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.

160219-A-PS499-001

Training Support Activity Europe

Video by Dee Crawford

Feb. 19, 2016 | 0:58

To maintain airway control and to deliver anesthetic gas adequately, a device called an endotracheal tube (ETT) is placed in the trachea. Proper positioning of the veterinary patient is essential to facilitate this process. This is sometimes difficult since the animal is often deeply sedated and likes to lean to one side or the other. In this case, Spc. Hunter Smith, a handler is placing the ETT while, Cpt. Melissa Dugan, the veterinarian and, Sgt. Steven Mraz, the veterinary technician provide training and support. This is a task that all MWD handlers must be able to perform in an austere environment should his partner need it. Here, the handler is holding the ETT in his right hand, the dominant hand, and a laryngoscope in his left. The laryngoscope is a handy device that has a long ‘blade’ (not sharp at all…just called that) with a light attached. The blade is placed in the dog’s mouth to the back of the throat and is used to push down on the base of the tongue to visualize the larynx…the beginning of the airway. Once this is visible, the ETT is then placed into the opening to a premeasured length. Placement is checked by palpating the dog’s neck. If you feel 2 tubes, you are in the wrong opening and you need to repeat the procedure from the beginning, but if you feel 1 tube, you are in the trachea. Once proper tube placement is confirmed, oxygen is turned on, the anesthesia machine is connected to the end of the ETT that you can see, and the oxygen is delivered directly into the patient’s lungs. The ETT has a little inflatable bulb on the end that goes deep into the trachea. This has to be inflated just enough to completely seal the trachea so no anesthetic gas can escape into the environment, but not too much to cause any damage to the tracheal lining. Once this bulb is inflated properly, proper placement is reconfirmed, the tube is secured to the dog’s head, the anesthetic gas is turned on and the procedure can begin once the monitoring equipment is placed on the patient. More