Transforming Air Force ISR for the Long War and Beyond

The Air Force, and more specifically the J/CFACC, firmly believes air power must operate under the twin tenets of centralized control and decentralized execution in order to be effective. The Cold War ushered in an era of centralized execution of airborne strategic ISR operations that bled into theater-level ISR execution in the 1990s and through Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. This execution construct, coupled with ISR reachback exploitation, have created a perception that theater-level ISR operations are not responsive to tactical situations. Physical distances between the operational environment, CAOC, and exploitation units have fostered a sense of distrust and removed critical insight and ISR expertise from tactical level planning and execution. In order to maintain ISR relevancy at the tactical level, the J/CFACC must change its tactical ISR organization and execution methodology. This paper draws on well-established CAS doctrine and organizational models to build new ISR organizational and execution constructs to bridge the gap between theater-level ISR assets and tactical operations. These models bind ISR asset, exploiter, CAOC, and the supported unit together through face-to-face interactions and standardized processes that apply across any theater of operations or combatant command.