Sharpening the eagle's talons: assessing air base defense

Air & Space Power Journal, Fall, 2004 by David P. Briar

   Force protection provides the safe and secure
   operational environment necessary to ensure
   mission completion. It plays a part in every Air
   Force operation, from conducting surveillance
   against threats, to furnishing air base defense, protecting
   against health threats, providing community
   safety, and protecting communication
   and information systems. Everyone is responsible
   for force protection. Every airman should be
   trained in force protection knowledge, concepts,
   and weapons skills; self-aid and buddy care;
   field hygiene; [nuclear, biological, and chemical]
   defense measures; and antiterrorism and threat
   awareness. The prime goal is to execute the
   mission with increased freedom and reduced
   fear. (14) (emphasis added)

AFDD 2-4 further notes that security forces provide "forces for air base defense, security, and law enforcement services [and] protection to weapons systems, personnel, and infrastructure." (15) Also regarding the role of security forces in force protection, Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 31-3, Air Base Defense, states that "an effective defensive posture must be established to allow generation, launch and sustainment of aerospace operations. In these situations, air base defense forces provide force protection ... for warfighting assets" (emphasis added). (16) The minor flaw with this definition is that it essentially makes force protection a function of security forces. In fact, the Air Force views force protection and the role of security forces more broadly. For example, according to AFI 31-301, Air Base Defense, "activities that [air base defense] forces could reasonably expect to conduct include, but are not limited to, physical security, law enforcement ... and force protection. Force protection encompasses everything US forces do to protect personnel, resources and property, and is not just the sole responsibility of security forces." (17)

In spite of these issues, Air Force doctrine clearly defines air base defense as "actions taken by force protection forces in theater preparing for an overt attack by level I, II, or III threats. Forces should be organized to prevent and defeat attacks." (18) Basically, security-force planners assume that overt attack means an adversary will use kinetic, ground-based means to attack the air base directly or indirectly. Air Force doctrine for base defense boils down to putting bodies, weapons, sensors, and fires in the right place at the right time. Force protection, in Air Force terms, describes the overall process of protecting people and resources, of which the service considers base defense only one part.

Doctrine for Air Base Defense

The Air Force has made great strides in documenting base-defense doctrine. AFPD 31-3 provides the foundation:

   The Air Force will provide in-place and deployable
   air base defense forces who are organized,
   trained, and equipped to undertake force protection
   missions in accordance with the Air Force
   [Wartime Mobilization Plan]. During periods of
   low- or mid-level threat (Level I or II), air base defense
   forces are primarily responsible for protecting
   the force from attackers attempting close attack
   by penetrating forces and from stand-off
   attack within the TAOR [tactical area of responsibility].
   The TAOR is the area which the defense
   force commander can control through organic
   heavy/light weapons fire. The Air Force component
   will ensure adequate support is available
   from the other joint components, host nation,
   coalition, allied forces, and civilian authorities to
   meet surveillance and denial needs, such as for the
   standoff threat beyond the capabilities of the Air Force.
   During periods of high-level threat (Level III), air
   base defense forces rely on a tactical combat
   force (TCF) comprised of other US service components,
   allied, coalition or host-nation forces to
   ensure the survivability of air bases. Outside the
   air base TAOR, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps,
   host-nation military forces or civilian security/law
   enforcement agencies will have responsibility for
   security requirements. (19) (emphasis added)