Photo By Tech. Sgt. Lynette Rolen | Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, answers...... read more read more
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Innovation was the main theme when Air Force Special Operations Command commander Lt. Gen. Brad Webb and command Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Smith gathered their staff for an all call March 13 at the Soundside.
“Wherever we are called upon, we find the way to be the force our nation needs us to be – a balanced force with value across the spectrum,” said Webb. “Our strategic value resides across the spectrum; it resides across all specialties and mission sets, including global access, persistent engagement, special operations strike and worldwide crisis response.”
Innovation is at the heart of all Air Commandos, and has continued to get the mission accomplished.
“For us, this is where our innovation, coupled with the National Defense Strategy guidance and coupled with what is at the heart of what our culture is, becomes important,” said Webb. “Air Commandos live by an ethos…there is a way, and we find it. One thing I have learned is that Air Commandos don’t quit, don’t let challenges stop them from getting the mission done – we do what we need to do.”
Recent changes to the National Defense Strategy place emphasis on increasing force lethality, strengthening partnerships and department reformation.
“The national strategy has been updated to reflect a changing world,” said Webb. “From this guidance, we can define three strategic ends for Special Operations Forces, and therefore Air Force Special Operations Forces. These are to: compete below the threshold of traditional armed conflict, counter and defeat non-state threats and achieve strategic and operational objectives in crisis and conflict.”
To symbolize how the NDS changes affect AFSOC, Smith referenced “Gilligan’s Island,” a classic television show from the mid-1960s, which transitioned from black and white to color.
“The counter terrorism fight is our black and white core,” said Smith. “The picture is clear and we understand it. The NDS is transitioning us into color. We are at an innovative crossroad right now where we’re transitioning to a wider aperture across the spectrum; this is really the CT fight coming in, refracting out and looking at the whole problem set in color.”
Smith mentioned this revolution will be possible with the innovation of AFSOC’s Air Commandos.
“There are tremendous innovative ideas that will help us see the future in color,” said Smith. “That’s what we have to harness and grab. Our Special Tactics Airmen utilized technology with disaster response. They used the Android Tactical Assault Kit, a smartphone app, after the hurricanes down in the Caribbean in 2017 in an unclassified manner and marked buildings for the Federal Emergency Management Agency that revolutionized how we aided in disaster relief.”
Smith further commented that these problem solving ideas will manifest on the battlefield and go out to the population.
In addition to NDS changes, the team also discussed AFSOC 2030, the effort to have increased specialized airpower by the year 2030.
“AFSOC 2030 will be the force our nation needs us to be – a balanced force with value across the spectrum,” said Webb. “We’re on the path for an AFSOC 2030. This is what it is today, what it is tomorrow. The requirement is that every Air Commando be an innovator.”
As Webb concluded the all call, he left his audience with final parting words.
“In essence, this is about acknowledging fundamentally who we are as Air Commandos, and that is problem solvers,” said Webb. “We know there’s a way to get this job done and we’re going to find a way.”
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2018 17:22 |
| Story ID: | 270026 |
| Location: | HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 244 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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