Vignettes, doctrine NOTAMs, and the latest chronicles articles

Air & Space Power Journal, Spring, 2005 by Paul D. Berg

AIR AND SPACE Power Journal has long published a variety of feature articles and shorter pieces known as PIREPs and Vortices. Recent additions to our repertoire include items we call "Vignettes" and "Doctrine NOTAMs."

Vignettes briefly describe air and space power topics--such as key leaders, aircraft, and historical events--that define our heritage as Airmen and shape today's Air Force. Typically, each offers a "To Learn More" list of sources that readers can consult for more detailed information. This issue of ASPJ features vignettes about USAF special operations, the 35th anniversary of the Son Tay raid in North Vietnam, the 30th anniversary of the Mayaguez incident in Southeast Asia, and the 25th anniversary of the Desert One hostage rescue attempt in Iran. These events not only appeal to our interest in historical matters, but also influence our current airpower capabilities in the area of special operations.

Just as the Mr Force's "notices to Airmen" (NOTAM) tell aircrews about important flight-related information (e.g., "runway X at base Y is closed"), so do ASPJ's doctrine NOTAMs succinctly inform Airmen about important changes or concepts and explain their relevance, thus keeping Airmen up to date on our service's constantly evolving doctrine. See, tot example, the NOTAM "New USAF Doctrine Publication: AFDD 2-2.1, Counterspace Operations" in our winter 2004 issue (p. 100). Since the Air Force Doctrine Center is producing numerous revisions to Mr Force doctrine documents, expect to see in future editions of ASPJa steady stream of NOTAMs that cover those developments.

More than just a Web site that hosts electronic versions of ASPfs print editions, Air and Space Power Chronicles includes a separate electronic journal in its own right. Not subject to a fixed publication schedule, the Chronicles Online Journal can publish timely articles almost immediately. Furthermore, while ASPJ focuses narrowly on air and space power topics of concern to today's Air Force, Chronicles boasts a much broader range, offering articles too lengthy for its printed counterpart. Additionally, the Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic editions of ASPJ often publish translated Chronicles articles; authors routinely include them as book chapters; and professors at civilian universities use these pieces for instructional purposes. Recent Chronicles articles available at http: //www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/ cc.html include the following:

* Col Stephen R. Schwalbe, "A Statistical Analysis of the House of Representatives Vote on Base Closures"

* Col Morris D. Davis, "Effective Engagement in the Public Opinion Arena: A Leadership Imperative in the Information Age"

* 1st Lt Justin Giovannettone, "Airlifts in Time"

* Lt Col Michael J. Masterson, "Using Assessment to Achieve Predictive Battlespace Awareness"

* 1st Lt Antoine C. McNeal, "Information Assurance: Structure from the Fog: A Dynamic Information Defense Solution in a Dynamic World"

The ASPJ editorial staff is always seeking insightful articles and book reviews. We offer both hard-copy and electronic-publication opportunities. To submit an article for publication, please refer to the submission guidelines at http: //www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/ howtol.html. To write a book review, please refer to the guidelines at http://www.airpower.maxwell. af.mil/airchronicles/bookmain.html.