Divided AF Reacts to Schwartz Speech

Divided AF Reacts to Schwartz Speech

By Colin Clark Monday, September 22nd, 2008 6:20 am
Posted in Air, Policy

Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz’s speech to the Air Force Association last week left a range of experts I spoke with as divided as the service stands. One group generally hailed Schwartz’s speech, claiming it was one of the most exciting and hopeful they had heard in years from any Air Force official. The other group said Schwartz seemed to have forgotten about the fighter community and isn’t this all just baloney being forced down our throats by Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ appointed water carriers.

In all, I spoke to about two dozen Air Force officers, reporters with long experience covering the Air Force and analysts who make their living dissecting the service.

One Air Force official who had knowledge of the speech-writing process said Schwartz had put the speech together with aides and had not gotten much input from on high. The passion Schwartz showed was all his, this official said. And although Schwartz will probably refuse to admit it publicly, worried as he is by morale in the Air Force, he knows very well that the service faces critical challenges that could leave it crippled or provide a chance to remake and improve it.

However, a source who knows the Air Force intimately after more than 20 years analyzing it, shook his head and dismissed Schwartz’s talk about rebuilding the service and committing it wholeheartedly to Unmanned Aerial Systems. “What about the fighters?” this source asked, adding that their average age is 24 years and they need replacing. The idea of using UAS’ to accomplish much of what manned fighters do was just unthinkable to this analyst. And he blamed Schwartz for not addressing the issue of whether to buy more F-22s or to address the mix between F-22s and F-35s. On top of all that, Schwartz told the audience that proximity to the target did not make anyone in the Air Force any better than anyone else, a clear slap at the pilot mafia.

Another analyst said Schwartz was addressing the wrong issues, that the influence of the fighter mafia was irrelevant when manned fighter aircraft are still one of the sine qua nons of a world-class military able to power project and to engage in major strategic strikes against heavily defended targets. While UASs are excellent for ISR work, they cannot yet fly fast and strike hard with great precision, this analyst said. The Reaper (as the larger armed version of the Predator is known) can kill tactical targets with relative ease in undefended airspace but it is slow and low and would be very vulnerable operating in defended airspace.

Perhaps overshadowing all of these programmatic issues was the bedrock issue of culture. Over its history, the service has been run either by bomber pilots or by fighter jocks. Strategic Air Command was the place to be for years in the Air Force. Then the fighter wings became preeminent. Gen. Schwartz is neither a bomber nor a fighter pilot. He flew C-130s and then migrated to the special operations world, where he spent much of the second half of his career. From there, he went to the Joint Staff and rose to become commander of Transportation Command. That’s hardly the kind of background to make a supporter of fighters comfortable. Even the Air Force official I spoke with conceded that Schwartz faces an uphill battle in changing the service without breaking it.

The comments I heard at AFA make it clear that Schwartz confronts an enormous task in convincing many in the Air Force that a C-130 pilot can lead them to a future where being an airman or a pilot brings glory and recognition from the other services and the world that you are one bad mother to mess with.

Join the Conversation

Jem September 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 am

As a (reserve, non-rated) officer myself, I’ll be interested to see how much change will really occur in the Air Force. The attitude that “push the stick forward and the houses get bigger” is the very definition of leadership acumen won’t go away overnight (if ever). There is ample reason for skepticism.

You’ll know the Air Force is serious about its proclamations that space, ISR and cyberspace are key warfighting areas when they stop putting dilettantes in charge (i.e., fighter pilots whose first meaningful experience in those domains starts when they are asked to command the element charged with directing “the fight” in that area) and start getting their leadership from the professionals.

DensityDuck September 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 am

“[A UAV] can kill tactical targets with relative ease in undefended airspace but it is slow and low and would be very vulnerable operating in defended airspace.”

Ah-heh. Just like the F-35?

Jim Sorber September 22nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm

The Spock ears and the Dumb & Dumber haircut are a nice touch, don’t ya think? Can wait to see him in the new and improved USAF Class A’s!

Cold Warrior September 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm

The fighter pilot mafia is scared that their precious little toys are at risk. That’s good news in and of itself.

Socom September 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm

As an Air Force child growing up on a fighter base, I would have to say we still need our fighter pilots flying our planes into combat. As much as the Air Force has made me angry with not letting me even have a chance to be a pilot because of my education I still understand that we need our fighter pilots as well as the UAVs. We need them both. At this time the capabilities of the UAVs are not on par with our fighters. I understand there are many more UAVs coming into service, but none have been able to take on a fighter and survive. As for the true capabilities of the F-22 and F-35 are not known. Most of what they can do is classified. The U.S. Air Force does not show and tell like the Russians who are trying to see everything they have to make money. The less people know about the true capabilities of our fighters the better. As for this general I think his statements of what the Air Force will turn into he has lost true sight of that. The Air Force is no longer and an Air Force, but a Space and Air Force. Look at the new technology and the DARPA projects for the past 10 years. Most them are for space or for low orbital flight. These are some things he might want to consider when he retracts or sends a letter to a new organization to clarify what he truly meant. I remember in Desert Storm the so called “experts” said the way you attack a harden bunker is to load as many bombs on it as you can and send a squadron to take it out. What did we see during the war? One F-111 took out four reinforced bunkers and the so called “experts” vanished over night. Almost no one outside of the service knew about the laser guided bombs or what they can do. One last thing I would like to pass. When it comes to modern air combat we might want to watch Israel. Don’t forget it was them who told the U.S. Air Force to send UAV in front of the fighters in 1991 to take most of the hits from SAM (Indirect Quote from Ret. General Colin) Powell) and that is what the U.S. Air Force did.
Fighters and UAVs have their place either in Air-To-Air or Air-To-Ground combat.

Marcus Garcia September 22nd, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Have we not seen and heard enough about the incompetence of the AF? From shady refueling tanker contract processes to EXPENSIVE F-22 & F-35’s… I just can’t figure out why the AF isn’t just absolved right back into the Army Air Corps a la WWII… And honestly, AF Special Ops… Whats that about? I have to believe that the Naval Air Stations in this country can more than take care of any aerial missions anywhere in the world. And as for Nuclear determent–The Trident submarine can put an ICBM anywhere in the world FROM anywhere in the world. I live in Colorado Springs and see the inefficiency of the AF first-hand.

AF_Engineer September 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 am

As enlisted I am glad that we have a chief that is steering us away from the fighter world. Everyone knows the we are the kings in the skies, but shoot we havent had to shoot down someone in a air to air combat scenerio since the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Besides, someone needs to bring those pilots back down to earth, beause thier heads swell up a bit too much. They all got thier eyes on those new stealth fighters (F-22/F-35) and they got greedy. There are other people in this Air Force, and it effects us when you forget the little things.

But that is all of my .02 cents from a SrA.

Tony Conner September 23rd, 2008 at 5:06 am

The main theme for the past 60 years in our combat doctrine is first and foremost we operate with AIR SUPREMECY. That is a strategic and tactical requirement before we commit combat troops to a battle front. The Air Force had been the service used to provide that capability, now they are being raked over the coals because technology has become so complex and expensive. The price of failure in this requirement will be far more expensive in terms of equipment and material than the costs of the technology to achieve that mission requirement. The Germans lost air superiority during the second world war and it hastened the end. The Japanese lost air superiority as well and hastened their end. The last time we lost air superiority in the Viet Nam war we paid a high price in men and material as well.

Richard Slager September 23rd, 2008 at 6:22 am

I think that the Air Force got lost somewhere in the past 15 years - we forgot that the AF consisted of many capabilities - fighters, bombers, transport, special operations, etc. We became so fixated on fighters at the expense of all else. When we were led by General LeMay and the SAC mentality, fighter aircraft still had a place of equal status. Where we really went wrong was when the AF because of budget constraints attempted to increase the number of F-22s and started reducing AF manpower to achieve that goal - was it $1B for 20K loss of personnel. With assisting Army manning in Iraq and the loss of personnel - training and responsibilities became affected. Accountability suffered and with no notice inspections, deterioration of the mission started - what really highlighted that was the incidents with nuclear weapons. That scared leadership and thus the firing of the CSAF and the SAF. I think that the placement of General Schwartz as CSAF was a good move - very intelligent, used to working as a team member, and willing to fight the mentality of other Generals. He will succeed if given the chance - reading blogs, the AF has become a joke and I believe that he is the man for the job. Go AF!!

Dan d'Errico September 23rd, 2008 at 6:37 am

Gen. Schwartz truely did not come from the fighter or bomber communities. And just as the helio and transport pilots had to learn to eat the exhaust of the fighter jocks and bomber jocks must now learn to eat the exhaust of the navigators, transportation flyers and Special Operations community. Gen. Schwartz came from the C-130 school, went on to Special Operations and commanded Transportation Command. What qualifies a general more to command the USAF? Being a fast mover or bomber jock? Being able to able to push the button to launch missiles? No. It’s being able to lead from expirence of varied commands. So he might have offended the fighter community. They’ll get the support and new aircraft they need in due time. Fighter jocks are still getting paid even if it’s flying UAVs these days. Special Operations and transportation pilots still have fly aircraft older thatn they are (except for the C-17). If the critics don’t llike exactly what Gen. Schwartz said, TOUGH! Air Supremcy comes in all ways possible, fighters, bombers, transportation, MAINTENANCE, support, et al. Support your AF chief of staff, he’ll surely support you.

Reader Bob September 23rd, 2008 at 6:55 am

This new leader of the A/F has, as all others before him, a vision of what he feels the A/F should look like. Everyone in the A/F uniform should respect this vision and support it. It is refreshing to see that someone else does NOT believe that the entire world evolves around the fighter mentality. At one time in the A/F history, fighters and those who flew them had their place (this was BEFORE bombers). As the A/F matured the fighters took on a new role and a new drum beat. Now today, this drum is quickly changing its beat again as UAV’s come into their own. The true great fliers will adapt, the ego driven will suffer and soon find themselves on the outside looking in, wanting in but refusing to change to get in. The fighter mentality must evolve from “me and I” to “us and we” and their focus needs to be redirected to improving their people skills as they become part of a team greater than one! Practice their crew briefings “Listen up crew” should be come second nature if they are to succeed. This new A/F Leader has his hand on the pulse of the future and fully understands it will no go forward as individualists but as a well honed crew of dedicated professionals working together win, lose or draw.

Don Zweifel September 23rd, 2008 at 6:57 am

General Schwartz is not in error when he alludes to proximity to the target… however the ability to maneuver out a tight situation with someone on your tail is another worrisome factor.

UAV’s and their remote masters are not invulnerable in a HIC or high intensity conflict. When a tactically independent platform leaves its base one does not have to be concerned about whether that base may be vulnerable to cyberattack or not….

Let us not put all our eggs in one basket, guys and gals.

Ordmate September 23rd, 2008 at 6:58 am

The fighter jock’s should look back at the last 10 years and see what has happened to the AirForce. They might pick up on why the AirForce need’s a new outlook on the way thing’s are done. IF the past mistales of the last year are an example of an Armed force being run by Fighter & Bomber pilot’s. The AirForce need’s help. B-52 pilot’s that don’t know they have live nuclear bomb’s on board and fly all over the U.S.A., Missle crew’s that use thier shift to catch up on sleep. An F-16 pilot that shoots up a U.S.Army Vehicle in Utah with U.S. Soldier’s in the Vehicle. It’s time for a new Leader & a new direction.

Veetel September 23rd, 2008 at 7:29 am

Bout time zoomies learned they put their pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us. Now stop whining and let’s go to work.

Saints60 September 23rd, 2008 at 7:47 am

Fighter pilots are better than bomber pilots, who are better than cargo pilots, who are better than navigators, radar intercept operators, etc. Academy better than ROTC, which is better than OTS. My father can beat up your father!!

Grow up, people!

ronnie pond September 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 am

I Still think that a pilot that goes up in his aircraft to fight. Puts his life on the line every minute of every day. And I think that a Air man (Officer or Enlisted or Civilian).That flys a drone While sitting in a closed,Protected room.way back in the rear Is not a pilot. Now he might be a Technician. but not a pilot.If that was the case all these Flight Simulation Gamers that Fly And Fight their wars in the sky every day on their computers could become pilots and get their pilot licences on line and take passengers up and probable get their passengers and them selfs killed.But you watch the Air Force will go ahead and classify them as pilots.and probable give them air medals,silver stars,congressinal medals of honor (or should that be humor???),and after 1000 flight time in a simulator they get their star above their pilots wings.Now that is some thing to shot for. If thats the case why not fight wars on the computer screen and then no body gets killed???.

Tazman421 September 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 am

The AF went wrong when we did away with AFR’s and went to AFI’s. Too loose interpertations…get back to the days of SAC, TAC and MAC!

Pavehawk208 September 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 pm

Mr. Sorber, please leave the personal attacks and unnecessary insults at home. This is not the place for childish behavior.

Pavehawk208 September 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm

As a retired first sergeant, it is refreshing to see a CoS who is not concerned so much about the zipper-suited wonder gods and their lofty wants and unnecessary bravado. I like the fact that Gen Schwartz is requiring the wear of the blue uniform again, we aren’t the Army and we shouldn’t like them. Additionally, he [Schwatz] sees the need to try and restore integrity to the EPR system and finally a CoS that will listen to the CMSAF. Welcome back to earth flyboys, it’s about time you tasted a little bile with along with the rest of us.

SForce#85 September 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm

Amen! Tony Conner, without Air Supremecy there would be no ground war. In-case some of you have forgotten you must have control of the battle space to win and some branches of the service require toys that cost more then others to control thier portion of that space. Lets just be thankful that we came up with the F-22 and F-35 before someone else did.

Guy September 23rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm

I have been a civilian manager for the Air Force for 18 years. I am in a position where I have had the opportunity to meet every CSAF since McPeak. I have watched the parade of military officers over the years–what the do with their power while in the job and after their career is over. Many choose to sell their influence after they leave office, as many GOs do. Some work for aerospace contractors, others try to sell $50M jumbotrons to the Thunderbirds–using the very people they helped promote behind them.

It is refreshing to hear what our new CSAF is saying. I am hoping that the core values find their way back into the Air Force culture. It is about putting integrity first and “doing the right thing” — not “doing the right thing FOR ME”. The Air Force is a part of a larger team.

The next step–our new leader has talked a lot. Let’s see what he does. If senior officers committed offenses, will he actually discipline them? Will the Air Force actually have the confidence to police its own, or will we have to wait for outside agencies to constantly point out the obviouse to us? None of the last three scandals came to light because of any AF IG activity (is there an AF IG anymore–where are they hiding?). The GAO pointed out our lack of procurement skill on the Tanker thing and the Navy help us out to figure out just how many people cannot read. The ol’ DoD IG — you name it the investigated it, and the $50M Thunderbird electronic jumbotron to prevent spectators from becoming bored during aerial demonstrations.

Over the last four years, the AF IG received COUNTLESS complaints regarding General Foglesong, the USAFE commander. They must have had four people in the office that just worked on the stuff he generated–from the use of millions in GWOT funding for base beautification, to wasting hundreds of thousands to keep up his F-16 qualifications. This command was a sad, pathetic joke. There is a war to be supported–and his bases were completely focused on base appearance (to the point of having to send a daily update of unit improvements to base appearance). Despite what must have been over 100 AF IG complaints, nothing was done. The Air Force leadership (then) did nothing. The last leadership set we had said nothing / did nothing during the last three scandals—and of the scandals were all pointed out to us by outside agencies.

So hear we are, at a crossroads. Will it be business as usual, or will the Air Force return to its core values—and put its own house in order?

mulehead September 23rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm

What would Hap Arnold do?

B52D September 23rd, 2008 at 4:21 pm

Sounds like taking the guns out of the fighters. The people that thought that one up were real swift also. Just like getting rid of SAC, that took a real brain storm to do that.

B Thompson September 25th, 2008 at 4:01 am

Saying proximity to the target did not make anyone in the Air Force any better than anyone else isn’t a slap to anyone, it is making sure even the AB at the gym knows his job is important and that it takes everyone to get the job done on a daily basis and that at some point everyone’s job is the most important. If the jet is out of fuel, the most important job isn’t the fuel truck driver or the crew chief, they are both important. There was a lot more to that speech than that little excerpt and it sounds like the author is biased…must love fighters. Gen Scwartz’ speech here and at the PAC was spot-on and honest.

Cold Warrior September 25th, 2008 at 6:35 am

I see the anti-Air Force dolts are back in full force. Anyone who desires the AF folded back into the dunderheaded Army needs to pull their collective heads out of their arses.

Ed Edwards September 25th, 2008 at 10:50 am

I served in the AF for 26 years, 8 years as a SP. 4 Years at SAC Hq and the rest in Maintenance Squadrons. When we had SAC we had the deterrant factor to be ready to destroy targets and control the Air Space anywhere in the world. Now that the AF has done away with the Alert Force and SAC we are in need of a fighting force that has been trained in alert status. Let get back to the real AF and re-enstate our Alert Force and SAC.

Biglar September 25th, 2008 at 12:54 pm

The fighter pilots hate the idea of anyone but them getting in on the glory. Just look at who they insist pilot the AF UAVs. Then look at who flies the Army’s UAVs. Just mention to an AF guy that (lowly) enlisted members can fly and they will go into convulsions…They fear any percieved threat to their dominance.

Now, if Gen. Schwartz can get the C-17 people to realise their job is to provide support to the customer, even if that customer is some lowly army unit.

Emmett "Otis" Redding September 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

An interesting article; but…
The basic problem with my Air Force was our leadership drank its own cool aid and demanded more. Leadership degraded from walking the line to see what is going on to sitting behind the desk and worrying about paperwork.
I learned a long time ago you can always catch up or backdate paperwork. A person’s life or limb can not be back dated – your chance to save them comes but once, if you are lucky.
As for” Nordy” and his outlook – it is in line with what the Joint Staff is saying. Irregular warfare will be used against us (also US) for the next 15 years. IMHO it will be more like 30 years. To fight that fight your need dwelling ISR, transportation, and on call immediate strike support – a three or four minute delay is unacceptable. The life and limb issue from above.
My AF has to change for our enemy and his tactics have changed. My AF has to change because the technologies we use to fight with have changed. Reading your history is fine as long as you don’t become a slave to it like we have done all too often in the past.
P.S. I have served in SAC, PACAF, TAC, ATC, and MAC; been an instructor in 5 different aircraft; been a supply officer (LGM), and done a decade’s service in SOF. A bit different than the one dimensional officers you find today.

BULLWHIP 22 September 25th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

Norty Schwartz is the best hope that we have for reforming the “broken” USAF. As a former fighter pilot, I am embarrassed that the “intellectual pygmies” who flew fighters and rose to leadership positions failed the organization and the country so miserably. This failure was a long time in the making starting in the McPeak era and remaining level in the Fogleman and Ryan era. Under the failed leadership of Roche, Jumper, Wynne and Moseley, the organization fell apart rapidly and has become the “Keystone Kops” that it is today. The fact that Norty never flew fighters is largely irrevalent. There is no correlation between the type of aircraft flown and the ability to lead a flying mission. We need to all support his efforts of we might be reabsorbed into the Army.

Josh September 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pm

Bullwhip….I agree it all started with McPeak. The AF has forgotten to change with the times. Wouldn’t Billy Mitchell be ashamed. Yes, a new fighter would be nice, but the AF can’t forget about everything else it is doing. I’m still not sure they have learned much though. According to Bryant Jordan, see “AFSOC would (almost) Kill for New Gunships”, the AF wants to replace some of its AC-130s. I’m guessing the older ones they are moving Florida to New Mexico. Why spend what I’m sure will be millions to move an airplane you plan on sending to the bone yard in a few years. Seems the AF is looking for ways to spend money it doesn’t have. I could be wrong though. They could be looking at replacing the 18 year old AC-130U and keeping the 40 year old AC-130H.

Alex.Vasiliu September 25th, 2008 at 11:46 pm

My background is electrical engineering.I have no experience in flying any kind of airplane so maybe I should not offer any comments.
In my book the AirForce is the most technically advanced branch of the armed forces .
It should be also the most advanced in handling their contract activities.
When some of the members of the organization end up in jail( Druyun ) or kill themselves it is time for corrective actions.I do not know what they should be .The time for action is now

JDS September 26th, 2008 at 4:47 am

I spent some time in a no-kidding “warrior culture” and, generally, no one I knew claimed to understand the USAF culture…usually describing it as “corporate”. If USAF needs transformation, good leadership will prevail and perhaps Gen Schwartz can deliver. If the “corporation” drags its feet, if his deputies don’t get with the program and support him, USAF is screwed…again.

USMC Retired

Cold Warrior September 26th, 2008 at 8:30 am

If the Air Force wants to stop the slide, the first thing we need to do is establish our own culture of leadership based on the mission. Stop looking at industry for the latest and greatest “leadership” fads that change like the winds every five years. That is in large part why the failures have occured.

No more MBOs, TQM, Six Sigma, etc. We are the Air Force, a military branch charged with defending our nation, not a corporation out to make money.

Do we want to develop individual leaders capabable of making informed good decisions or corporate drones only doing what is best for their career? The time is now to stand up and make the change!

Trexer33 September 27th, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Having been in the same room as the CSAF and hearing him speak first hand, it is in my opinion that the Air Force is on its way up. It has seemed in recent years that the Air Force has lost focus on its fundamentals, for instance, replacing Airmen with projects yet to get off the ground. Gen Schwartz is focused on getting back to basics. Change is on its way. He is a loyal man who keeps his word and will do everything in his power to make us a better Air Force.

Bob W September 29th, 2008 at 6:28 am

Our AF is still a “work-in-progress.”

Indian Air Force, in war games, gives US a run
Foreign fighter jets performed well against F-16s in recent exercises.
By Scott Baldauf | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
from the November 28, 2005 edition

NEW DELHI – Mingling over a few rounds of golf, dogfighting a bit over the jungles of West Bengal - this month’s Cope India 2005 war games were billed as a standard two-week exercise between Indian and American top guns.

But in website chat rooms devoted to the arcania of fighter aircraft, there was a buzz. Arre, wa! Oh, wow! Had the Indian Air Force beat the Americans?

Not exactly, according to observers and participants. The exercises had mixed teams of Indian and American pilots on both sides, which means that both the Americans and the Indians won, and lost. Yet, observers say that in a surprising number of encounters - particularly between the American F-16s and the Indian Sukhoi-30 MKIs - the Indian pilots came out the winners.

Full story at:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1128/p01s04-wosc.html

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