Air Expeditionary Force 7 (AEF-7)
On January 28, 2003 Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced that airmen deployed for AEF 7 and AEF 8 Cycle 3 would remain deployed longer than the previously targeted three-month rotation. The change was made to meet the needs of combatant commanders.
Specifically, active-duty and mobilized reserve component airmen deployed with Air and Space Expeditionary Forces 7 and 8 and those deploying as part of new taskings ordered by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Dec. 24, 2002 could anticipate remaining in place until further notice.
Airmen in some "stressed" career fields had already been extended beyond three months.
The need for additional forces was part of a buildup of air power in Southwest Asia, ready to achieve national security objectives if directed by the president.
Jumper argued that the Air Force must interrupt its normal three-month AEF rotation cycle because the resources in a single AEF pair can no longer satisfy the needs of the combatant commands.
