Ready for TFI Prime Time? A Closer Examination of the Dual Component Commander and the Integrated Wing.

摘要

Tight budgets compel the USAF to create associations with Active Component (AC) and Air Reserve Component forces that can share airframes, resources, and basing when performing like missions. Inspired by the idea of a more closely associated wing, the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force (NCSAF) proposed the Integrated Wing (i-Wing) construct, similar in spirit to the blended wing, and adds the idea of a Dual-Component Commander (DCC) that has the command authority to lead both AC and Reserve Component (RC) forces. This paper argues that the implementation of the i-Wing construct within the AC and Air National Guard is impracticable at this time until it can overcome commander authority and selection challenges, administrative control (ADCON) system incompatibility between the components, funding and fiscal challenges, and cultural differences. However, the paper advocates a starting point that moves the three components closer to Total Force Integration through selectively assigning DCC to existing associations, by creating supporting instructions and systems that increase ADCON compatibility between AC and RC, and by slowly integrating wings where it leads to efficiencies and effectiveness.