The New Air Commando

<p>One of the cornerstones of the Department of Defense's (DoD) plan for institutional transformation is a focus upon expanding the military's ability to enable allies and partner nations to join the United States in the global war on terror. As transformation continues its forward advance that focus will intensify apace. Within United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Air Force combat aviation advisory (CAA) operations constitute a vital niche capability supporting such efforts. This study examines the strategic relevance of CAA forces within the framework of irregular warfare (IW) including foreign internal defense (FID) counterinsurgency (COIN) and unconventional warfare (UW). It goes on to examine the need to increase the size of those forces and looks at potential future structures for the larger CAA organization. In analyzing how to organize train and equip the expanded CAA component the author warns of numerous pitfalls which threaten the success of various proposals. Finally the author discusses constraints and possible side effects that too rapid growth might have on the unit's ability to achieve its traditional high level of strategic and operational effects.</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>