Need to Change the Cultural Bias in the United States Air Force Against Close Air Support and to Reactivate the ABCCC

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Need to Change the Cultural Bias in the United States Air Force Against Close Air Support and to Reactivate the ABCCC

M. J. Pfingsten

The omission of close air support planning for Operation ANACONDA illustrates a profound short sightedness in US air and land force component commanders. This shortsightedness is a logical consequence of a cultural bias in the USAF that originates from its earliest beginnings. It is critical the USAF change its culture to build an efficient CAS capability to help ensure victory in future wars. Next the USAF must build up enablers to optimize its entire fighter-bomber inventory for efficient CAS execution. Specifically, the USAF should reconstruct its Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC) capability and significantly increase the number of terminal air controllers to embed in small conventional and special operations ground units. Ultimately, the USAF needs to ensure the viability of its CAS mission in order to secure the asymmetric advantage tactical air promises to deliver in future warfare.