Transforming Air Force Isr for the Long War and Beyond

Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) is undergoing a tremendous transition-as a growing core competency and an operational entity in its own right. This paper draws on well-established close air support doctrine and organizational models to build new ISR organizational and execution constructs to bridge the gap between theater-level ISR assets and tactical operations. These models bind ISR asset, exploiter, CAOC, and the supported unit together through face-to-face interactions and standardized processes that apply across any theater of operations or combatant command.