Airborne Forces: A Capability to Overcome Challenges during Contingency Operations in Immature Theaters

Throughout the last few decades the United States has reduced the number of forward deployed military bases throughout the world. As a result, the nation relies on its ability to conduct global power projection in support of national interests. Regions such as West Africa possess potentially volatile areas that may require U.S. military intervention in the future. In the event of crisis response and limited contingency operations in immature, landlocked theaters such as the West African Sahel Desert Region, challenges may arise in the ability to rapidly deploy forces to seize the initiative. When faced with vast spaces of underdeveloped infrastructure in ground lines of communication and airbases, airborne forces may be able to mitigate time, space, and force factors associated with a swift U.S. military intervention. This paper discusses how the employment of airborne forces may enhance a JTF commanders operational reach, operational maneuver, and operational sustainment in austere operating environments. The paper discusses situations that occurred in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Just Cause to illustrate the unique capabilities that airborne forces can provide a JTF commander. Airborne forces have demonstrated the ability to rapidly deploy and establish lodgments for future operations in immature environments. This capability should be considered by future JTF planners in tackling the problem of rapidly inserting military forces in immature operational areas in support of crisis response and limited contingency operations.