The Air Expeditionary Force in Perspective

The military has conducted expeditionary operations for centuries; airmen began to participate in expeditions from the very early days of flight. Descriptions of expeditions, with and without air components, evoke suggestive lessons for current expeditionary operations. Lessons are seldom a perfect fit. Serious students of military operations know that history does not repeat itself, but some insist that if history does not repeat itself it often rhymes. Frequently the identification of lessons from past events provides planners and commanders the background, wisdom, and the equally important element of context that facilitate better judgment in the imperfect decisions-making process.