Pacific Air Forces' power projection: sustaining peace, prosperity, and freedom

This article demonstrates how PACAF's power projection LOO supports the PACOM theater. It introduces unique characteristics of the Pacific theater and then describes how vigilance, reach, and power contribute to the United States Pacific Command's (CDRUSPACOM) ability to establish the necessary conditions for securing peace, expanding freedom, and sustaining prosperity through the application of air and cyber power. PACOM's area of responsibility (AOR) is unique among those of the six geographic combatant commands. The Pacific AOR spans 16 time zones and covers 100 million square miles-52 percent of the earth's surface. The geographic area and distances involved affect every conversation, circumstance, and requirement for the application and projection of air, sea, and land power. The Pacific region enjoys a rich history and unique elements of cultural diversity as home to half of the world's population and more than 3,000 languages. Including the US, the Pacific AOR encompasses 36 nations, all of which desire advancement of their own specific interests.