ARLINGTON, Va. - The three Air Force generals who comprise the front line for Total Force Task Force agreed the end product they need to develop is simple - provide the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force with strategic options to strike the best balance for mission capabilities between the active and reserve components of the Air Force.
Getting to that end product, which must be submitted to Air Force leadership by Aug. 15, however, is no simple task. The directive for TF2 came in a January memo from the Air Force senior leaders. The team works under direction of the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for Strategic Plans and Programs and in coordination with Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve leadership.
"We have to provide the secretary and chief with a plan that builds on the unification of the three components that has developed during the past two decades," said Maj. Gen. Brian Meenan, mobilization assistant to commander of Air Mobility Command.
The generals are leading a small full-time staff and a matrixed group of specialists from across the service to answer questions such as what kind of relationships have to exist between the components, what are inherent strengths and weaknesses, as well as legal and regulatory constraints that must be considered. To do that requires input from a variety of stakeholders.
"We have wide array of input from internal sources such as the adjutants general from Colorado and Florida," said Maj. Gen. Mark Bartman, assistant adjutant general-Air for the Ohio National Guard. "We are also receiving input from external agencies, as well, such as the Reserve Officers Association and the National Guard Association of the United States."
Meenan added there have been interviews and conversations with 20-30 various groups, and each week they have telephone conferences with the Air Force's major commands so the Task Force leaders better understand the command's role.
"These calls are helping us not only identify what missions the commands already perform, but what future missions might be and help us shape our recommendations," he said.
Posner explained while there may be a bit more scrutiny now because of the diminishing budget dollars, the idea behind TF2 isn't new.
"It's important to put all this in context and remember our core traits are focused on providing the most lethal and adaptable air power possible," said Posner, director of global power programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Acquisition. "It's a healthy process to look at this and know we have to adapt and morph - it's nothing new and we have done this since our inception as the Army Air Corps."
The team's recommendations, as outlined in the tasking memo, will provide options as to what the total Air Force could like in the decade to come. The future will simply build upon what the men and women of the Air Force have been accomplishing for the last two decades.
"Any corporation has to adapt to changes in the environment in which it exists," Bartman explained. "We have this synergistic group of men and women out there who are getting the job done and no one questions what component they come from. We have to provide the best vehicle for them to continue that work."