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.

TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2018 - Exercise Director, Admiral James Foggo Visits Dutch Amphibious Ship HNLMS Johan de Witt

Allied Joint Force Command Naples

Video by Courtesy

Nov. 5, 2018 | 4:30

US admiral James Foggo visited Dutch amphibious warfare ship HNLMS Johan de Witt during NATO-exercise Trident Juncture. The exercise director met commodore Hulsker who is the commander of an Amphibious Task Group of fifteen warfare ships during Trident Juncture.

The admiral was flown in by helicopter and then transferred to the Johan de Witt in a landing craft. After a briefing by Commodore Huub Hulsker on the Dutch naval forces, Foggo toured the ship. He spoke to personnel on the bridge and aired his gratitude towards the ship’s crew through the intercom.

Said Admiral Foggo, “we’ve deployed thousands of troops and equipment to Norway in only 30 days. That’s a tremendous job on its own. It is important for all NATO-partners to see that we can defend each other in case of an Article 5 situation.”

Foggo toured the different international troops throughout Norway during the exercise.

The amphibious task group (ATG) of the NATO Response Force will be led by the Netherlands Maritime Forces in 2020. Trident Juncture is the first big exercise for the Maritime Battle Staff (MBS) leading up to this moment. The MBS leads a fleet which consists of 15 ships supported by helicopters, landing crafts and specialised marine corps troops.

Video by Dutch Armed Forces

Shot-list
00:00:00:00
Admiral James Foggo arrives at departure point and views a Dutch Viking All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)
00:00:17:23
Admiral Foggo meets Dutch Marines and receives a safety brief
00:00:26:03
Admiral Foggo embarks Dutch landing craft
00:00:31:13
Wake of landing craft as it heads towards HNLMS Johan de Witt
00:00:34:13
Shot of landing craft underway
00:00:37:17
Various shots - Admiral James Foggo aboard landing craft with Dutch crew
00:01:15:12
Landing craft passes Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter
00:01:22:20
Wide shot of Admiral Foggo aboard landing craft with Dutch crew
00:01:25:13
Various shots - landing craft approaches HNLMS Johan de Witt
00:01:40:00
Landing craft enters dock of HNLMS Johan de Witt
00:01:52:05
Crew of Johan de Witt receive Admiral Foggo
00:02:07:09
Admiral Foggo has a meeting with Johan de Witt Dutch leadership from the Dutch Navy and Marines
00:02:28:00
Admiral Foggo is given a tour of the ship by the captain of Johan de Witt, Captain Wilko Van Zanten, including visiting the bridge and receiving various briefs from Dutch navy personnel
00:03:02:15
SOUNDBITE (English), Admiral James Foggo, Trident Juncture 18 Exercise Director
“Trident Juncture is the largest exercise that NATO has conducted since the end of the Cold War. And what’s important about Trident Juncture is that we’ve demonstrated the ability to get large numbers of personnel and equipment into one spot within the 29 of the Alliance in a very short period of time. 50,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines. 250 combat aircraft, 65 combat ships just like this one and
just like (HNLMS) Karel Doorman you see in the background. 10,000 tracked or rolling vehicles are ashore. All the tanks and armoured vehicles on this ship are off fighting a battle right now ashore in Norway and they will retrograde tomorrow. So, our ability to do that has really been impressive and if you look across the last thirty days before the exercise, we moved seven equivalent brigades, that’s about a force of 3000, 4000 personnel per brigade to Norway in just 30 days. So, NATO’s mission is
to deter and defend. To deter, you have to be present. I think we’ve shown that not only can we be present, we can get here in a very short period of time. We’re flexible and we’re agile and we’ve brought combat capability to bear on an Article 5 problem. Somebody’s sovereignty has been violated and we’re here to restore that sovereignty in the state of Norway."
00:04:23:00
Admiral Foggo talk to Dutch naval personnel on the bridge wing of the Johan de Witt
#ENDS 00:04:30:11# More