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ACCE provides air and space experts to OEF, ISAF

  • Published
  • By ACCE Staff
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  U.S. forces and the International Security and Assistance Force, or ISAF, on the ground in Afghanistan rely on a special team of Air Force officers.

The Air Component Coordination Element, a liaison element of and responsible to the Combined Air Operations Center, supports ISAF, headquartered in Kabul, and Combined Joint Task Force-76, which oversees Regional Command-East (RC-East) in Afghanistan. "We help the CJTF and ISAF planners integrate air and space power into the development of their campaign plan," said Brig. Gen. Christopher D. Miller, the ACCE director here.

The ACCE provides a wide experience base of officers to help ISAF and CJTF-76 build a free and self-sustaining, democratic Afghanistan. When ISAF or CJTF-76 needs airpower for a particular operation or advice on how best to employ airpower, the commander consults General Miller, who then turns to his team of experts in the ACCE.

"We provide direct assistance to the warfighter trying to access the air power system," said Lt. Col. Rich Wright, the airlift expert on the ACCE staff. "Additionally, we keep key Air Force leadership situationally aware of developing issues which helps them make informed decisions."

The ACCE's divisions - plans, strike, airlift, space and intelligence - provide advice on how to best use the air and space power assets in their respective areas.

With the transition of CJTF-76 under ISAF command in the fall of 2006 came a new set of challenges for the ACCE. The ACCE resides at CJTF-76 headquarters at Bagram Airfield. However, ISAF HQ resides in the Afghanistan capital, Kabul. This transition drove the requirement for a more robust ACCE presence in Kabul. The standup of the Air Liaison Element in Kabul, consisting of strike/plans, airlift, and space divisions satisfies this requirement.

The ALE will operate in a pure coalition environment. Led by U.S. Air Force Col. Lyle Powell, the ALE will provide expertise and planning support as part of the ACCE in Kabul directed by British Air Commodore Collins. This added presence at ISAF HQ will provide a valuable link to and from the CAOC to ensure integrated air and space planning throughout ISAF's processes.

All air operations in CENTCOM's area of responsibility are conducted from the CAOC. To provide in-person customer service, three ACCE staffs stood up to work directly with the three task forces, one in Iraq, one in the Horn of Africa, and the third in Afghanistan.

"It's the difference between doing customer service in person or by a 1-800 number," General Miller said. "The ACCE staff provides a physical, personal presence that solves problems and facilitates the best use of airpower resources."

Working on the ACCE/ALE also provides Air Force officers a broader vision of U.S. and Coalition operations, which will add valuable expertise to their careers. "I have gained tremendous experience in the ACCE here in Afghanistan in addition to the perspective as a space customer directly supporting the warfighter," said Maj. Ted Roberts, the ACCE space officer.

The ACCE and the ALE will have no shortage of challenges and opportunities until the job of building a lasting, stable democracy in Afghanistan is completed.