Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

GPC Key Decisions

USAF Case for Change

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.

Atterbury-Muscatatuck Homeland Defense Capabilities Video with Voicover

Camp Atterbury Indiana

Video by David Bonnell, Timothy Sproles

May 5, 2014 | 2:22

The Atterbury-Muscatatuck Homeland Security Training Directorate provides a platform for standardized, high-quality training and education capabilities supporting the Department of Defense, National Guard and other agencies engaged in homeland security, homeland defense, civil support and emergency preparedness missions. With world-class Live, Virtual and constructive training environments that meet and exceed training requirements of homeland security in the 21st century Atterbury-Muscatatuck is the ideal place to train Department of Defense forces to respond to a disaster in the united States. Atterbury-Muscatatuck is home to Vibrant Response, U.S. Northern Command’s annual homeland emergency response exercise that tests the capabilities of the nation’s emergency response network. The Homeland Security training platform has been in existence at Camp Atterbury since the year 2000 and has since grown to include the urban training center Muscatatuck in 2005 combined with additions training venues created at Camp Atterbury, utilizing Atterbury-Muscatatuck as a training platform provides a complex and unique capability that provides the most realistic training venues in the nation. Also available in high definition More