Airman Development Command Transformation announced for 2025: Significant shift anticipated, according to Allvin.
Air Force Revamps Education and Training: Streamlining Force Development for Great Power Competition
The U.S. Air Force is on a mission to revamp its education and training systems, gearing up for theEstablishment of a new command: Airman Development Command, scheduled to debut in 2025. This move is part of the Air Force's re-optimization strategy, aiming for "great power competition." The new command will replace Air Education and Training Command.
As Chief of Staff, Gen. David W. Allvin, put it, "Airman Development Command will be the force development for cradle to grave for Airmen across the entire institution of the Air Force." The command is poised to centralize force development, propagating increased efficiency and speed in readying Airmen for the demanding global environment.
The Air Force is already revving up the mechanisms that will bolster the new command. On December 2, the Air Force Accessions Center (AFAC), a fusion of officer accessions and the Air Force Recruiting Service, achieved initial operating capability. AETC is also setting up centers of excellence, designed to boost focus and expertise, as it prepares for its transformation into Airman Development Command.
Among the centers that came online in December is the Enterprise Learning Engineering (ELE) Center of Excellence (CoE). Early this fall, a Flying Center of Excellence also stood up. Additional centers—Institutional, Information Warfare, Logistics, Command and Control, and Combat Power—are on track to attain initial operating capability this winter.
To further develop more effective Airmen, the service is implementing a new deployment model, expanding training sites across the U.S., and holding more large-scale exercises. Moreover, newAir Task Forces, designed to operate cohesively and train together before deployment, are now practicing at various sites across the country. These task forces will eventually swap locations to round out their training.
Commenting on the impact of these changes, Gen. Allvin stated, "Building those units of action and having a force development that has Mission Ready Airmen that understand the same set of competencies that are grounded in the same threat...will be more synchronized and aligned."
In addition to the Airman Development Command, the Air Force is taking several other steps to foster effective Airmen. These initiatives emphasize realistic training environments, leadership training, adaptability, resilience, and future readiness to ensure Airmen are prepared for complex global challenges.
As the Air Force pushes forward with these changes, it further solidifies its commitment to readiness and future competitiveness, steadfastly aimed at addressing the demands of great power competition.
Insights:- The new Airman Development Command is expected to streamline and improve Air Force training and development efforts.- The revised Air Force structure focuses on Institutional and Operational Commands, with Institutional Commands focusing on readiness and future competitiveness through force development, training, and support initiatives.- Adaptability, resilience, realistic training environments, and leadership development are key components of the Air Force's new strategy.- The Air Force is investing in cutting-edge training, academic excellence, and new deployment models to meet the challenges of great power competition.
- The Air Force's establishment of the Airman Development Command, focusing on education and training, signifies a shift in space warfare strategies, aiming to prepare Air Force personnel for the demands of great power competition.
- As part of this transformation, the Air Force is establishing various centers of excellence, such as the Enterprise Learning Engineering Center of Excellence, to bolster personal growth and learning opportunities, enhancing the skill set of each Airman.
- The new Air Task Forces, designed for cohesive operation and training, are a testament to the Air Force's commitment to education-and-self-development, ensuring Airmen are ready for complex global challenges and future space force warfare.
