PACAF unveils new strategic plan

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Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii --  The commander of Pacific Air Forces, Gen. Hawk Carlisle, has released his strategy for promoting stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

PACAF Strategic Plan 2013 aligns PACAF's priorities with the national rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region, and serves as a guide to prioritize operations within current fiscal realities. It is the result of a collaboration with U.S. Pacific Command, Headquarters Air Force and regional partners and allies.

"As the nation's focus shifts to the Pacific, we needed a comprehensive strategy to guide us in this dynamic and challenging environment," Carlisle said. "This strategic plan centers on three core tenets and five lines of operation to provide unambiguous direction to PACAF members so they understand their role in accomplishing the mission."

The strategy is centered on three core tenets, which are: expand engagement, increase combat capability and improve warfighter integration.

"Engagement is something we are doing every day across the Asia-Pacific region," said Carlisle. "I cannot overstate the importance of working with our allies, partners and the international community to deter aggression and to maintain peace and stability in the region. What I see in the future is increased engagement by rotational forces, focusing across the spectrum from combat capability to humanitarian assistance."

The second tenet, increase combat capability, focuses on investing in U.S. Air Force modernization. Despite current budget challenges, the strategy emphasizes that modernization needs to remain a priority, particularly regarding the F-35, next generation bomber, command and control networks, cyber security, and integrated air and missile defense.

PACAF's third tenet, improve warfighter integration, involves refining the way the U.S. Air Force works together with joint and coalition partners to improve and advance humanitarian assistance capability, meet emerging threats and ensure freedom of movement. According to Carlisle, air, space, and cyberspace superiority are shared responsibilities with allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

The PACAF strategy focuses these three core tenets across five critical lines of operation, or broad focus areas for the command. The lines of operation are: theater security cooperation; integrated air and missile defense; power projection; agile, flexible command and control; and resilient airmen.

"Each line of operation will have a roadmap specifically tailored to achieve our desired endstate," said Carlisle. "I want PACAF Airmen to consider these roadmaps my personal, written instructions."

Of all the lines of operation, Carlisle considers resilient Airmen to be the bedrock of PACAF's success.

"Our Airmen, which includes our civilians, are the critical enabler for all of the command's operations," Carlisle said. "We must continue to develop and care for them and their families so they can accomplish the mission."

According to the strategic plan, a resilient Airman is combat ready, comprehensively fit and aware, and cross-culturally competent--committed to making responsible choices.

More broadly, PACAF's resilient airmen line of operation is a holistic approach to readiness. It means achieving a higher state of fitness, maintaining training readiness and having personal affairs in order because Airmen must be ready to deploy at a moment's notice. A PACAF resilient Airman is also aware of personal limitations and recognizes at-risk behaviors, and is supportive of fellow Airmen and their families.

Additionally, they understand that they are the face and voice of the United States at all times, and they are cognizant of the unique capabilities of the joint and Total Force team.

"I challenge our Airmen to exemplify the traits of a resilient Airman," Carlisle said. "At the end of the day, you are our asymmetric advantage over any adversary."