is to maintain a razor sharp focus on our primary mission – to defeat the enemies of the United States.” Gen T. Michael Moseley Air Force Chief of Staff “The AEF is the Air Force’s methodology for organizing, training, equipping, and sustaining itself … to meet defense strategy requirements.” 25 AEF

Slide26: 

Questions?