In an ambitious move to revolutionize its approach to combat preparedness and deployment, the Air Force is launching new air task forces (ATFs) at six bases across the United States.

The chosen installations, which include Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, Scott AFB in Illinois, Joint Base San Antonio and Dyess AFB in Texas, Fairchild AFB in Washington, and Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina, are set to pilot this innovative initiative aimed at forging more cohesive, combat-ready units.

The move, described by an Air Force official, represents a shift towards a Cold War era strategy where units trained and deployed together, fostering familiarity and teamwork.

“This is walking us back toward the model that we had during the Cold War, where we know each other, we train together, you’re building the team [in] peacetime in preparation for deployment,” the official stated.

Each ATF will consist of a command team of about 50 airmen, dedicated aircrews, maintenance teams, and support squadrons. These units will be expected to handle a wider range of responsibilities, adapting to an increasingly austere operational environment defined by the Agile Combat Employment concept.

The bases were carefully selected through a strategic basing process and will receive these airmen this summer. This approach marks a departure from the post-9/11 deployment method, which often saw airmen from various bases hastily combined into combat units overseas.

The first ATF deployments are scheduled for October 2025, with two groups headed to the Middle East and one to the Pacific region. Another rotation will take place in April 2026, ensuring a continual presence and readiness in key strategic locations.

The Air Force’s initiative comes at a time when military strategists are increasingly concerned about the rapid advancements in the military technologies of near-peer competitors like China and Russia.

An Air Force spokesperson underscored the urgency of these reforms, saying, “We need these changes now… We are out of time to reoptimize our forces to meet the strategic challenges.”

The ATFs will be led by colonels, handpicked by the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, who are expected to navigate the service members through a fundamental shift in deployment strategy. “The task forces are eventually expected to give way to deployable combat wings that can be dispatched for missions overseas,” highlighted an official.

As the Air Force embarks on this transformative journey, the impact of these changes on the airmen’s daily operations is anticipated to be minimal.

For instance, Col. Morgan Lohse, commander of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson, reassured his airmen that although they may report to new leaders, “the typical tasks will continue.”

This ATF initiative is part of the larger AFFORGEN model, which seeks to consolidate combat and support elements within specific bases, forming fully-equipped combat wings that can be rapidly deployed as needed.

This model contrasts with the traditional piecemeal approach to deployment and aims to create units capable of operating flexibly across various mission types.

The adoption of these ATFs is a calculated step toward ensuring the Air Force maintains its edge in a rapidly evolving global defense landscape. This new approach is not only a strategic necessity but also a testament to the Air Force’s commitment to innovation and readiness in the face of the complex challenges of modern warfare.