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.

B-Roll; USACE provides reachback support to Lithuania mission from Engineer Research and Development Center

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District

Video by Alfredo Barraza

April 1, 2025 | 0:48

B-Roll Description: Engineers and scientists with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Reachback Operations Center at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) based in Vicksburg, Miss., provided reachback support to the teams on the ground in Lithuania during the recent search and recovery mission where four Soldiers and their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle were recovered from a peat bog near Pabradė, Lithuania.

Background: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was one of the many organizations that was part of the large, international team effort that went into recovering four Soldiers and their M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle that went missing near Pabradė, Lithuania.

In addition to providing their own expertise on the ground, USACE engineers on site acted as the eyes and ears for the USACE Reachback Operations Center (UROC) at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) based in Vicksburg, Miss. Based on that coordination, the reachback team of engineers and scientists at ERDC was able to develop potential engineering solutions to help the teams on the ground in their mission. More