Q&A; ABOUT THE CYBER "PAUSE."
On Aug. 14, the Air Force made a statement surrounding a leaked internal memo about a pause in standing up the AFCYBER command, which was set for Oct. 1.
"The Air Force remains committed to providing full-spectrum cyber capabilities to include global command and control, electronic warfare and network defense. The Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force have considered delaying currently planned actions on Air Force Cyber Command to allow ample time for a comprehensive assessment of all AFCYBER requirements and to synchronize the AFCYBER mission with other key Air Force initiatives. The new Air Force leaders continue to make a fresh assessment of all our efforts to provide our Nation and the joint force the full spectrum of air, space, and cyberspace capabilities."
The following are answers to some commonly asked questions:
Does the AF still consider cyber a domain with the same importance as Air and Space?
Yes. We can't do our jobs without it. Warfighters operations in any domain rely on cyberspace to command and control forces in the 21st century. It's also essential to Joint operations and our national security. We must still integrate capabilities, systems, and warriors to establish cross-domain dominance--securing freedom from attack and freedom to attack.
All Combatant Commands, Military Departments, and other Defense Components need the ability to operate unhindered in the cyberspace domain; therefore, Air Force needs to continue pressing forward with cyber as a domain with equal importance to Air and Space.
Is AFCYBER(P) dissolving?
No. Headquarters Air Force Cyberspace Command, Provisional team will remain intact and continue to be engaged in the organization of the future cyber force structure as long as needed.
Additionally, since the headquarters is a distributed unit, the personnel attached have day-to-day leadership, management, and operational responsibilities over our existing cyber operations forces. That role will not change.
Who are the senior leaders that we are waiting on and when will a final decision be made?
The Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force will ultimately make the final decision as to how the Air Force will be organized, trained, and equipped to conduct all assigned missions. Our leadership will be meeting in late August to discuss this and many other issues and an announcement will follow shortly after.
Where does this put the basing process?
It has been put on hold as well pending new direction and determination of the future beddown requirements.
What does this do to the career fields just announced?
Regardless of what organizational structure the Air Force decides upon, changes to the career fields will continue. Responsibilities for those changes may shift to new leadership though depending on what is decided about the organizational future of AFCYBER.
How much of a setback is this?
The Air Force does not view this as a setback. The Air Force is flexible and dynamic enough to meet the needs of our leadership and mission requirements and is fully engaged in supporting the current fight as well as looking at future organizational options to fulfill its missions in air, space, and cyberspace.
Are we going back to the drawing board on creating this?
How we move forward will depend on what course of action is decided upon but the tremendous work from the AFCYBER provisional team will be used in whatever direction is required.
Does this have anything to do with increased focus in the AF nuclear mission?
There is ongoing analysis, both within the Air Force and by outside agencies, related to the nuclear mission of the Air Force that may drive us to take actions that will require a significant effort, to include reorganization. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force has put the nuclear enterprise as his top priority.
During this period of high operations tempo, the Air Force needs to guarantee superior combat and support capabilities across many mission areas, to include nuclear forces, conventional, acquisition, and cyberspace operations.
What happens to the units that stood to be reorganized under AFCYBER?
For now, they will remain in place until further notice, and they will continue to focus on their daily missions.
Is there a timeline for the decision process that caused the halt?
The decision to pause and suspend implementation actions comes at a time before the transfers of units and resources. It is actually the right time to pause--before the Air Force stands up a new major command and activates new units that would then need to be reorganized a second time or deactivated.
Why was the decision made?
In the months since the Program Action Directive was signed to establish an Air Force Cyberspace Command, circumstances affecting the organization and direction of the Air Force have changed.
Delaying the stand up of a major command provides our new Air Force leadership an opportunity to synchronize the Air Force Cyberspace organization with other evolving major command initiatives, such as nuclear enterprise requirements.
Extending initial operational capability allows time for our new Air Force leadership to assess cyber requirements, to include organizational arrangements and staffing actions, and balance them with other top priorities in the Air Force, such as potential actions to improve our nuclear mission.
Does this mean less money will be spent specifically on cyber capabilities?
Not necessarily. The Air Force still views cyberspace capabilities as vital to the conduct of our mission, and defense of national interests and will therefore fund it appropriately.
How does the Navy's announcement of their Cyber Command impact the Air Force's actions?
It is not a factor. Our efforts to improve and enhance cyberspace operations are important to the Air Force. We also recognize our role and responsibility to provide the Department of Defense with combat capabilities in air, space, and cyberspace domains. We are and will continue to work with the other services to provide a joint warfighting force able to protect national interests, whether we are asked to fly and fight in air, space, or in cyberspace.
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