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Sustainment the Key to Airpower?

  • Published
  • By Col. Michael Fleck
  • 325th Mission Support Group
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  You may be familiar with the saying,"flexibility is the key to airpower." That phrase captures how air, space and cyber forces can be shifted to new priorities very quickly to achieve objectives. While true in many cases, it has been my experience that, in fact,"sustainment is the key to airpower." I'll explain.

Perhaps not quite as catchy, but I think far more insightful, is that sustainment of our Air Force is really the key to its success, whether at peace, during high-intensity conflict or the ongoing wars we have today. It's the time factor that we frequently miss that is so valuable in warfare. Sure, mustering forces for a Titanic clash and decisive battle may be what is written about in books, but that is rarely the case in most conflicts. Many nations can muster air forces, formidable ones at that, given time and strategic warning. However, as the battle rages, can they come back day in, day out, year after year? Our Air Force can do it, and we've proven it over the last 21 years. This literally defines sustainment.

Our Air Force is the only air force that can organize, train and equip for sustained operations across huge distances. Many of the sustainment functions are resident in the 325th Mission Support Group. They include civil engineering, force support, communications, logistics, security and contracting. Collectively, they provide the mass, behind punch of the Air Force. Let me illustrate just three.

First, contracting; the 325th Contracting Squadron Airmen (officer, enlisted and civilian) constantly match user needs with contract "vehicles" to ensure requirements are met for the absolute best value of our nation's dollars. Over time, thousands of mission requirements are met at absolute best value. This search for value frees more resources for other priorities, and sustains the force and facilities for the long run. Want to buy more equipment or services for a lower price? Ask contracting. Contracting officials can get you to the fight, with the best equipment, and keep you there until objectives are met.

Another example is force support. The 325th Force Support Squadron is the catch-all squadron, ranging from personnel records to the fitness center--but they are absolutely critical to sustaining the force. Perhaps the most obvious sustainment function of force support is food services. The saying "an army moves on its stomach" comes to mind when I think of the prospect of feeding tens of thousands, both here and abroad, while at peace or war. We flat out could not sustain operations if not for tiered food services from Meals Ready to Eat, to deployable kitchens to full dining facilities serving thousands upon thousands of Airmen. Another example is the human capital system where Air Force personnel are managed to ensure the right quality, quantity and experience are assigned to all squadrons and their functions. Assignments, testing, rank, feedbacks, mentoring, career development...we do this the best of any other military service, and it shows in how well we fill our ranks.

Last, but certainly not least, is security forces. They are absolutely critical to sustainment over the long run. Security forces are the ones who help ensure what the taxpayers have paid for, contracting has purchased, civil engineers have built and installed, logistics has issued, communications experts have networked, and force support has processed is available day after day, right where the users left it. If you thought that security forces were only applicable at home base, you'd be wrong. During the Vietnam War, over 1,000 aircraft were damaged and hundreds destroyed by ground attack. Since then, not a single Air Force aircraft has been destroyed by enemy ground attack on an airbase. That's an impressive statistic, and one that clearly speaks to sustaining the fight over the long run. Our very own 325th Security Forces were at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan and repulsed an insurgent attack. They not only secured the base so others could perform their mission, but also preserved critical, expensive mission assets.

I'll close with this. Planning for war is a difficult, detailed and murky business. Plans never develop as intended, but it is certainly easier to plan for day one, than it is to project what will be needed on day 50, or year eight. The point is that we can plan for operations that far into a conflict because we know we'll be there...through sustainment. When history looks back at our involvement in the Middle East beginning with DESERT STORM through IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM, perhaps the most strategic capability we will be credited with is sustainment...the fact that we could be there for so long is far more important than a day's flying schedule over the desert.