Air Force Functions Overview Levels of Air Space

Air Force Functions

Overview • Levels of Air & Space Doctrine • Air Force Functions – Nuclear Operations – Counterair – Counterland – Space Operations – Cyberspace Operations – Command Control

Overview 2 d Hour • Air Force Functions cont’d – Global Integrated ISR – Strategic Attack – Air Mobility – Personnel Recovery – Combat Support – Special Operations

Doctrine Theory “fundamental principles Doctrine by which the military forces guide their actions in support of national objectives. ” Technology Experience

3 Levels of Doctrine • Basic Doctrine – Most fundamental and enduring beliefs that describe and guide the proper use, presentation, and organization of forces in military actions – NOT a checklist or scientific formula…provides common frame of reference – Provides an Airman’s perspective on organizing and employing air and space forces

3 Levels of Doctrine • Operational Doctrine – More detailed… how to organize and employ military forces and applies the principles of basic doctrine to military actions. • Tactical Doctrine – Most detailed…describes proper employment of specific A/F Assets …it’s the “specific tactics to accomplish specific missions. ” Air Force Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures AFTTP’s

• DODI 5001. 01 - Establishes the basic functions of the Air Force • AF Doctrine Vol I & IV describe and define those requirements.

• Air Force Functions – Nuclear Operations – Counterair – Counterland – Space Operations – Cyberspace Operations

Nuclear Operations • The Air Force role in nuclear operations is to organize, train, equip, and sustain forces with the capability to support the national security goals of deterring adversaries from attacking the United States and its interests with their nuclear arsenals or other weapons of mass destruction (WMD); dissuading competitors from developing WMD; assuring allies and partners of the US' ability and determination to protect them; and holding at risk a specific range of targets. The fundamental purpose of the US nuclear arsenal is to deter an enemy’s use of its nuclear arsenal or other WMD.

Nuclear Operations • The physical employment of nuclear weapons at any level requires explicit orders from the President. • The law of armed conflict does not expressly prohibit the possession or use of nuclear weapons. • Nuclear Surety: “The goal of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Surety Program is to incorporate maximum nuclear surety, consistent with operational requirements, from weapon system development to retirement from the inventory. ”

Counterair • Counterair is a mission that integrates offensive and defensive operations to attain and maintain a desired degree of air superiority. – Air parity: A condition in the air battle in which one force does not have air superiority over others. – Air superiority: That degree of dominance in the air battle of one force over another that permits the conduct of operations…at a given time and place without prohibitive interference by the opposing force. – Air supremacy: That degree of dominance in the air battle of one force over another that permits the conduct of operations…at a given time and place without any effective interference by the opposing force. This is the highest level of air control.

Counterland • Counterland operations are airpower operations against enemy land force capabilities to create effects that achieve joint force commander objectives. This is accomplished by two means: – Air Interdiction – Close Air Support …. . Let’s look closer at these

Interdiction • “Air operations to Divert, disrupt, delay or destroy the enemy’s surface military potential before it can be used effectively against friendly forces. ” • Targets for interdiction attacks: – Military weapon systems and supplies (tanks/artillery/infantry/POL)

Close Air Support • Air action by aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces… • Requires close integration between fire and movement of forces

Space Operations Space operations has three overarching mission areas: • Global Space Mission Operations (GSMO)…Includes ISR, launch protection, missile tracking, environmental monitoring, satellite communications, and GPS. • Space Support (SS)…Includes assured access to space, satellite support operation (telemetry, tracking and control), and space support services (Training and TTP development. ) • Space Control (SC). . . In Space Control, Air Force space forces execute space control operations to protect US military and friendly space capabilities while denying space capabilities to the adversary. This includes both offensive and defensive operations.

Interim Summary • Levels of Air & Space Doctrine – Basic, Operational, Tactical • Air Force Functions – – – – Nuclear Operations Air Superiority Counterair Counterland Space Operations Cyberspace Operations Command Control Global Integrated ISR Strategic Attack Air Mobility Personnel Recovery Combat Support Special Operations

BREAK!

Summary • Levels of Air & Space Doctrine – Basic, Operational, Tactical • Air Force Functions – – – – Nuclear Operations Air Superiority Counterair Counterland Space Operations Cyberspace Operations Command Control Global Integrated ISR Strategic Attack Air Mobility Personnel Recovery Combat Support Special Operations

Cyberspace Operations • The employment of cyberspace capabilities where the primary purpose is to achieve military objectives or effects in or through cyberspace. Sub elements include: – Cyberspace is defined as “a global domain within the information environment consisting of the interdependent network of information technology infrastructures including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, and embedded processors and controllers.

Command Control (C 2) • The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. • Occurs at 3 levels: – Strategic Level …US strategy and policy level – Operational Level…OPCON normally at the Air Operations Center (AOC/CAOC) for operations and at Air Staff for deployment and sustainment of personnel. – Tactical Level…TACON normally at the Air Operations Center (AOC/CAOC)

Global Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) • The cross-domain synchronization and integration of the planning and operation of ISR assets; sensors; processing, exploitation and dissemination systems; and, analysis and production capabilities across the globe to conduct current and future operations. • ISR is conducted through a 5 -phase process: – – – Planning and Directing Collection Processing and Exploitation Analysis and Production Dissemination and Integration

Strategic Attack • Offensive action specifically selected to achieve national or military strategic objectives. – – Strike the heart of the enemy (Centers of Gravity) May avoid sequential fight through layers of forces Weaken enemy ability or will to fight May achieve strategic objective without achieving operational objective as a precondition

Air Mobility • The rapid movement or personnel, material, and forces to and from or within a theater by air. • 4 types of Air Mobility operations: – Airlift – Air Refueling – Air Mobility Support – Aeromedical Evacuation

Airlift • Operations to transport and deliver forces and material through the air in support of Strategic, operational or tactical objectives.

Air Refueling • The refueling of an aircraft in flight by another aircraft – Serves as a force multiplier – Expands commander’s employment options by increasing, range, payload, and flexibility

Air Mobility Support • Air mobility support provides command control, aerial port, and maintenance for mobility air forces.

Aeromedical Evacuation • Provides en route care of regulated casualties to and between medical treatment facilities using aircraft with medical aircrew trained explicitly for that mission. • Can operate across entire range of military operations (ROMO)

Personnel Recover • The sum of military, diplomatic, and civil efforts to recover and return US Military, DOD civilians and DOD contractor personnel who are isolated or missing while participating in military missions. • Collateral missions include; casualty evacuation, civil search and rescue, counter-drug operations, emergency aeromedical evacuation, homeland security, humanitarian relief, international aid, noncombatant evacuation operations, support for National Aeronautics and Space Administration flight operations, infiltration and exfiltration of personnel in support of air component commander missions, special operations missions, and disaster response.

Combat Support • The capability to field, base, protect, support, and sustain Air Force forces across the ROMO.

Special Operations • Operations requiring unique modes of employment, tactical techniques, equipment and training often conducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and characterized by one or more of the following: time sensitive, clandestine, low visibility, conducted with and/or through indigenous forces, requiring regional expertise, and/or a high degree of risk.

Summary • Levels of Air & Space Doctrine – Basic, Operational, Tactical • Air Force Functions – – – – Nuclear Operations Air Superiority Counterair Counterland Space Operations Cyberspace Operations Command Control Global Integrated ISR Strategic Attack Air Mobility Personnel Recovery Combat Support Special Operations