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.

Estonia FTD 2017

1st Combat Camera Squadron

Video by Staff Sgt. Shellby Matullo

Sept. 5, 2017 | 0:34

Ten A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, a MC-130J Commando II, a Virtual Interconnected Training Environment (VITE) and approximately 270 Airmen and associated equipment from bases across the United States and Europe will deploy to Amari Air Base, Estonia, Aug. 4-20 to participate in a forward training deployment with Estonia. The deployment is funded by the European Reassurance Initiative as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve which ensures U.S. European Command has a ready, The A-10s and VITE from the 175th Wing, Warfield Air National Guard Base, Md., will train with multinational Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and Combat Control Teams at Amari and Jagala, Estonia. The MC-130J is from the 352nd Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, U. K., and a combat communications team will deploy from the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. While deployed, the A-10s will also train with the Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets in Finland, Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets in Estonia and multinational JTACs in Latvia. Flight operations will take place in Finnish, Estonian, Latvian and international airspace. This training will focus on maintaining joint readiness while building interoperability capabilities.(U.S Air Force video shot by SSgt Shellby Matullo) More