US Air Force,
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE: The latest revision to Air Force Doctrine Document 2-3.1, Foreign Internal Defense, has been approved by Maj. Gen. Allen G. Peck, Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center commander.
Although Air Force officials can perform foreign internal defense, or FID, across the range of military operations, its framework support consists of assessing, training, advising and assisting foreign aviation forces.
This publication stresses this indirect approach in order to bring together those aspects of FID that apply worldwide and extend beyond the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Increased emphasis in FID operation capacity can multiply U.S. influence globally without requiring a standing-force presence in numerous locations.
“Since the reprehensible 9-11 attack, we have realized that a successful conclusion to our prosecution of terrorism and insurgency lies many years in the future and that success will be impossible without the active participation of global partners,” General Peck said.
“Our national strategy must enable partner nations to defend themselves against these threats, and Air Force initiatives to support this strategy fall within FID operations. In fact, the global war on terrorism is taking place largely in the FID arena,” he said. “The strategic end game is a partner nation capable of successfully integrating military force with other instruments of national power to eradicate lawlessness, terrorism, subversion and insurgency.”
This document has been substantially revised by the Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center staff. This publication updates key Air Force FID doctrine concepts and terms, and includes an updated description of major threats to U..S and foreign national security interests in the FID and irregular warfare arena. It provides a more detailed discussion of foreign airpower capabilities and requirements to counter those threats in lesser-developed nations, and a discussion of terrorism as a principal tactic of insurgent warfare and as a major threat facing the U.S. and friendly nations.
In addition, this document presents FID activities as a key Air Force contribution to U.S. support for counterinsurgency operations, combating terrorism, and counter-narcotics. Lastly this information includes a discussion of the range of Air Force FID operations, as well as the command and control of FID forces.
