Application of the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Concept to Reserve Tactical Air Components

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Application of the Aerospace Expeditionary Force Concept to Reserve Tactical Air Components

A. J. Rizzo

Since the end of the Cold War, reductions in U.S. defense spending and military force structure has left our armed forces stretched too thin. No longer focused on defeating a peer competitor in a Major Theater War, U.S. military personnel now find themselves deployed overseas for a myriad of non- traditional, regionally focused Smaller-Scale Contingencies. Much of this increased tasking has fallen upon our Active Component (AC) Tactical Air (TACAIR) forces. However, the greater utilization of this combat arm in the 1990s has resulted in a 'do-more-with-less' dilemma that has severely taxed AC TACAIR resources. Operational and personnel tempo rates are at levels that degrade aircraft material readiness, spare part inventories and personnel retention in all the Services. Since our National Military Strategy requires U. S. forces to be forward deployed and 'globally engaged', ClNC tasking of finite AC TACAIR forces for overseas deployments will not likely decrease in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the Services must begin to explore more innovative ways to take advantage of a relatively underutilized resource: its substantial Reserve Component tactical air capability. Transforming our reserve TACAIR units into 'selectively expeditionary' force packages modeled after the Air Force's Aerospace Expeditionary Force concept promises to be one such innovation, providing a 'force multiplier' for the CINCs while offering much needed relief for overburdened AC units.