Most Air Force carnivores chafe at the concept of being thought of as 'winged artillery.' We have a long memory of the disastrous way that 'penny packets' of airpower were divvied up organically among individual ground commanders in the WWII North Africa campaign and misused. It was was a foundational event for the separation of the Air Corps from the Army, "never again will Airmen let that happen." For Airmen, the idea of being viewed as 'artillery' is sometimes heard, incorrectly, as an insult to our training, our precision, our immense capability beyond the 'fires' desired on the battlefield.
But what most Airmen don't know, and I didn't fully appreciate this until I came to the Army War College- is that the Army has willingly ceded its organic, division-level artillery with the expectation that the Air Component will cover the need for that level of support in the field. This was a Huge change in their mindset. Once upon a time, not too long ago, DIVARTY was a fundamental component of the Army's way of war. Sec Rumsfeld's cancellation of the Crusader artillery piece and budget constraints, among other things, forced the Army to reconsider its force structure. Looking for the effects they needed, the Army chose to depend forever more on 'fires' from the Air Component, along with precision Army fires to satisfy what was formerly DIVARTY's mission. This has changed the character of the joint fight.
What Army cares about most is the Close Fight, rightly so. And they care about artillery - A LOT. Which is why it says so much to us, about their trust in the Air Component to deliver critical fires, that they have asked us to do the DIVARTY mission.
But what most Airmen don't know, and I didn't fully appreciate this until I came to the Army War College- is that the Army has willingly ceded its organic, division-level artillery with the expectation that the Air Component will cover the need for that level of support in the field. This was a Huge change in their mindset. Once upon a time, not too long ago, DIVARTY was a fundamental component of the Army's way of war. Sec Rumsfeld's cancellation of the Crusader artillery piece and budget constraints, among other things, forced the Army to reconsider its force structure. Looking for the effects they needed, the Army chose to depend forever more on 'fires' from the Air Component, along with precision Army fires to satisfy what was formerly DIVARTY's mission. This has changed the character of the joint fight.
What Army cares about most is the Close Fight, rightly so. And they care about artillery - A LOT. Which is why it says so much to us, about their trust in the Air Component to deliver critical fires, that they have asked us to do the DIVARTY mission.
This is the Great Army Compliment to Airpower.
Having witnessed the effects of both artillery shells and JDAMs, I have seen the utility of both. There is nothing like the effects of immediate fires nor like the effects of Airpower-targeted precision from the catbird seat to get the Enemy to change or cease his behavior.
Having witnessed the effects of both artillery shells and JDAMs, I have seen the utility of both. There is nothing like the effects of immediate fires nor like the effects of Airpower-targeted precision from the catbird seat to get the Enemy to change or cease his behavior.
Over the course of my time with the Army, I have learned to value this Great Army Compliment - May we always see their view of us as 'winged artillery' as the compliment it really is, and when we're performing the CAS mission, continue to validate this sacred, vital trust in our service.
This is team warfare.
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