JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is playing a vital role in the standup of Air Force Deployable Combat Wings, providing essential support in key areas including site assessments, personnel planning, resource allocation and training operations.
By laying the groundwork for operational readiness, AFIMSC is ensuring these wings are equipped for mission success.
A New Deployment Model
In April, the Air Force identified the first five Regular Air Force DCW candidate locations, marking a shift in how the service prepares for and executes deployments. DCWs will be agile, self-sustaining units designed to mobilize quickly and operate in contested environments. By stationing Airmen at a single location, these wings allow for cohesive training and deployment throughout the Air Force Force Generation cycle.
“We are transitioning our deployment model to best meet the evolving national security environment,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin, in a recent memo to Airmen.
Assessing Bases for DCW Success
To help facilitate this transformation, AFIMSC is supporting site surveys at the candidate locations: Little Rock AFB, Arkansas; Moody AFB, Georgia; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina; and Shaw AFB, South Carolina.
“Site surveys are essential to determining a proposed unit’s beddown potential for Secretary of the Air Force approval,” said Lt. Col. Hans Winkler, in-garrison operational requirements branch chief for the AFIMSC Intelligence, Strategic Planning and Requirements Directorate. “They examine mission requirements and installation capacities to ensure they can support operational needs while identifying constraints that may need to be addressed.”
Partnering with major commands, primarily through its detachments, AFIMSC installation support experts are helping evaluate resourcing, facilities, housing, dorms, security, logistics, services and manpower at each location.
“The Air Force is prioritizing operational effectiveness as the most critical factor,” Winkler said, “and AFIMSC has done extensive work to ensure the locations have the capacity in terms of manpower, resources, and facilities to meet that projected operational demand signal.”
The surveys are expected to conclude in June, with a final decision anticipated later in the summer.
Building the Right Teams
With base assessments underway, AFIMSC’s MAJCOM functional managers are helping staff DCWs with skilled Airmen by analyzing unit manning documents and engaging directly with installations to address staffing challenges.
“Our teams have been traveling to site visits, engaging directly with installations to hear manning concerns firsthand, and working to develop innovative solutions for potential shortages while assessing the impact of shifting personnel between installations,” said Chief Master Sgt. Donald McNair, civil engineer MAJCOM FM.
To support recruitment, the Air Force Personnel Center opened positions on Talent Marketplace in April, allowing Airmen to volunteer for DCW assignments. Positions with specialized skill requirements on UMDs were marked with a special experience identifier, ensuring Airmen who possess those skills can be placed in these roles or acquire them before assignment.
AFIMSC experts also contributed to the Capabilities Level Playbook, an Air Force initiative designed to help commanders assess risk and manage manpower efficiently. While still in draft form, the playbook has already enabled units to begin balancing risk between home station missions, DCW unit type code requirements, and base services affected by manning changes, McNair said.
Funding the Future Fight
While ensuring the right personnel are in place, AFIMSC is also strengthening the financial framework necessary for long-term sustainability. The center plays a key role in financial planning for the DCW initiative, evaluating infrastructure needs and estimating construction costs. Smaller projects will be funded locally, while larger efforts require headquarters approval.
“We provide functional insight into the potential costs associated with the new missions, assessing manpower, resources and facilities,” Winkler said.
By collaborating with MAJCOM leadership, AFIMSC makes sure funding decisions align with operational priorities, enabling sustained airpower projection, he said.
Enhancing Training and Readiness
Combat air base squadrons will form the backbone of the DCW's base operations support, with most DCW Airmen serving within these units. Their ability to train and fight together is essential for delivering effective support in base operations, sustainment, protection and airfield management.
As the Air Force shifts toward maintaining ready-to-deploy units in high-threat environments, AFIMSC is tackling a key challenge: developing training that integrates technical expertise with essential combat skills for support Airmen.
To meet this need, AFIMSC is developing Combat Support Training Range sites, advanced platforms equipped with essential vehicles, equipment, infrastructure, and realistic threat environments. These sites enhance unit readiness by providing space and equipment needed for specialized, mission-focused training required for operational success. The center also developed an operations manual to serve as a one-stop resource for units to plan and execute their training.
Over the next few years, AFIMSC will establish six CSTR sites, continuously expanding their capacity and capabilities to meet evolving Air Force needs. Eventually, CSTR training will integrate with larger, more complex exercises so Airmen are better prepared for future challenges.
Ensuring Continued Support
AFIMSC’s role extends beyond initial setup, providing ongoing assessments, training exercise support at CSTR sites, and budget planning. As the Air Force continues to adjust the readiness model to face future threats, AFIMSC’s expertise will remain instrumental in shaping future readiness.
“AFIMSC supports warfighters on power-projection platforms every day,” Winkler said. “Throughout our Air Force history, missions continue to evolve to meet the demands of future potential conflict, but through these planning actions, AFIMSC ensures we provide the best possible capabilities for these new missions, their workforce and their families.”