17th may be reactivated for Africa missions

17th may be reactivated for Africa missions
By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 19, 2007 18:50:24 EST

U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials will seek to reactivate the 17th Air Force to serve as the air component for U.S. Africa Command, according to an Air Force spokesman.

“We have stood up a 17AF transition team with the goal of establishing Initial Operational Capability by 1 Oct 08,” said Capt. Greg Hignite, 17th Air Force spokesman, in an e-mail to Air Force Times. “We estimate a full Operational Capability in” fiscal year 2009 or 2010.

17th Air Force was last based at Sembach Air Base, Germany, when it was deactivated in 1996.

The reincarnated 17th AF would be led by a two-star and comprise about 300 airmen, according to a report by Inside the Air Force. Those airmen would be split between staff and a unique air operations center, the report said. AfriCom is expected to be focused more on fostering regional cooperation and building up allied nations than organizing offensive or defensive strikes on the continent.

Officials want the air component to “provide flexible and timely air advice and coordination to execute the AFRICOM mission ... by working with African states and regional organizations to help strengthen stability and security in the area of responsibility,” Hignite said.

Structure, manpower and aircraft requirements are being hammered out by Air Force officials in the Pentagon, USAFE and AfriCom, Hignite said.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_africom_17th_071119w/