The AETF Today: Enabling Mission Command of Airpower

Grynkewich and Goldstrom discuss the Air Expeditionary Task Force (AETF-A). General Hostage established the 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan (9th AETF-A) as a means to present forces to the joint force commander (JFC). Almost under the radar, Air Force Central (AFCENT) established a second AETF to support operations against the Islamic State, commonly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Da'esh. AFCENT activated the 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Levant (9th AETF-L) in 2015 based on the lessons from Afghanistan. The 9th AETF-L replicated the success of the Afghanistan model, giving the senior Airman a seat at the table with CJTF leadership. As the operational environment in the fight against ISIS has continued to evolve, so, too, has the AETF.