FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PROVISIONAL COMMAND
What's the mission of Air Force Cyber Command (AFCYBER) (P)?
AFCYBER (P), officially actived Sept. 17, 2007, will prepare the way for the eventual standup of a full MAJCOM who's mission will be to provide combat ready forces trained and equipped to conduct sustained global operations in and through cyberspace, fully integrated with air and space operations. AFCYBER will provide robust, survivable access to cyberspace with offensive and defensive capabilities that ensure cross-domain freedom of action for our friends and allies, and deny the same to our adversaries.
What capabilities will the permanent MAJCOM bring to the warfighter?
-- Provide enhanced global reach, global power, and global vigilance via warfighting cyberspace forces.
-- Integrate the AF's global capabilities in support of the combatant commander through the full range of military operations.
-- Develop cyberspace operations as an Air Force functional area.
-- Align our peacetime train and equip organization the way best suited to prepare for and, in some cases conduct, warfighting operations (e.g., defense of cyberspace).
-- Assess shortfalls, identify requirements, develop and advocate programs, and monitor development of cyber forces, equipment, tactics, and procedures.
What is the structure of the provisional command?
The provisional command will have a focused A staff with expertise mainly in the A1 (Personnel), A5 (Requirements), and A8 (Programmers) areas. The provisional commander also has the option of requesting more individuals. Upon stand up, there will be elements of other staff elements required as well.
How many personnel authorizations are required for the provisional command? AFCYBER (P) is a temporary unit that will not have any permanent manpower authorizations. Personnel will be temporarily attached to the provisional MAJCOM until a permanent MAJCOM is activated. Eighth Air Force will provide 18 personnel, the Air Force Communications Agency will provide 86 personnel, and AFC2ISR Agency will provide 55 personnel. These personnel will be attached to the HQ AFCYBER (P) to form the initial headquarters staff. Most of these personnel will remain at their permanent duty location. HQ USAF and Air Combat Command will provide support as required.
What is the funding profile for the provisional command (i.e. O&M, MILCON, etc.)? As of March 2008, the funds expended in setting up the provisional command are expected to be from $8 million - $10 million, with most of those costs going toward contracted support. About $4.5 million is going toward software support needed for the command to operate "virtually" or rather in its distributed locations.
How many people do you expect to move to Barksdale?
Only one person has moved to Barksdale and that is the commander. The vast majority of personnel are performing their duties from home station or as needed they travel to Barksdale TDY.
Who will be the commander for the provisional command and who will he or she report to?
Maj. Gen. William T. Lord was announced as the AFCYBER (P) commander on Sept. 24, 2007, which is a new position. He reports to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force during this process.
BASING ISSUES:
What's the process for selection of a permanent location for AFCYBER?
The nature of this domain allows us to maintain operational units distributed at their current bases and reduces the restrictions of geography as a determinant of the small HQ staff. While a number of basing locations for a permanent command staff are being considered and evaluated, no final decisions have been made. In conjunction with environmental impact assessments, AFCYBER (P) will develop and validate the criteria for selection of a permanent location for AFCYBER.
What is the selection criteria? Which bases are you considering for AFCYBER? Please refer to the basing process factsheet:
Who will command AFCYBER when it becomes operational?
The Air Force will place a general officer, yet to be named, in command of AFCYBER.
How many personnel authorizations will be required for the permanent command?
The manpower requirements for the command have been determined to be 541.
How will setting up a virtual command affect the basing process?
The concept of organizing AFCYBER as a virtual command, or rather under a distributed command structure, does not affect the basing process that is already ongoing. We will continue down the basing path to determine a permanent headquarters for the command. In the meantime, however, those 541 manpower positions that are to be assigned to the command will most likely be distributed between several bases. This will do two things: it will save money by using people and resources already in place, and it will give the command time to see if this organizational structure will work as needed. Changes could certainly be made during the next phase of our structuring if the mission requires. The exact details of where the positions will be located are still being coordinated and reviewed at this time.
Where will the units be located? Will any have to move?
Right now there are two wings that will undergo the same basing process that was required to determine the headquarters location, and that's for the 450th Electronic Warfare Wing and the 689th Cyber Wing. As stated, those will operate at their interim locations of Lackland and Scott AFB's respectively. The other proposed units that will realign will not be required to move. Those units will stay in place and will placed under the administrative and operational command of AFCYBER.
Why are you setting up the command this way (distributed command) and won't it be a management headache?
We've looked at several ways in which we could set up this command and feel that this is the best way to leverage the people and resources already in place. It's no different than how many commercial/civilian companies operate, and we've looked at many of their models for reference. Many companies distrbute their work force near key customers and suppliers and although we don't use the same terminology for the organization we interact with, we think it would best to follow that same concept. You can't put a price on face to face relationships with existing government laboratories, procurement units, and budgeting activites that we interact with on a day-to-day basis. For AFCYBER it makes sense to operate this way, it saves money in travel costs, and it's practical.
Does Barksdale AFB make sense for the location of the provisional headquarters?
The majority of operational cyberspace missions are currently being conducted by the AF Component Numbered AF to US Strategic Command. Their linkage serves as a strong foundation for AFCYBER (P).
What progress has been made since the initial announcement?
Since the AF Chief of Staff letter in Nov 2006, which designated Lt Gen Elder as the Commander, Air Force Cyber Commander, we have developed operational concepts, conducted several exercises to refine those concepts, reviewed and refined requirements and programs and recently established the 8 Air Expeditionary Task Force. The 8 AETF will be our mechanism to further develop and fully integrate Air Force cyber capabilities with our air and space capabilities. The command responsibilities have since shifted to Maj. Gen. William T. Lord, however 8th AETF continues to support the AFCYBER (P) stand up under his direction.
What additional people/money/airplanes/infrastructure will this mean?
The AF is currently drawing down by 40,000 people. We do not expect additional manning and will re-allocate resources within current limits. As far as other capabilities, these will all be planned out by the provisional staff.
WHY A CYBER COMMAND:
Why are you doing this now?
Because of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review that states: Cyberspace is increasingly critical and inseparable from our national power and interests. Adversaries denial of the domain to US military operations could take away battlespace awareness, command and control, precision strike, and leave our exquisite, 21st Century capabilities paralyzed. We can't afford to let this happen so now is the time to focus on a consolidated effort to protect and defend the domain.
Why is the Air Force taking the lead for a capability that impacts all services within the DoD? Shouldn't this be a joint command?
Other branches of service have their own organizations devoted to fighting in the cyber domain. The Air Force itself falls under U.S. Strategic Command's lead when it comes to issues affecting all branches of the service. However, when the Air Force recognized cyberspace as domain in which we fight, much like air and space, it called for a centralized command to integrate the various organizations within the Air Force. With that in mind, the Air Force is taking the lead in the DoD by naming a major command, consolidating our cyber efforts, defining a new type of cyber warrior to fight in this domain and by developing, maintaining and supporting the required technology and infrastructure needed to maintain cyberspace superiority.
Will other Services be involved in CYBER?
Yes. Each of the Services have different strengths and core competencies - we expect each service will continue to organize, train and equip their personnel as required to meet varied cyber requirements of the joint combatant commander.
How is this different from what you have been doing?
Now that we acknowledge cyberspace as a warfighting domain in which we can operate and deliver tailored effects, we can develop a strategy for cyberspace superiority as well as doing a better, more integrated job of organizing, training, and equipping for the fight in this domain.
What are the ad hoc 8AF "on ramp" capabilities that will be elevated to MAJCOM status?
For now, most of the fight in cyberspace is done by geographic combatant commanders with support from Strategic Command, which the Secretary of Defense has designated as the joint lead for cyber. The services all establish commands as needed to train and equip forces which they then present to joint commands for warfighting. In addition to the current warfighting cyberspace capabilities 8AF currently provides, AFCYBER will train and equip forces, provide enhanced global reach, global power and global vigilance via cyberspace forces and integrate the AF's global capabilities in support of the combatant commander through the full range of military operations.
AFCYBER, as a major command, will accomplish this by providing combat ready forces, trained and equipped to conduct sustained global and theater operations in and through cyberspace, fully integrated with air and space operations. AFCYBER will ensure robust, survivable access to cyberspace with offensive and defensive capabilities that secures cross-domain freedom of action for our friends and allies while denying the same to our adversaries. AFCYBER will also assess shortfalls, identify requirements, develop and advocate programs, and monitor development of cyber forces, equipment, tactics, and procedures."
If 8AF has been accomplishing this all along on an ad hoc basis, why does the Air Force even need a MAJCOM?
Because operating in cyberspace cannot be a pick up game. We must train, organize and equip our force to deliver the full-range of effects in cyberspace. Therefore we stood up an operational command for cyberspace, capable of functioning as a supported or supporting component of the Joint Force. The cornerstone of AFCYBER will be the leading-edge capabilities already resident in 8 AF to include command and control, electronic warfare, net warfare, and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
AFCYBER STAFFING:
What will the officer/enlisted mix be of the new command?
This is yet to be determined.
Will we see line items for the command in the FY 2009 budget proposal?
One of the things the provisional command will do is to ensure that AFCYBER is included in the AF program and budgeting process.
If an Airmen reading this wants to be on the ground floor of the command, how should he go about offering his skills?
All Airmen will have opportunities to learn more about AF cyberspace concepts and capabilities as the AF institutionalizes its roles and missions in the cyberspace domain.
With AFCYBER, does the Air Force intend to open up the command to partnering and growth with the private sector?
Historically, the Air Force has relied upon many defense contractors to meet the service's needs in military construction, weapon system development and various programs and processes. To address the need of providing sovereign options to the warfighting commanders, the Air Force will continue "traditional" defense partnerships and will be exploring opportunities with academic research institutions, other government agencies and small, agile "non-traditional" niche specialty companies.
Do our skill sets match our requirements?
Today, no. We must transform our specialties/career fields to meet the AFCYBER demands of today and tomorrow. This means new, operationally-focused Air Force Specialty Codes and an extensive re-tooling of the education and training provided to these new Airmen. We are aggressively moving out on this transformation now.
What kind of changes to training/recruiting is evolving due to CYBER?
We've provided literature to our recruiters which emphasizes the Air Force contribution to cyberspace operations and warfare, and we're evaluating the need to adjust how we screen new accessions for cyber competencies. As we know more about these competencies and the new AFCYBER specialties/career fields, we'll adjust our efforts to provide all Americans opportunities to serve the Air Force and the nation in these capacities.
Are we leveraging civilian CYBER capabilities by recruiting them into the Guard/Reserves?
As we stand up new cyber units in the ANG, we expect to develop a strong bond between civilian industries and the Guard/Reserves - perhaps even stronger than today's relationship we enjoy with the airline industries.
How is the AF is recruiting the talent required for this new cyber ops mission area?
The Air Force Recruiting Service and 8th Air Force partnered to provide 1,000 pamphlets for internal and external audiences that promotes cyberspace and AFCYBER. These pamphlets inform recruits on future opportunities being developed. Exact details are still being determined as to what cyberspace missions our Airman will do, and the skills and training they must possess. There has been an Air Force cross-functional team working since May 07 who is drafting a roadmap for new cyber specialties, and as those are created, the command will continue to partner with AFRS to articulate the specific details of the opportunities to fly and fight in cyberspace.
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