Stabilizing critical continuity of the air and space expeditionary force

The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board defines the AEF as an adaptable and rapidly employable set of air and space assets that provide the president, secretary of defense, and combatant commanders with options for missions ranging from humanitarian airlift to combat operations.1 As originally conceived, the AEF concept included 10 prepackaged combat units (using Airmen assigned to a regular unit) that rotated every three months over a 15-month period.2 Beginning with AEF Cycle Five in September 2004, baseline deployment extended to 120 days, changing the rotation cycle to 20 months.3 However, some Airmen serve in critical locations (operations centers and unified or subunified commands) and key positions (directorate and division chiefs) beyond the normal 120-day cycle, with tour lengths up to a year.