Today Vs. Tomorrow Allies in the Gulf the C-17 Rapid Raptors AFA National Convention UNCONVENTIONAL
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See it in action — F35.com. 301-66165_F35_AirForce_Unconventional_AFM.indd 1 7/9/13 5:06 PM November 2013, Vol. 96, No. 11 FEATURES 4 Editorial: Preserving a National Asset: Air Force Airpower The Air Force Association 2014 Statement of Policy was adopted by the delegates to the AFA National Convention Sept. 15, 2013. 24 Today vs. Tomorrow By John A. Tirpak At AFA’s Air & Space Conference, top Air Force leaders described the tense balancing act between immediate requirements and future relevance. 32 Fresh Looks at the Total Force By Amy McCullough The Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve are working to overcome last year’s hostility. 40 Allies in the Gulf By Marc V. Schanz America’s allies around the volatile Persian Gulf are low key, but have high importance. 46 Mission to Mali By Gabe Starosta The French got a big boost from 24 USAF tankers and airlifters in this year’s fi ght against Islamic extremists. 52 Noble Eagle Flies On By John A. Tirpak The Iraq war is over. Afghanistan is ending. Operation Noble Eagle must continue. 57 Rapid Raptors By Marc V. Schanz A new PACAF concept gets F-22s to the fi ght fast. 58 The C-17 Reaches the End of the Line After a 20-year production run, Boe- ing has delivered the Air Force’s fi nal Globemaster III. 60 The JTAC Imperative By Carlo Muñoz Who will call in air strikes in Afghani- stan after 2014? 66 Glenn Miller’s Air Force Odyssey About the cover: TSgt. Ray Decker By John T. Correll prepares his rucksack before boarding an He was the leader of the most MC-130P in Sendai, Japan. See “Today popular band in the nation and too old vs. Tomorrow,” p. 24. DOD photo by USAF to be drafted, but he felt a personal SSgt. Samuel Morse. obligation to serve. 32 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2013 1 72 72 Air Force Association National Convention 2013 40 By Merri M. Shaffer 77 Air Force Association Top Issues www.airforcemag.com for 2014 78 Air Force Association Technology Publisher: Craig R. McKinley Exposition 2013 Editor in Chief: Adam J. Hebert Photography by Guy Aceto Aerospace technology of the highest Editor: Suzann Chapman order was on display at AFA’s annual Managing Editor: Juliette Kelsey Chagnon showcase. Executive Editors: Michael C. Sirak, John A. Tirpak 84 Air Force Association National News Editor: Amy McCullough Awards 2013 Senior Editor: Marc V. Schanz Senior Designer: Heather Lewis Special Projects Manager: Gideon Grudo Designer: Darcy Lewis Assistant Managing Editor: Frances McKenney DEPARTMENTS Associate Editors: Aaron M. U. Church, 8 Letters June L. Kim, Merri M. Shaffer Production Manager: Eric Chang Lee 12 Air Force World Photo Editor: Zaur Eylanbekov 22 Index to Advertisers Media Research Editor: Chequita Wood 31 Chart Page: The Biggest Loser Contributors: Walter J. Boyne, John T. Correll, Robert S. Dudney, Carlo Muñoz, Gabe Starosta 51 Verbatim 65 Keeper File: Appointment at Gettysburg Advertising: Andraea Davis, Mohanna Sales Representative 214/291-3660 90 AFA National Report [email protected] 94 Reunions 1501 Lee Highway 96 Airpower Classics: Buccaneer Arlington, Va. 22209-1198 Tel: 703/247-5800 Telefax: 703/247-5855 [email protected] AIR FORCE Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) November 2013 (Vol. 96, No. 11) is published monthly by the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Phone (703) 247-5800. Perodical postage paid at Arlington, Va., and additional mailing offi ces. Membership Rate: $45 per year; $110 for three-year membership. Life Membership (nonrefundable): $600 single payment, $630 extended payments. Subscription Rate: $45 per year; $29 per year additional for postage to foreign addresses (except Canada and Mexico, which are $10 per year additional). Regular issues $5 each. USAF Almanac issue $8 each. Change of address requires four weeks’ notice. Please include mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Trademark registered by Air Force Association. Copyright 2013 by Air Force Association. 2 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2013 Aviation KNOW-HOW When it comes to aviation, we know how to deliver integrated solutions that ensure safety, improve reliability and increase mission readiness. With unparalleled experience on more than 200 di erent types of aircraft—including utility and attack helicopters, frontline fi ghters, and commercial transport aircraft—DynCorp International supports the toughest missions in the most challenging locations on Earth. Whether it’s providing total lifecycle management, air operations or aviation maintenance, we help our government, military and commercial customers reduce costs and achieve new levels of performance and productivity. www.dyn-intl.com DynCorp International provides our customers with unique, tailored aviation solutions for an ever-changing world. Dyncorp_knowhow_series_8.125x10.875.indd 2 6/12/13 9:26 AM Editorial Preserving a National Asset: Air Force Airpower he US Air Force is America’s ballistic and cruise missile forces, where funds are not fenced by statute, Tindispensable instrument for deal- cyber weapons, and space systems. a disproportionate impact is felt in ing with a turbulent, threatening, and The US generally and the Air Force readiness and training. uncertain future. Air, space, and cyber specifically face challenges from heav- The Air Force is now taking a huge power offer unmatched range, speed, ily armed and unpredictable rogue amount of risk in this area. The Air flexibility, and combat punch world- states, nuclear-weapons states, and Force’s operation and maintenance wide. These attributes have given our transnational terrorist groups. budget came in $4.4 billion short nation military options that do not The Air Force Association (AFA) because of the sequester. Air Force require large force commitments on believes that maintaining the best Air depots have deferred the induction of foreign soil or in contested waters. Force in the world is vital to our nation- more than 100 aircraft and engines The Air Force will continue to pro- al interests and security. There is no for required maintenance, creating vide these capabilities into the fore- choice but to carry through on buying backlogs that will take years to work seeable future. However, that task the cutting-edge capabilities already off, even if the money needed is avail- is becoming more and more difficult. able—and chances are, it will not be. The nation must understand that years Sequestration-related cuts are also of underinvestment, and continuous causing hardship for Air Force ci- wartime operations since 1991, have The Air Force Association vilians, who have been furloughed severely taxed this world-class capa- 2014 Statement of approximately six days in 2013. More- bility and placed its future capability Policy was adopted over, many of the uniformed men and in jeopardy. by the delegates to the women who support the Guard and The need for change is manifest. Reserve are dual-status civilians who Several times during its more than AFA National Convention have been furloughed even though 100-year history (predecessor orga- Sept. 15, 2013. they are the backbone of readiness nizations included), the Air Force has for Guard and Reserve forces. The transformed itself to meet demands sequester will result in a loss of mil- of a suddenly changed environment. developed but not yet fielded, including lions of man-hours of labor in 2013 It did so at the end of World War II the F-35, Long-Range Strike Bomber alone. Civilian Airmen are mission and, more recently, in transitioning at (LRS-B), and KC-46. China and Russia critical in many areas, especially the end of the Cold War from a force are catching up fast. They are gaining in the reserve components at the largely in garrison to a rotational force greater access to advanced defensive maintenance depots. Other sequester frequently operating from temporary systems and offensive capabilities. impacts included: bases throughout the world—while They are not standing still, and neither Elimination of some 200,000 hours maintaining its strategic nuclear capa- should we. from USAF’s flying program—a cut of bility. Now, USAF must change again. For Airmen, the common thread in about 18 percent. The United States Air Force is still the past decades of action has been Termination of some classes at the world’s strongest and most re- the determination to achieve military the Weapons School at Nellis AFB, spected air and space force. However, goals in the most effective, efficient Nev., and cancellation of Red Flag, sequestration has hit the armed ser- manner possible while exposing US the premier US and international vices hard. In the latter part of Fiscal forces to the least extent required to airpower training exercise series, for 2013 (ending Sept. 30), sequestration meet the country’s goals. In an era the remainder of the year, along with will have forced an overall defense cut of austerity, air and space power is several other international exercises. of $41 billion. The Air Force share of precisely the type of cost-effective Reduced flying hours, lost exer- this was $10 billion—a huge number.