U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force: Can They Flight as a Combined Arms Team

摘要

Joint and service component vision statements (Vision 2010, Army Vision 2010), and the United States Air Force's Global Engagement, A Vision the 21st Century Air Force, address the need for full spectrum dominance on the battlefield of the future. In order to achieve this goal, U.S. military forces must be capable of operating jointly, achieving total integration, institutionally, organizationally, intellectually, and technically. The need for detailed integration of combat forces, to include both joint and multinational, into a combined arms team is critical to mission success. One area, that involves 'total integration' as a joint force, is the combined arms capability between the Army and Air Force, specifically close air support (CAS). Throughout the evolution of modern warfare, the progress of aviation in a close air support role has been consumed by much consternation and speculation as to the effectiveness of its employment. One issue that constantly surfaces questions the United States Air Force's ability to integrate close air support (CAS) with the United States Army's combat (maneuver) forces. This monograph explores the combined arms relationship (USAF ability to provide CAS to the USA) between the Air Force and the Army, and determines whether a dysfunctional relationship exists, to include systemic causes. Therefore, the research query associated with this monograph begs the question, can the United States Army and the United States Air Force fight as a combined arms team, specifically in terms of close air support. Techniques employed during the literature review consisted mainly of secondary research - post deployment and exercise after-action reports, periodicals, research papers, published books, joint/service component doctrine/regulations, and training standards.