What are the chances of Army and Air Force Merging?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:34:41 -0400

Might seem like a pointless question to some, the only reason i am asking is because of Army posts becoming Joint Bases. Looking for info is all.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Oct 24 at 2014 7:36 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:36:33 -0400

Little to none. As far as joint bases, those should have occurred years ago.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 8:43 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:43:26 -0400

SPC Bergseid, things tend to expand and contract, Air Force derived from Army Air Force, etc. We've long heard talk of Purple Suits, one budget--might happen someday; currently easier to manage this way on such a large scale. In one sense we already have it as DOD; it's the uniforms and equipment, customs and traditions that mainly differ. People want to believe that policies are vastly different yet they are not; a few do differ based on very unique circumstances. Yet the Army actually still has more "boats" (not ships) than the navy, more aircraft (not just fixed wing) than the Air Force, counting Guard and Reserve. The Navy has more ships and more people who can swim. The Army has more people whom are pilot qualified than the Navy and Air Force combined--yet probably none fly jets.

Response by SPC Donte Hill made Oct 25 at 2014 2:47 PM

SPC Donte Hill — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 14:47:45 -0400

One would think that the two would have come back together long ago. It makes logical sense. The Air force provides provides the army with Airlift capabilities, tactical and strategic bombing, High altitude reconnaissance. All key elements that the army can't do and must have to win in an air ground campaign. I'm a firm believer that the two should merge. Unfortunately the argument will always be this is the way it has been for years and this is what most will take.

Response by MSgt Charles Johnson made Dec 5 at 2014 12:02 PM

MSgt Charles Johnson — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:02:10 -0500

Merging them? Idiotic idea. Look at our World Wars, there is a specific reason for not merging, the force structure of the Army is to conquer continents not hold air bases. They split due to job complexities not for political reasons. I was Army first, then USAF retired. To even suggest that these two vast machines merge is to ignore history, fail to understand complexity, and mission.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 5 at 2014 12:20 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:20:57 -0500

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member: Highly unlikely!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 12:18 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:18:59 -0500

None. Organizational politics at the service chiefs level will never allow that to occur.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 1:00 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 01:00:33 -0500

To me, this discussion is the same as the idea to create a "National Defense Force" merging ALL of the branches under the same umbrella... Likely to never occur.

Response by PO2 Donald Wright made Jan 14 at 2015 6:28 PM

PO2 Donald Wright — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:28:29 -0500

NO, Just as the Navy should remain separate and still have a Marine ground contingent. The Air Force has multiple roles and air ground is only one of them. These differing priorities require a different chain of command. There must be a balancing act between the Air Force that thinks they can win campaigns through air alone and the army that thinks they exist only to support ground armies.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 6:43 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:43:59 -0500

I think we would have merged back in shortly after we became our own branch if it was going to happen. We have our mission, the Army has thier mission. We do tend to work together, but being one and the same won't happen.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 7:21 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:21:12 -0500

Every Branch has its own priority. We have a balance of planes ground forces and sea vessels. If we were to merge it, the balance will be thrown off and we would lose capability somewhere. So no Not likely to merge.

In the Air Force every time we change from Fighter Pilot chief of staff to Heavy pilot there is a big change in policy and direction. I can only imagine how bad it would if it changed from Army to Air Force or vice versa. Talk about culture shock

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 10:27 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:27:17 -0500

The Air Force is actually the Army Air Corp with a name change.

If the merged, the Air Force Enlisted whining about not going to combat as a combat arms could rotate to a mission with Army. Guys who were getting worn out by frequent deployments could certify and rotate in to technical job. But that would never happen for two reasons: egos and it makes sense. Things that make a lot of sense never happen.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Jan 14 at 2015 10:35 PM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:35:40 -0500

I think it would be a good idea, but I'm not sure how the Army will deal with becoming part of the Air Force.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2015 1:33 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 01:33:42 -0500

Nope! It's too much brain work for either Force

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2015 6:37 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 06:37:26 -0500

There's a reason we separated in the first place. And one only has to look at how the Army uses organic air assets versus how the Air Force allocates air assets to see that this is not a great idea.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2015 6:49 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 06:49:35 -0500

I think joint basing is a better way for us to work together but I don't think it will lead to merging back together. Even with the joint basing it seems politics are played, even at a lower level so while it would put us under one branch, it would also likely dampen the Air Force's mission as the Army seems to be the one in control with joint basing.

Response by SSG Edward Rhyan made Jan 15 at 2015 7:43 AM

SSG Edward Rhyan — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 07:43:37 -0500

They should get rid of the Army, expand the Marines 25% with troops designed to work with and be supported by Arial support. The Air Force and Navy should both go only to the Marines boot camp as a way to unite the 3 remaining branches even more as they already have many aspects that are common to each and rely on each other. This is the Trident of Power that we need.

Those saying any change in general would not work because of different mentalities. We work with the present in able to design for the future. 20 years for a enlisted to retire, Officers can be weeded out effortlessly. What your focusing on now as negatives will be gone and the mindset some are entrenched on now will be a thought in history only remembered by books.

The military budget should be cut down drastically, we should be spending only 50% more than the next highest countries budget which would be China. If they are currently spending 192 billion a year, we should only be spending 288 billion per year.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jan 15 at 2015 8:57 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:57:06 -0500

I don't think that merging them from an operational perspective makes much sense at all. However, making joint bases does make sense since we can save budget funds that way. What the AF does and what the Army does seem so different operationally, in most cases. So I would leave the branches separate.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Jan 15 at 2015 9:01 AM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:01:19 -0500

- Merging bases and merging services are two drastically different issues.
- Merging bases is one way to become more efficient and more effective with scarce resources.
- Merging training opportunities, both institutionally and operationally, is a way to train as we wil fight (joint).
- Merging services involves mixing apples and oranges. One operates within the land domain while the other operates within the air domain. There is no additional effectiveness or efficiency that I am aware of and therefore no valid reason to merge.
- Look at various historical examples. The trend is to break off and not to merge as new technology comes on line. Armor broke away from infantry after the tank arrived on the battlefield in 1917 (the Germans did this sooner than the Allies), the air force broke away from the Army in 1948 (after the airplane come out in about 1906 so 42 years later), I predict that space forces will become an independent force sometime in the future.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Jan 15 at 2015 10:05 AM

SPC Christopher Smith — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:05:34 -0500

I'm all for it if we keep the Airforce's standard for living, and taking care of SM's. I would love to incorporate their mentality of working more effiently, over the Army idea that tradition is the best way going forward.

Response by SPC Adam Shaw made Jan 16 at 2015 3:17 AM

SPC Adam Shaw — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 03:17:04 -0500

About the same chance of the ARMY bringing me back in and making me a black cap at RANGER school.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 7:11 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 07:11:06 -0500

Probably zero. The only reason they are joint bases is because it is easier that way for both branches.

Response by PO1 James Booker made Jan 16 at 2016 5:14 PM

PO1 James Booker — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 17:14:14 -0500

Oh....it'll happen someday sooner than later. When SAC and TAC were ruling the air world it was one thing. Now, that world does NOT exist and an USAF/USA merger makes total sense. That being said, the USMC is almost totally interchangeable in mission to the USA as well(when was the last opposed beach landing??). You could realistically absorb them as well. Only the USN would have a mission so unique as to require it's autonomy.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jan 17 at 2016 12:47 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 12:47:34 -0500

Will not happen anytime soon, The Air Force is still holding on to the A-10 for crying out loud. Fighter jocks. Sigh.
That and the Air force had a fit when other branches got Helicopters.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 17 at 2016 5:51 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 17:51:08 -0500

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member Zero chances.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 10:02 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:02:57 -0500

The joinT bases is a way for the Army to improve quality of life. By joining the bases the Army can tap into the Air Forces budget, which is substantial and doesn't have all of the same rules.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 19 at 2016 10:05 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:05:42 -0500

Slim and none SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member.
Since the USAF was birthed from the Army Air Corps Like the Phoenix of ancient mythology there is no chance that the genie could be forced back into that bottle. A merger would probably have the Army on top as the service with seniority which would make very little sense.
Imagine SPACECOM and STRATCOM as Army-centric Commands

Response by Ej Magana made Jan 25 at 2016 10:35 PM

Ej Magana — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 22:35:04 -0500

we should really consider merging all of our branches together, but start off slowly.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2016 9:45 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 21:45:06 -0500

Slim to not a chance in Hell. I'm not even a fan of the Joint Base thing. Here in the DMV the Navy is running things and it's a HOTT MESS. I've worked with the Army and they are behind the times or ass backwards. So please let's bury this idea in a very deep hole not to be thought of again.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2016 3:19 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 15:19:37 -0500

I think the reason why we are becoming Joint Bases is because of the economy, but as far as the Army and Air Force merging "Army-Army Force" I am not sure that will ever happen. The ways of the Army are not the ways of Air Force, vice-versa

Response by SPC Ron Hines made May 26 at 2016 11:36 PM

SPC Ron Hines — Thu, 26 May 2016 23:36:41 -0400

No chance

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2016 12:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 May 2016 12:09:11 -0400

Pretty low really, niether one would want their budgets dictated by the other. So in the end between the joint chiefs and congress I doubt that this would ever be a thing.

Response by SPC(P) Mark Newman made Dec 1 at 2017 10:06 PM

SPC(P) Mark Newman — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 22:06:51 -0500

Also, I would then have more challenge razzing Zoomies. I'd ... be one?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2018 1:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 13:07:40 -0400

Never happen. The AF was already a part of the Army and warfighting capabilities necessitated the split. Soldiers would lose their minds if they had to live in dorms instead of barracks and, imagine the giddiness of eating in an Air Corps “cafetería”.

Response by Col Robert Wallace made Aug 10 at 2018 8:44 PM

Col Robert Wallace — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:44:58 -0400

The passage of the Joint Base Resolution was for financial purposes, not to instill the idea of either the Army or the Air Force to merge into One Branch of Service. For those too young to know or remember, President Harry S. Truman authorized the establishment of an air branch separate from the Army, as the definitive roles in combat had changed for both branches of service. Thus in 1947, the United Stated Air Force was created. Although not heard of often, the aviation branch of the Army is called USAAF, same as during WW II (United States Army Air Force). By the way, being a former Command Pilot of a C130, that is a great picture of the Hurcules C130J.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2018 8:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 08:21:45 -0400

Daenerys (Stormborn of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons) received this answer when she asked when Khal Drogo would ride again:

"When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before."

That also happens to be when the Air Force would merge again with the Army.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 7:30 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 07:30:29 -0500

Look back in history and you’ll see that this is not new. The Air Force was actually a part of the Army before being its own branch. They were called the Army Air Corps. But I doubt this would happen again.