AFAFRICA hits command and control milestones

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stefanie Torres
  • 17th Air Force
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Seventeenth Air Force, also known as Air Forces Africa, has surpassed two significant milestones recently, making it possible to expand mission capability on the African continent.

The Commander of 17th AF, Maj. Gen. Ronald Ladnier, has been designated the Joint Forces Air Component Commander for U.S. Africa Command, and 17th AF now creates a daily "playbook" for all U.S. military flights within the combined joint operating area-Horn of Africa.

As the air component for U.S. Africa Command, AFAFRICA assumed full airspace control from U.S. Central Command Jan. 5. This transition answered the call for more focused command and control of air operations on the continent. AFAFRICA now has the ability to manage the proper use of air resources, increasing safety and improving efficiency of air operations, according to Major Randy Naylor, 617th Air and Space Operations Center ATO Production Chief.

The major explained that the AOC is now developing a daily schedule of all air activities, or Air Tasking Order--the JFACC's daily game plan, A continuously monitored system provides visibility of all flight activities over a 24-hour period, he said.

The recently established 617 AOC, collocated with 17th Air Force's HQ here at Ramstein, is a command and control hub linking all U.S. air operations on the continent. The main focus of the AOC will be on coordination, integration and deconfliction of military aircraft flying in designated airspace, Major Naylor explained. Chat rooms are set up for the mission director to communicate with local operating units so that they are able to track and deconflict with other flights.

"A month ago we didn't have the authority over the airspace," Major Naylor said. "The JFACC acts as an umbrella over all airspace planning and coordination. Now that we have the lead, we can work in a better partnership with forces operating in Africa."

The challenge didn't just come from taking over the lead for airspace control in Africa. Policies, procedures and system requirements for airspace users were built from the ground up. Basic templates were used from Air Forces Central but new missions and coordination efforts had to be tailored to AFAFRICA's mission, he explained.

"The AFAFRICA mission is unique compared to the [AFCENT] mission," he said.

The primary mission for AFCENT is focused on combat operations, and the AFAFRICA mission is focused more on airlift and intelligence gathering in support of training and engagement with partner nations. Now orders are focused on how the JFACC uses airspace and guidance on what missions will be flown, who can use the airspace and when, the Major said.

"We operate in an environment that is less kinetic," Major Naylor said. "Our focus is different from USCENTCOM and our procedures have to reflect that."

The process of creating the guiding documents began in the last of week of September 2009 and went up to USAFRICOM for final approval in December 2009.

"We had incredibly detailed products provided in a very minimal, highly restrictive time schedule," he said.

General Ladnier expressed his enthusiasm for the progress 17th AF has made in such a short amount of time.

"We have accomplished a great deal, and it shows how much work has gone into this," the General said. "It also represents what the Air Force is about--making the Joint team more successful."

AFAFRICA started small to build a lasting foundation but continues to grow. The goal is for the unit to track and have oversight on the entire continent by the end of 2010.