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SECAF: Aggressively pursuing joint missions may expand Air Force roles

by Staff Sgt. C. Todd Lopez
Air Force Print News

11/7/2005 - WASHINGTON -- The Air Force has always participated in the joint fight, but may now seek to contribute even more.

The Air Force deploys more than 300 aircraft and 24,000 personnel in support of the war on terror. This support includes air mobility assets that transport troops and cargo, close air support to ground forces on the battlefield, and military intelligence to name a few.

Recently sworn in Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said the Air Force is evolving to a new era in the global war on terror, and he would like for the Air Force to participate in even more joint endeavors.

"The Air Force is operating as a joint service, right now today," Mr. Wynne said. "(The Air Force) needs to continue to foster a jointness approach. Looking to take missions instead of… waiting to be asked. This is a change we are going to go through over time. I think we need to be ready for it.

"I am looking at it from a perspective of waiting to be joint or aggressively pursuing joint," said Secretary Wynne. "Aggressively pursuing joint is a little bit different. We have been very patient, frankly, in (asking) should our lane be essentially the lane we have been in."
Thus far, the Air Force participates jointly in the global war on terror and on other fronts by providing air mobility and refueling, indirect fire, security missions and training, tactical communications, contracting, close air support, intelligence, aeromedical evacuation, and convoy operations in Iraq.

"Now the question is, should we encroach a little bit more on unfamiliar territory and begin to ask 'can we do that job?'" Mr. Wynne said. "Our quest for more jointness should also be inventive."

Secretary Wynne said he has two goals aimed at helping the Air Force move towards more jointness. The first is persistent situational awareness, the second is development of trained and battle ready Airmen.

"The trained and battle ready airmen has to do with -- are we training our Airmen to be joint, both in the noncommissioned officer ranks and within the officer ranks," Secretary Wynne said. "Can we train better to facilitate joint, as we think about the Air Force in the future? I think we need to take a look at that in a very different way."

Persistent situational awareness means always being aware of what is going on both inside and outside the battle space, the Secretary said. That includes everything from keeping the lines of communication open to the warfighter, to knowing at all times the state of maintenance on weapons systems, to knowing how much money is left in the budget.

Secretary Wynne was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Air Force on November 3, 2005, during a ceremony at the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.