Another Way to Fight

United States military forces traditionally excel as lead contingents of coalition campaigns. Combat operations in Afghanistan proved no different as joint forces executed a campaign that enabled anti-Taliban forces to overthrow a terrorist backed regime. Success stories included Air and surface advisors who linked American airpower to surrogate ground forces. The President's pledge to help friendly governments fight subnational terrorism signaled an even more prominent role for advisors during the second phase of the war. Do Air Force advisors have the capability and credibility to help foreign military forces defeat internal threats? Much of the answer lies within the combat aviation advisory ranks of Air Force Special Operations Command. Standing combat aviation advisory forces represent the Air Force's only regionally oriented, politically aware, culturally astute, and language qualified advisory capability. Specially educated and trained combat aviation advisory teams help foreign forces improve joint capabilities to combat terrorism, subversion, lawlessness, and insurgency. Yet perennial challenges impede a more efficient and effective employment of aviation advisors. Fundamentally, Service and joint communities lack the mission comprehension and commitment required to fully support aviation advisory forces. An unsurpassed capability in tactical instruction builds the credibility required to achieve assigned objectives with host nation forces. Enhanced and expanded capabilities are required to meet escalating theater demands for aviation advisory services. A commitment to invest in aviation advisory forces will help friendly nations fight and win their own wars, thereby precluding the need for larger American military deployments to threatened lands.