Joint Expeditionary Tasking (JET)

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz speaks at an Airman's Call at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, during a recent tour of Southwest Asia installations. General Schwartz announced Dec. 17 that an Airman previously categorized as filling an "in lieu of" or ILO tasking now would be referred to as filling a "joint expeditionary tasking," or JET. He stated that the term JET reinforces the Air Force's commitment to the joint fight as an equal member of the joint team. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jason Epley)

CSAF: Joint Expeditionary Tasking Term

Published Dec. 17, 2008
By Gen. Norton A. Schwartz
Chief of Staff of the Air Force

WASHINGTON (AFSN) -- The Nation is at war and the capabilities we provide as a part of the Joint team are vitally important. Portions of the capabilities we deliver have until this point fallen into a broad category of tasks designated as "In-Lieu-Of" (ILO). The Department of Defense enacted several changes to Joint terminology on 1 October 2008 that replaces most ILO designations with terms such as "Ad Hoc" or "Joint Force I Capability Solution." These new terms refine the categorization method and more accurately describe the nature of the tasks, but the Air Force will emphasize our contribution to the fight with a single term that reflects our esprit and mission.

We will henceforth designate this contribution as Joint Expeditionary Tasking (JET). The JET term properly characterizes our combat-focused mindset and our joint posture. When our Nation needs us, we answer the call with unrivaled speed, precision and reliability. The new JET term both connotes that spirit and denotes our role as joint partners. Weare not fighting in lieu of anything. We are fully committed to winning today's fight with the innovative combat spirit our Airmen demonstrate every day. Terms that suggest otherwise are counter-productive to our expeditionary mission and are unfit descriptors of our "All In" ethos.

Please communicate this change to your Airmen and update your products accordingly. Our Airmen deliver game-changing capabilities in air, space and cyberspace for Combatant Commanders in a multitude of ways around the globe. We must ensure that those who contribute by serving in the JET role are appropriately recognized for the magnitude of their service.