“The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) seeks to adapt, reshape, and rebalance our military to prepare for the strategic challenges and opportunities we face in the years ahead.” The QDR addresses several tough choices which need to be made in order to ensure the US Armed Forces remain the most dominant military in the world. Airpower is defined as, “the ability to project military power or influence through the control and exploitation of air, space, and cyberspace to achieve strategic, operational, or tactical objectives.” This paper will discuss how Airpower across the services can continue to be innovative amidst the face of budget and manpower cuts. Areas for innovative improvements include technological enhancements, manpower adjustments, and acquisition streamlining. First, technological enhancements are at the forefront for innovative improvements. “Space will continue to aid combat operations in other mediums as it offers persistence, range, and near instantaneous speed – enabling a global presence that is unmatched by any other medium or domain except perhaps for cyberspace.” With increasing threats in space and cyberspace, the US must be vigilant in countering and restricting access and remain well-positioned to advance our strengths. Due to the anti-access and area-denial (A2/D2) capabilities of some of our most capable adversaries, we must increase the effective range of our fighter aircraft and strike capabilities in order to defeat these approaches. Chinese anti-access capacity includes a large ballistic missile force designed to attack key point targets, such as air bases and naval facilities. Chinese area denial capabilities consist of advanced counter-maritime and counter-air systems designed to destroy critical mobile assets, such as surface ships and aircraft. A2/AD also extends into the space and cyber domains that support U.S. operations, and is specifically designed to disrupt U.S. power projection. Furthermore, Chinese A2/AD is particularly well suited for use against U.S. forces in the event of a confrontation over the defense of Taiwan. Innovations to smart, precision-guided weapons are imperative in countering the A2/D2 threat. New and expanded cyber capabilities
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In an effort to avoid cutting military careers short, commanders should exploit the retention process by non-retaining personnel after 20 years of active duty service. To enhance recruitment, stricter entry requirements should be set in place. Another plausible option for the Air Force is to reintroduce warrant officer ranks. With the increased usage of unmanned aircraft and the looming threat of reduction in manned aircraft, the need for pilots, maintainers, etc will be reduced. Warrant officers offer a viable choice for the replacement of traditional aircraft crews. The US Army has proven successful implementation of pilots in the warrant officer grade. Their pay is less than that of a fully commissioned officer, yet they have years of experience as enlisted personnel. Although the military is reducing its overall manpower numbers, a challenge is faced in retaining personnel in critical areas. In order to deter and defeat cyberspace threats, we must recruit and retain a superior cybersecurity team. Retention of these trained personnel will prove to be a daunting task since the civilian sector can offer a much more favorable compensation than the military. A solution to this challenge would be to offer special pay to cybersecurity personnel. Manpower reductions are a delicate matter and should be implemented skillfully in order to maintain an effective workforce. In addition, more stringent entry requirements will ensure that only the most highly qualified and motivated individuals are allowed to enter the ranks throughout the
In an effort to avoid cutting military careers short, commanders should exploit the retention process by non-retaining personnel after 20 years of active duty service. To enhance recruitment, stricter entry requirements should be set in place. Another plausible option for the Air Force is to reintroduce warrant officer ranks. With the increased usage of unmanned aircraft and the looming threat of reduction in manned aircraft, the need for pilots, maintainers, etc will be reduced. Warrant officers offer a viable choice for the replacement of traditional aircraft crews. The US Army has proven successful implementation of pilots in the warrant officer grade. Their pay is less than that of a fully commissioned officer, yet they have years of experience as enlisted personnel. Although the military is reducing its overall manpower numbers, a challenge is faced in retaining personnel in critical areas. In order to deter and defeat cyberspace threats, we must recruit and retain a superior cybersecurity team. Retention of these trained personnel will prove to be a daunting task since the civilian sector can offer a much more favorable compensation than the military. A solution to this challenge would be to offer special pay to cybersecurity personnel. Manpower reductions are a delicate matter and should be implemented skillfully in order to maintain an effective workforce. In addition, more stringent entry requirements will ensure that only the most highly qualified and motivated individuals are allowed to enter the ranks throughout the