An Air Force for the Long War and Beyond

<p>The Long War and the post-Cold War world in general demand that the U.S. military improve its ability to conduct effective Counterinsurgency; Stability Security Transition and Reconstruction; and Humanitarian Assistance. In practice these operations have common elements and are closely related. This paper refers to them collectively as Extraordinary Operations (EO). Air forces bring vital capabilities to EO but the U.S. Air Force has historically neglected their cultivation because EO requires fundamentally different ways of thinking different skill sets and different equipment - making them nearly antithetical to conventional operations. EO and building partner capacity (BPC) are fundamental elements of our strategy to win the Long War but EO is so different from conventional operations and so historically vulnerable to neglect that the USAF should consider establishing an organization dedicated to EO that is focused on BPC. This paper presents an organizational concept for a Partnership Numbered Air Force and argues that it would meet national strategic guidance; assure proper professional development; improve EO skill theory doctrine and equipment; encourage better cooperation with other U.S. government agencies IGOs and NGOs; provide better response to domestic emergencies; and would provide national leaders and combatant commanders with low-risk high-payoff engagement options. Such an organization would be the Air Force's most effective weapon in the Long War and beyond.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>