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.

Army Reserve Soldiers provide relief for nature preserve visitors

318th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

Video by Staff Sgt. Douglas Anderson

May 22, 2016 | 6:40

Nestled in the foothills of the San Joaquin Valley lies one of the last vestiges of the oak riparian forest, an area with a unique ecosystem where various animals and plant life exist in harmony. The Kaweah Oaks Preserve allows visitors the ability to experience nature as it once was before settlements and farming took over most of this area.
The 672nd Engineering Company, out of Missoula, Montana, is spending five months at this site, performing various repairs at the preserve and constructing a permanent restroom facility for the visitors. They are working as part of the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program in which the Army Reserve provides services for community programs and entities such as the Kaweah Oaks Preserve. The idea behind the IRT program is to provide a community service while allowing Army Reserve units to train and practice their skills. The 672nd is proof that this program is very successful.
“Soldiers get a chance to learn their skills in the classroom and apply those skills with hands-on experience,” explained First Lt. Renn Scott, executive officer of the 672nd Engineer Company.
“Having five months out here give Soldiers the chance to do things right instead of having to rush through a project, and enables the Soldiers the chance to do things they don’t always have the chance to do in other missions. It really adds to their readiness as a unit,” said Scott.
The IRT mission also takes advantage of civilian skills and gives lower ranking Soldiers the chance to teach higher ranking Soldiers new skills. This is unique in the Army Reserve; typically in the active component of the Army, skills and experience come with rank. The civilian experience in the Reserve adds to the capability of the unit.
After the project is over, the visitors to the Kaweah Oaks Preserve will enjoy updated facilities and the Soldiers of the 672nd will have additional construction skills that make them that much more of an asset to the Army Reserve and active component of the Army. More