United States Air Force Counterinsurgency Operations Capabilities the Ground Dimension

<p>This paper will first provide a brief overview of COIN operations and show how Airmen are engaged in COIN operations on the ground. Discussions in this area will highlight how Airmen operate in the non-linear battle-space and are an invaluable asset to the battle-space owner (BSO). Discussion will then move to current COIN doctrine showing a lack of USAF ground specific guidance. Next this paper will discuss current training for Airmen operating in the deployed environment showing a lack of preparedness for Airmen to be effective in COIN operations on the ground. The paper will conclude with recommendations including the need to update existing doctrinal guidance a push to enhance training with regard to COIN operations as well as a recommendation for developing a wing level organizational structure to support COIN operations on the ground.</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>