Expeditionary Diplomacy: POL-MIL Facilitation of AEF Deployments

During the Cold War, U.S. Air Force units typically operated either from bases on American territory or from main operating bases (MOBs) in allied countries where access was assured under long-accepted arrangements. In the decade following the end of the Cold War, the number of MOBs abroad has been...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Dowdy, William L
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AEF(AEROSPACE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE) MOB(MAIN OPERATING BASES)
AEROSPACE SYSTEMS
AIR FORCE
BATTLEFIELDS
COLD WAR
DEPLOYMENT
ENVIRONMENTS
FOL(FORWARD OPERATING LOCATIONS)
FORWARD AREAS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Military Forces and Organizations
MILITARY OPERATIONS
Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
MISSIONS
NATIONAL SECURITY
POLITICAL ALLIANCES
SECURITY
STRATEGY
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Summary:During the Cold War, U.S. Air Force units typically operated either from bases on American territory or from main operating bases (MOBs) in allied countries where access was assured under long-accepted arrangements. In the decade following the end of the Cold War, the number of MOBs abroad has been drastically reduced, and most remaining USAF assets have been pulled back to bases in U.S. territory. Meanwhile, given changes in the international security environment and consequent adjustments in U.S. national security strategy, Air Force units have increasingly been required to deploy to, and operate from, forward locations in many countries outside of the Cold War alliance structure. Under the nascent Expeditionary Aerospace Force (EAF) concept, gaining access to and maintaining positive relations with host countries are prerequisites to successful expeditionary operations. This study was inspired by the view stated at Air University in 1999 by then-Maj Gen Donald U. Cook, first EAF Implementation Director, that diplomatic preparation of the battlefield is a neglected concept and enterprise that should receive more attention from EAF architects. As the first and only systematic study of diplomatic preparation, this Research Paper selectively surveys existing and prospective USAF initiatives that attempt to come to grips with political-military (pol-mil) challenges associated with expeditionary operations.