U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Gregory Allen, 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron airborne cryptologic language analyst, checks his flight mask on an RC-135 Rivet Joint during Operation Agile Spartan at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, Aug. 20, 2023. This exercise not only highlighted AUAB’s commitment of maintaining readiness and deterrence toward adversaries in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, but also the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s ability to rapidly generate combat airpower and engage in agile combat employment scenarios. The month-long, multinational operation demonstrated interoperability between regional partners, improved response capabilities, and further enhanced security throughout the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Leon Redfern)

Integrating Risk and Readiness

“As we reoptimize for Great Power Competition, infusing risk management and operational discipline into all facets of planning, preparation, execution, and assessment is imperative across all missions and environments.”

Gen. David W. Allvin
Air Force Chief of Staff

CSAF’s Integrating Risk and Readiness campaign kicks off to prep Airmen for complex combat environments

This proactive campaign stems from the need to drive understanding that to win in our future fight, we must better prepare all Airmen to make risk-informed decisions, and to subsequently drive improved decision making in this context.

The DAF is going through a massive transformation to ensure we are prepared for the peer fight in evolving, complex and dynamic environments. However, we must understand any time we undergo major change there is associated risk to both organizations and individuals as they work to find new, effective, and repeatable ways to address hard problems. Combined with deviating from known norms and safe operating procedures, Agile Combat Employment (ACE) will require the assumption of higher risks as we do business differently. The concept of ACE intends to have the Air Force disaggregate operations with small teams, where subordinate leaders (officers and NCOs) make risk-informed decisions based on the experience in training, along with mission type orders that will provide mission parameters and expectations.

CAMPAIGN IMPERATIVES

  • Embed a robust RM foundation in Airmen’s operational DNA
  • Train how we fight… embed in everyday ops & guidance documents
  • Provide data and analytical forecasting tools to all Airmen
  • Build RM tools to support distributed operations at all levels
  • Reinforce a mindset of operational discipline in all Airmen.
  • Build trust between levels of command that enables risk management at the source
  • Provide a HAF-initiated, whole of Air Force approach

 

Safety is foundational to every operation – ground, air, and space

 

Integrating Risk and Readiness Campaign Vision

An operational force that understands and integrates risk management concepts to enhance readiness across the full scope of training, exercises, and combat operations.

Integrating Risk and Readiness Campaign Intent & Approach

The campaign’s multi-stage approach aims to institutionalize efforts across the force with both a short-term and long-term focus. Within the first 3-6 months (short-term), the Safety Team focused on increasing the drumbeat of enterprise-wide communications on operationalizing risk management, including a campaign video from the CSAF’s office, a MAJCOM-led day dedicated to risk management training and discussion, and a rollout of improved data analysis tools. The long-term focus is building an enduring culture of risk management through implementation in policy, practice, tools and training (P2T2) at all levels of the enterprise.

Stand-Up Day Intent

A proactive MAJCOM-led effort stemming from a recognition that to win in our future fight and better prepare all Air Force personnel at all levels and AFSCs to make risk-informed decisions.

  • Kick-off event to institutionalize Risk Management into operational planning and execution
  • Educate Airmen and government civilian personnel on risk-informed decision making during operations
Start Date: August 1, 2024
Completion Timeline: All MAJCOMs have completed Stand-Up Days

“Combat operations and training are inherently risky. They require action. We must train Airmen at all levels how to approach those actions smartly with risk management skills.”

Maj. Gen. Sean M. Choquette
Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety

   

P2T2 Desired End State

A fully integrated risk management culture that enhances operational effectiveness, preserving resources, and protecting personnel from unnecessary risks.

The 47th Medical Group (MDG) hosted a Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Rodeo, an internal readiness competition that sharpened medics' TCCC skills through realistic, deployed scenarios April 16, 2025.

Policy

Policy updates will include updates to DAFI 90-802, Risk Management. Risk management principles will also be incorporated into other appropriate DAF publications. This will establish clear, enforceable, standardized policies integrating risk management principles across the Force.

A man is writing on paper with a headset on.

Practice

Units must review and update their Risk Thresholds using the Risk Assessment Matrix. These easy-to-understand charts help commanders define mission impact and assign risk acceptance authority based on risk level, fostering proactive risk management in planning, execution, and evaluation.

A T-38 instructor pilot pulls up a T-38 Risk Management Worksheet on the eORM app during a pre-flight brief. The eORM app enhances the risk assessment process for aircrews before every flight. It also gives flying unit commanders a clearer picture of aviation risks for each mission.

Tools

All DAF personnel will use the Joint Risk Assessment Tool and DD Form 2977 during annual training to improve risk management skills for exercises and real-world scenarios. Leaders should also utilize existing AFSEC tools like SAFEREP, MFOQA, LOSA, DAF CMRS, and OSAs, with more tools like Unit Risk Forecasting in development.

A group of Airmen gather around a table having a discussion

Training

All personnel must complete Risk Management Fundamentals and annual Refresher Training. Refresher training will focus on the advanced application of risk management concepts and apply them to practical scenarios. Using practical scenarios to identify and mitigate risk coupled withquantifying them on the DD Form 2977 in JRAT builds valuable real-world risk management skills.

Operational Discipline

Additionally, a mindset of operational discipline must be revived in everything we do. Disciplined operations require demonstrated excellence in the fundamentals, vigilant adherence to standards, and bold and engaged leadership at every level. These are key tenets to an effective combat team.

Operational discipline sets the baseline for a ready force that can then utilize Risk Management to make risk-informed decisions by balancing mission requirements with risk exposure.

 

Excellence in fundamentals underpins our success and remains essential to safe and effective mission execution. Failure to follow technical orders, prescribed guidance, and established standards can have catastrophic consequences.

 

IRR News

Difference between Safety and Risk Management

Guidance

Safety News