AFSOC activates 11th Air Task Force

Published Oct. 16, 2024
355th Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) --

Air Force Special Operations Command held an assumption of command ceremony for the 11th Air Task Force at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Oct. 8. The ceremony, presided over by Maj. Gen. Justin Hoffman, AFSOC deputy commander, marked the official activation.

ATFs, which replace the Expeditionary Air Base model, are the next evolution of the Air Force’s progress toward the Deployable Combat Wing and a significant milestone in the Air Force’s journey toward modernization and readiness to ensure and maintain a competitive advantage over the pacing challenge.

“The typical timeline for activation [of a unit] is often on the order of a couple or even several years. Yet here we are after only a few months,” said Col. Brett Cassidy, 11th ATF commander. “Our rapid activation represents Airmen aggressively driving forward the vision of our leadership.”

Airmen assigned to the ATF will follow the Air Force’s Force Generation cycle to deploy as units of action in the coming years. This model will allow the unit of action to train as a team to improve unit readiness and help leadership clearly articulate Air Force capacity and risk to the joint force.

“Our service has realized that crowdsourcing Airmen from multitudes of bases is not sufficient to building winning teams to defend our nation,” Hoffman said. “That’s why the deliberate and predictable nature of the AFFORGEN cycle is built into the ATF concept.”

People in military dress uniforms hold rifles and flags — The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Honor Guard present the colors during the 11th Air Task Force activation and assumption of command ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Oct. 8, 2024. The 11th ATF’s purpose was to generate a team of mission ready Airmen for the joint force to fight and win anytime, anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)

A man in a military uniform speaks — Col. Brett Cassidy, 11th Air Task Force commander, addresses the audience after assuming command of the 11th ATF at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Oct. 8, 2024. Cassidy was hand-selected as the first leader of the pathfinding 11th ATF with nearly 20 years of experience, the majority of which had been in the special operations community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)

Men in military dress uniforms walk — Maj. Gen. Justin Hoffman, Air Force Special Operations Command deputy commander, and Col. Brett Cassidy, 11th Air Task Force commander, depart the 11th ATF activation and assumption of command ceremony at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Oct. 8, 2024. The 11th ATF will serve as one of six of the Air Force’s units of action available to meet global combatant command requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)

The AFFORGEN cycle is built to enable Airmen to train and exercise together before being operationally employed together as part of a team. While the implementation differs depending on the mission of each major command, the goal is to achieve a common lexicon, more individual predictability, and greater alignment of readiness generating activities such as large-scale exercises across the Air Force.

“ATFs are the future of successful and cohesive deployments to win in Great Power Competition,” said Chief Master Sgt. Sharreen Taylor, 11th ATF command chief. “By building a tight-knit unit with a strong sense of connection and dedication to the mission we are prepared to take on any challenge we encounter, together.”

The 11th ATF, along with ATFs activated at five other locations identified by the Air Force, will serve as experimentation platforms that will help refine the rotational force presentation model while also providing lessons which can improve the combat wing structure.

“Nowhere in the Air Force will you find a better integrated group of Airmen working across major command lines to realize a shared vision,” Cassidy said. “That integration is further enabled by the incredible support from the local community here in Tucson.”

ATFs are part of the Department of the Air Force’s plan to implement major changes centered on how the Air Force develops people, generates readiness, projects power, and develops integrated capabilities in today’s strategic environment.