Air Command and Control in Small Wars
Abstract
There has been much discussion about the best use of air power in small wars, specifically with regard to current operations in Afghanistan. Coalition air forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom use the same command and control (C2) structure doctrinally established for all types of operations: centralized control and decentralized execution. Is there a better way to structure air power in small wars? The small wars fought by the French in Algeria and the United States in Vietnam provide lessons learned for the U.S. military today. Although the French and U.S. air command and control structures differed greatly, neither France nor the United States met its strategic objective in these wars. The French saw the importance of a decentralized model to maximize the support of ground troops. They set up a joint task force in each geographic section of Algeria, and each section had its own air command post collocated with the French Army command post within the region. The French model allowed air commanders to concentrate solely on the needs of ground commanders in their geographic area at the expense of the ability to mass air power when needed. The U.S. Air Force (USAF), on the other hand, centralized control of aircraft. USAF doctrine in Vietnam required that all air assets be under the centralized control of a single air commander. The Commanders in Vietnam required a system that catered to the political environment in Southeast Asia, therefore the doctrine of centralized control and decentralized execution suffered. To strike a balance, the USAF developed the Air Component Coordination Element (ACCE) to allow centralized control of air power while still addressing the needs of geographic ground commanders. As the ACCE continues to evolve, leaders must remember the lessons of Vietnam and Algeria to ensure that they make the best use of air power.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA557914
Entities
People
- Mark R. Heusinkveld
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College