Making the Expeditionary Aerospace Force Work - Now!

This paper proposes a detailed Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) plan, including individual squadron alignment and concept of operations that uses the current force structure and disposition, and will allow the Expeditionary Aerospace Force (EAF) "vision" to become a reality now. This topic was chosen primarily for one reason: the current operations tempo (OPSTEMPO) throughout the U.S. Air Force is driving the retention rate so low that it threatens the finely tuned, decisive combat capability crafted so masterfully over the last 10 - 20 years. A fully implemented EAF "vision" will not only meet and exceed any military requirements foreseen over the next 10 years, but it has the potential to dramatically reduce our OPSTEMPO. Reducing the OPSTEMPO should directly affect retention rates. While AEF operations began in October 1999, full implementation of the EAF "vision" is not predicted to occur for another four to five years. This is simply too long to wait.