{"id":39169,"date":"2018-10-12T14:04:01","date_gmt":"2018-10-12T14:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/12\/air-force-eyes-major-changes-to-fix-dysfunctional-battlefield-airman-structure\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:08:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:08:41","slug":"air-force-eyes-major-changes-to-fix-dysfunctional-battlefield-airman-structure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/10\/12\/air-force-eyes-major-changes-to-fix-dysfunctional-battlefield-airman-structure\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force eyes major changes to fix \u2018dysfunctional\u2019 battlefield airman structure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Air Force is considering major changes to how it organizes, trains and sustains its highly trained, elite battlefield airmen<\/a> by 2030, according to a memo obtained by Air Force Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The July 13 memo, signed by Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson, warns that \u201cbattlefield airmen<\/a> are organized dysfunctionally\u201d and that the Air Force \u201cdoes not adequately leverage the land domain\u201d to carry out its missions. In the complex, multi-domain battlefields of the future, the memo said, this vulnerability will likely limit the Air Force\u2019s options and cost lives and resources unnecessarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if battlefield airmen<\/a> are used to their full potential as an \u201cair-minded ground force,\u201d the memo said, they can provide options for rescuing airmen, gaining access to trouble spots around the globe, and providing precision strike capabilities in all conflict situations. The proposal seeks to make battlefield airmen \u201cthe Air Force\u2019s premier ground maneuver element,\u201d capable of providing joint forces options for extending air power, as well as liaison and direct support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBottom line, a fully leveraged Air Force ground maneuver element eliminates the need to ask another service to do what the Air Force should do ourselves,\u201d the memo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several changes to the organizational structure of battlefield airmen are necessary, the memo said. The seven career fields are spread across multiple major commands, while their training infrastructure, acquisition and budgetary programs do not cover the entire battlefield airmen enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revamped structure would seek to move pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, who are now primarily under Air Combat Command, into special tactics squadrons and better integrate them into that world, alongside combat controllers and special operations weather team members who are already under Air Force Special Operations Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\t