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.

Hungarian and Serbian soldiers take part in Ohio’s Region IV Best Warrior Competition

196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Video by Staff Sgt. Aven Santiago

May 2, 2023 | 7:16

Soldiers from the Hungarian Defence Forces and Serbian Armed Forces participated in the Region IV Best Warrior Competition at Newton Falls, Ohio, May 3-7, 2023. The HDF and SAF competitors attended as part of Ohio National Guard’s State Partnership Program and competed with U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The b-roll package includes shots of HDF and SAF soldiers participating in Region IV BWC events such as a physical fitness assessment, marksmanship, Army Warrior Tasks, and more. (U.S. Army National Guard Video by Staff Sgt. Aven Santiago, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

B-roll contains the following footage of the physical fitness assessment portion of the Expert Infantry Badge, weapons lane, weapons qualification and stress shoot during the Region IV BWC. End of b-roll contains interviews starting at 4:31.
Interview 1: Command Sgt. Major Zoltan Kaszab, Hungarian Defence Forces (4:31-6:12)
Interview 2: Sgt. Nikola Krstic, infantryman, Military Police Detachment Cobra, Serbian Armed Forces (6:13-7:16) More