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Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (October 31, 2024): In this photo by Airman 1st Class Aden Brown, Air Force senior enlisted leaders board a C-17 Globemaster III for Mission Command Training on the Air Force’s Agile deployment concepts. The senior noncoms attended a six day exercise, hosted by Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi, that tested their ability to operate in isolated locations in the absence of orders or resources from higher up.  

Agile Combat Employment (ACE) is an Air Force operational concept that uses a "hub-and-spoke" approach to disperse aircraft and airmen from large bases to smaller, more austere locations. The hub is a central location, such our large bases in Guam, while the spokes are the smaller, more dispersed locations, such as civilian airports or airstrips.

The purpose of ACE is to make it more difficult for adversaries to plan and target larger installations by dispersing assets to enhance their survivability. Mission command is a leadership philosophy where Airmen are empowered to operate in complex environments through understanding their commander’s intent, which is essential to quick and effective execution, even if isolated from higher-level decision makers. 

The training helps senior enlisted Airmen communicate the commanders intent to subordinates and explain their role in the concept.