Air University, AETC co-host inaugural competition, conflict symposium

Air University co-hosted a symposium recently where attendees were introduced to the criticality of the “five domain warfare” concept and how it should influence how the Air Force delivers warfighting and wargaming education.

The inaugural Integrated Domain Competition and Conflict Symposium, co-hosted by AU and Air Education and Training Command, held May 31-June 1, 2023, also strove to educate and create a deeper understanding among attendees of the interdependence and integration of domains to win in competition and conflict.

“We must continue to shape and refine our warfighting tradecraft as it applies to joint all-domain operations,” said Col. Richard Major, referring to the domains of land, sea, air, space and cyberspace. “All are interdependent of each other and need to be tackled with a comprehensive approach.” Major is the vice commander of the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, the location of the symposium.

The symposium, he said, helped educators around AETC and AU and attendees from other major commands, numbered Air Forces, and combatant commands better integrate efforts with current knowledge of competition and the way Department of the Air Force leaders are thinking about winning. Additionally, attendees were able to explore the intersections and alignment between five domain warfare, joint all-domain operations, and the Air Force future operating and joint warfighting concepts.

“We were able to confirm that AU is headed in the right direction with its professional military education and wargaming efforts,” said Major. “That said, insights gleaned and connections created from the interaction during the symposium will help us improve our content in curriculum and wargaming scenarios.”

One of the key takeaways from the symposium, he said, is that the service can’t just think about airpower when looking at current and future competition and conflict.

“We need to be airpower experts and hone our craft,” said Major. “However, we must also take the other domains and the nature of our potential adversaries in competition and conflict into consideration as we plan and execute operations, training and education.”