Commission Query

The National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force plans to hold a closed meeting this week with Air Force Gen. Charles Jacoby, head of U.S. Northern Command, according to a notice published in this morning's Federal Register:

"The Combatant Commander of the U.S. Northern Command oversees the movement and deployment of forces and materiel necessary to defend the U.S. under the Posse Comitatus Act, a unique Federal law of interest to the Commission," the notice reads. The Sept. 26 meeting will consist of discussions of "classified information regarding mission plans and strategies. Due to the inability of the Commander to respond to the following questions without also disclosing classified information, the meeting is closed to the public."

While Jacoby may give an opening statement, the commissioners will primarily be interested in his response to certain questions. Those queries, according to the notice, could include:

1. Describe your requirements and assets available from the reserve, Guard, and active duty forces.

2. Are there enough assets to meet the requirements?

3. Under what planning scenarios do you encounter shortfalls in assets?

4. How do you establish requirements [on the Guard/reserve/active duty] for a given mission?

5. What separates a reserve mission from other missions?

6. Are there geographic challenges to missions involving forces from different components?

7. Are there issues with lines of authority and the blending of forces from different components?

8. Do you have comments on how the Commission might best consider the current state of requirements for missions of the Air Force, and how these should best be resourced going forward?

9. Do the Services each have a different approach to readiness requirements, and does this have an impact on force mix considerations?