Introduction
Any Air Force which does not keep its doctrines ahead of its equipment,
and its vision far into the future, can only delude the nation into a false sense of security
General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold
Commanding General, USAAF
November 1945
Though General Arnold penned those words nearly seven decades ago, they remain relevant today. In fact, that time in
history parallels our own in many ways. In 1945, the United States had just emerged from a sustained conflict and was
engaged in an international environment that required our continual global leadership. The military was drawing down in
the wake of the defeat of the Axis powers. All of this was occurring as the clouds of an uncertain and potentially dangerous
future were gathering. Then, like now, some things were crystal clear. Among them, that force will remain an essential
component of national security, and that airpower possesses unique and desirable attributes as a form of military power.
General Arnold recognized looking forward – well forward – was the best way to own the uncertain future and avoid being
a prisoner of it. We can neither ignore the immediate challenges, nor be consumed by them. Instead, we must set a course
that navigates beyond the existing obstacles and steps boldly into the future.
Any coherent path to the future must begin with a single common, clear understanding of purpose. Our purpose is to ensure
the Air Force can always provide responsive and effective Global Vigilance—Global Reach—Global Power. These are
what we deliver to the nation in peacetime and war. We are the globally responsive force – always ready. We measure our
responsiveness in minutes and hours, not weeks or months. We deliver these contributions through unmatched execution
of our five core missions: air and space superiority; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; rapid global mobility;
global strike; and command and control. Though the portfolios within these mission sets have expanded to include the
space and cyberspace domains, the heart of these missions remains unchanged since President Truman assigned them in
1947. Courageous Airmen have forged the evolution and refinement of these core missions with their blood and sacrifice,
ensuring they will endure long into the future.
The effects our Airmen create through our five core missions are the prerequisite for successful joint operations. In some
cases, this is through the precision of a strategic strike, the protective umbrella of air superiority, or the unseen persistence
of our space constellations. Our reliable rapid global mobility shrinks the planet, and our dominant ISR capabilities enhance
awareness for joint force commanders. The connective tissue of our preeminent command and control provides unmatched
integration of joint forces. Whether we are in a leading or supporting role, every service needs something from the US Air
Force to succeed. Put simply, our capabilities underwrite our nation’s security. This is a responsibility we value, and will
always hold sacred.
With Global Vigilance—Global Reach—Global Power as our underlying purpose, the aim of this document is to project
into the future – considering global trends and the environments they might create – to generate future opportunities for us
to exploit while ensuring we take steps to overcome the greatest threats along the way. This is as much art as science to be
sure, but a necessary exercise and one we owe to those who will follow us.