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.

Boise River Flows

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District

Video by Brigida Sanchez

May 15, 2017 | 4:02

Record snowfalls have made 2017 a year for severe flood risk. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, explains how it works with its partner agencies to manage flows in Idaho's Treasure Valley.

The Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation operate three dams on the Boise River as a system to manage flood control and irrigation storage needs — Lucky Peak Dam, Arrowrock Dam and Anderson Ranch Dam. Storage capacity provided by Reclamation’s Arrowrock and Anderson Ranch dams, and the Corps’ Lucky Peak Dam, combined with well-planned water releases, help manage Boise River flows through Ada and Canyon counties.

Take a look at what is commonly called a "teacup" diagram of the Boise River system to see current reservoir levels, inflows and discharge rates of flow from the dams https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/boipaytea.html

For flood-risk management purposes, river flows through the greater-Boise area are measured at the Glenwood Bridge gage https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?lid=BIGI1 or https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=13206000. The rate of flow at this gage is often different than the rate of discharge flows from Lucky Peak Dam, because of upstream irrigation diversions.

You can keep an eye on what the weather's doing at http://www.weather.gov/boi/ and https://www.facebook.com/NWSBoise/

Be sure to sign up for alerts from your local emergency management agency, so you can stay up to date on changes in reservoir management and river flows through the greater-Boise area. http://www.adacounty.id.gov/flood and https://www.facebook.com/adacountyem/ More