Air Force standardizing warfighting command, control

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Air Force officials have integrated lessons learned from past conflicts to develop and implement a new concept for command and control of the service’s fighting forces.

The result is the establishment of regionally or functionally aligned Air Force warfighting headquarters worldwide designed to facilitate the execution and planning of air and space power more efficiently.

“A warfighting headquarters will provide an infrastructure so Air Force commanders can better command and control the air, space and information forces assigned or attached to the unified combatant commanders in each theater,” said Brig. Gen. Eric J. Rosborg, special assistant to the Air Force vice chief of staff for warfighting headquarters implementation. “The idea is to develop a standard architecture to best support Air Force forces -- an air (and space) expeditionary force -- in support of a joint operation.”

The warfighting headquarters will be an organization above the wing level (and consist) of a command section, an air and space operations center, and a staff to interface with Air Force major commands, the Air Staff, other services and the combatant commander’s staff, he said.

“We believe this will enable the Air Force, as a service component, to be more responsive to the needs of the unified combatant commanders,” General Rosborg said.

Each headquarters will have a standardized architecture; the office symbols, set-up and tasks associated will be the same. This standardization allows a better flow of information and mutual support among the headquarters.

“If there is a task one headquarters needs to accomplish, but is unable to meet the task, another headquarters can pick up the slack and provide the redundancy and reachback capability,” General Rosborg said.

Tasks not directly related to supporting joint force commanders will be moved to other organizations.

“We are moving the current nonessential warfighting tasks to the major command level,” he said. “Airmen and officers assigned to the warfighting headquarters will have a clearer line of communication, smaller span of control and a more efficient operation.”

A warfighting headquarters commander should not be worried about operations of base facilities, schools and infrastructure development, but should worry very much about planning and warfighting, the general said.

“They should focus exclusively on the job at hand and not be burdened with other tasks,” he said.

The advantages of a warfighting headquarters are three-fold.

“This concept allows us to provide better support to the unified combatant commanders; leverage technology; and better execute air, space and information power with a minimum transition period.” General Rosborg said.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper has approved the warfighting headquarters concept and given the Air Force its marching orders.

“We’re developing some directive guidance to the major commands so they can move forward and implement their warfighting headquarters,” General Rosborg said.

There will be some name changes, command and control process changes, and the new headquarters will supplant some current numbered air forces. However, for the majority of Airmen at a wing this should be a seamless change, General Rosborg said.

Several of the major commands are very close to standing up the headquarters. General Rosborg said he believes the majority of new warfighting headquarters will be implemented by Oct. 1.