Summer Selections Revisiting Air Defense Australian Air Doctrine “Downtown” Once More Acting Secretary of the Air Force John J. Welch, Jr. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Larry D. Welch Commander, Air University Lt Gen Ralph E. Havens Commander, Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education Col Sidney J. Wise Editor Col Keith W. Geiger Associate Editor Maj Michael A. Kirtland Professional Staff Hugh Richardson. Contributing Editor Marvin W. Bassett. Contributing Editor John A. Westcott. Art Director and Production Manager Steven C. Garst. Art Editor and Illustrator The Airpower Journal, published quarterly, is the professional journal of the United States Air Force. It is designed to serve as an open forum for presenting and stimulating innovative thinking on military doctrine, strategy, tactics, force structure, readiness, and other national defense matters. The views and opinions exú pressed or implied in the Journal are those of the authors and should not be construed as carú rying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, the Air Force, Air University, or other agencies or departments of the US government. Articles in this edition may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. If reproú duced, the Airpower Journal requests a courú tesy line. JOURNAL SUMMER 1989, Vol. Ill, No. 2 AFRP 50-2 Editorial 2 Developing a Long-Term National Strategy: Shifting Imperatives \laj Gen Perry M. Smith, USAF, Retired 4 The Royal Australian Air Force Writes Its Doctrine Wing Comdr David J. Schubert, RAAF Wing Comdr Brian L. Kavanagh, RAAF 1 6 Barrage Balloons for Low-Level Air Defense \Iaj Franklin J. Hillson, USAF 2 7 Hold, Withdraw, or Advance: The Role of Tactical Airlift in AirLand Battle Brig Gen Billy \1. Knowles, Sr., USAF, Retired 4 1 Clausewitz for Beginners Maj Michael W. Cannon, USA 4 8 Targeting for Victory: The Rationale Behind Strategic Bombing Objectives in America’s First Air War Plan ClC Steven A. Parker. USAFA 5 8 The Right Reaction: A Consideration of Three Revisionists Maj Earl H. Tilford, Jr., USAF 7 2 Ricochets 3 Letters Net Assessment 9 3 Reviews of Current Literature Notams 9 4 Notices of Interest Contributors 95 "owner” of the resources that they would EDITORIAL not be loaned because of the potential deg- radation to the owner’s "primary” mission. After pointing out that the owner’s com- mander himself had directed the loan, the A Matter of Mission junior officer was informed that the re- sources existed in the first place because of HE challenge of the senior cadet to the the foresight of a functional community underclassman was, "Mister, what are within the Air Force and they were not Tthe three most important things to an of- meant to service every “pop-up” operation ficer?" The expected reply was, "Sir, mis- that might occur. The owner vowed to fight sion, mission, and mission, sir!” What was the order to the very top of his functional so magical about those words? Why did management chain, if necessary. How far senior cadets and the institutional wisdom up that particular avenue he progressed is of the corps that they represented place so unknown, but the equipment was turned much emphasis on that repetitive, rote re- over the next day. What had happened was sponse? a breakdown in the more senior officer’s In that simple formula, it seems now, was appreciation of mission. Charged with the the distilled legacy of a thousand engage- judicious use of the resources entrusted to ments, the hard-won wisdom of legions of him, he had reasoned that using those re- predecessors. It was the fundamental, guid- sources on something not mandated by ing principle on which all were expected to “regulation” would be an abrogation of conduct their professional and private lives his responsibility to husband his capabili- in the military. ties. What was missing, of course, was the The mission: the only valid yardstick by need to consider the larger ramifications of which one’s motives, concepts, and actions “mission,” the ultimate purposes for which can be measured in the world of military the resources might exist in the first place. reality. The mission is the manifestation of There are positive examples of mission the collective result sought. It may be as appreciation, and the following is freely delightfully obvious as dropping the center purloined from another as best it can be span of a high bridge or as abstract as recalled. While conducting a walk-through affecting an enemy’s will to continue the inspection of a communications repair fight. The definition of one’s mission varies shop, the commander asked a technician considerably in scope and complexity, but what his mission was. Hearing that it was there are some corollaries to one’s mission to repair and maintain “widgets,” our ex- that must always be considered. What are emplar of mission appreciation replied that the missions of other people and other while true, the answer was not altogether units? What are the missions at higher correct. As explained, the real mission of levels of activity? What are the priorities of the technician was to ensure that the air- the missions that abound in any complex craft cocked on the alert ramp became air- military operation? borne in the prescribed amount of time. These are important considerations, for it Anything in which the technician might is only in the context of the aggregate engage himself that did not contribute to mission that one can begin to truly appre- that timely takeoff was inappropriate effort. ciate the place and importance of one’s Did the technician’s “job" change? No, but own. Perhaps a few examples can bring this rest assured that his appreciation of his concept into focus. mission did, and to the overall advantage of While coordinating the directed loan of his unit and the Air Force. One should add some mobility equipment, an officer was that it didn’t hurt the officer either, having dismayed to hear from the more senior now passed into the flag ranks. 2 RICOCHETS 3 So. what does it all mean? Only that to this quest that the real richness of the :ullv appreciate one's mission, one must officer trainee's rote response will become look beyond immediate requirements and evident. imperatives to find the context that will “Sir. mission, mission, and mission, sir!” provide the true meaning of mission. It is in .:* ULFRFKHWV Letters to the editor are encouraged. All correú have made potentially disastrous inroads into spondence should be addressed to the Editor. Air Force capabilities. Airpower Journal. U’aJker Hall. Maxwell AFB Army and Navy commanders have long rec- AL 36112-5532. We reserve the right to edit the ognized the absolute necessity of air power for material for overall length. the successful prosecution of their campaigns. To remedy what they consider to be ineffective air support by the Air Force, they have sought to develop indigenous air power in the form oi VIRPOWER STRATEGY Navy Marine air wings and, most recently. Army ! believe the Air Force, as an institution, has attack helicopters. With each addition to their tailed to exploit the potential of air power across air forces, a backward step has been taken, and he spec trum of conflict, and until such time as today we face a multiservice attack on the con- the Air Force develops an air power strategy, the tinued existence of an independent Air Force. control of air power will continue its migration Congressionallv mandated programs, such as to the sister services. the current drive to develop joint doctrine, at- Whereas the Xavv and Army use the maritime tempt to reshape the US force structure, making strategy and AirLand Battle as operational blue- it trimmer, more effective, and better capable ol prints for their force development, the Air Force addressing the lower-spectrum threats. In re- -.eems to rely upon technological breakthroughs sponse. the services have employed various to chart its course As a direct result of this stratagems to ensure that these programs result process, we have failed to achieve our potential in end products that are supportive of existing -xcept at the upper end of the spectrum of organizations and doctrine. The Air Force has conflict, where air power continues to domi- been hampered in this process in that it lacks a nate. For -10 years the Air Force has invested maritime strategy or an AirLand Battle to serve neavily in this upper-spectrum force structure as a unifying foundation for its efforts. rnd continues to do so in systems like the B-2 Such a foundation is not provided by our bomber and MX missile, bur efforts have re- basic doctrine. AFM 1-1. Basic Aerospace Doc- sulted in systems whose exceptional respon- trine of the United States Air Force, tells but a .iveness and combat capability have removed partial story of air power. It focuses on what the he reasonable expectation of their actual em- Air Force does—almost to the complete exclu- ployment. sion of why and how. Without clear top-down Rather than securing our national interests for guidance, these questions of why and how are dl time this situation has produced a perceived answered in as many ways as there are com- stalemate of nuclear forces that serves to empha- mands and theaters. When critical questions ol size the threats posed bv lower-spectrum con- organizational command and control are raised •lict. Our limited successes against these threats during joint-doctrine development, the other lave eroded the nation's former confidence in services can cite as many Air Force supporters ur power, replacing it with a near-total reliance of their "Air Force-only-for-support" role as we >n land and naval actions.