Moseley speaks at defense strategy, transformation seminar

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  • By Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force vice chief of Staff spoke to more than 90 congressional staff members, defense industry leaders and think-tank experts Feb. 9 at the 2005 Air Force Defense Strategy and Transformation Seminar.

The Air Force directorate of plans and programs officials organized the seminar. They develop, integrate and analyze the $672 billion future years development program and long-range plan of the Air Force to support the national military strategy. They also formulate and evaluate options relating to readiness, sustainability, force structure and modernization.

During the seminar, General Moseley said Air Force core capabilities make the whole joint team better. Those capabilities are persistent C4ISR, command, control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; global mobility; and rapid strike.

General Moseley called each of those capabilities key enablers to the joint force. But his example of rapid strike demonstrated the importance of continually seeking to improve mission systems and develop Airmen.

"There's been nothing from the no-fly zone experience, or from Bosnia to Kosovo to Afghanistan to Iraq ... that tells us that less range, less persistence, less speed or less survivability is inherently good," he said. "We believe as American Airmen that the way to deal with rapid strike is to be able to penetrate airspace at the time and place of our choosing, to deal with contested airspace and to do this across the spectrum for the joint team."

Besides detailing the benefits of the three core capabilities, General Moseley answered questions about future bombers, close air support, C-130 Hercules aircraft and the state of tankers.

The seminar comes at a time when Air Force senior leaders begin testifying before House and Senate committees on such issues as quality of life, procurement, transformation, budget and the quadrennial defense review.