Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

GPC Key Decisions

USAF Case for Change

SecAF Memo

Air Force FAQ for Reoptimizing Great Power Competition

“We need these changes now; we are out of time to reoptimize our forces to meet the strategic challenges in a time of great power competition.”

~ Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall

The United States faces a time of consequence marked by significant shifts in the strategic environment. To remain ready, the U.S. Air Force must change.

In early 2024, the Department of the Air Force unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in their respective domains while better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. Through a series of 24 DAF-wide key decisions, four core areas which demand the Department’s attention will be addressed: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power and Develop Capabilities.

Today, the Air Force once again finds itself at a critical juncture—an era of Great Power Competition marked by a new security environment, a rapidly evolving character of war, and a formidable competitor. This new era requires understanding its challenges and the attributes needed to succeed.

Embracing change is not a choice; it is a necessity. The Air Force must “reoptimize” into an enterprise prepared for high-end conflicts and long-term strategic competition.

PA Guard at Trident Junctire 2015 - USAREUR Spotlight

U.S. Army Europe and Africa

Video by Sgt. Jesiah Dixon

Nov. 3, 2015 | 1:00

Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 213th regional support group provided tactical operations support for exercise Trident Juncture 2015. The unit helped streamline information sharing across the exercise, providing real-time personnel and mission updates to NATO headquarters, throughout the event. The 213th is part of the State partnership program, which pairs US states with multinational partner nations. The program also gives U-S Army Europe additional mission assets, helping USAREUR’s 30,000 personnel, look and feel like 300,000. Trident Juncture 15 tested the NATO reaction force’s air, sea, land and Special Forces capabilities.The participation of around 36,000 personnel from more than 30 nations, demonstrates NATO’s agility and its ability to respond to global threats to peace and security. More