Reference & AI

DAFI 10-503

Air Force

STRATEGIC BASING

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFI 10-503, "STRATEGIC BASING", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated June 12, 2023.

Published

June 12, 2023

OPR

SAF/IE

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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DAFI 10-503 — index record

NumberDAFI 10-503
TitleSTRATEGIC BASING
PublishedJune 12, 2023
Certified currentJune 12, 2023
Office of primary responsibilitySAF/IE
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionIC, July 22, 2025
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (48 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

The DAF Strategic Basing Process provides an enterprise-wide standardized, repeatable, transparent, and deliberate process for making DAF strategic basing decisions. This instruction applies to all DAF (USAF and USSF) entities regardless of basing location and all non- DAF entities requesting a basing action on DAF real and leased property. The process ensures all strategic basing actions involving DAF units and associated missions follow environmental guidance, consider the overall fiscal ramifications of the proposed action and potential impacts to other missions, and optimize use of DAF land, facilities, infrastructure, and air space.

Summary of changes, as printed

This interim change revises DAFI 10-503 by deleting paragraph 7.1 for basing decisions made as part of the Program Objective Memorandum process. It codifies corrective actions from audit findings for recordkeeping, site survey reviews, inclusion of risk elements during basing assessments, and the addition of roles and responsibilities related to Foreign Military Sales. Additionally, it incorporates recent policies for Mission Sustainment Risk Reports, risk analysis of the natural environment, and third-party validation of requirements and cost estimates in strategic basing site surveys and Site Activation Task Forces. A margin bar (|) indicates newly revised material.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1—PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND OTHER COMPLIANCE AREASp. 7
  2. Chapter 2—DAF STRATEGIC BASING STRUCTUREp. 10
  3. Chapter 3—PROCESSp. 12
  4. Chapter 4—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 17
  5. Chapter 5—SITE SURVEYSp. 27
  6. Chapter 6—TOTAL FORCE ENTERPRISEp. 30
  7. Chapter 8—UNCOVERED/UNEARNED MANPOWER ACTIONSp. 32
  8. Chapter 9—REAL ESTATE ACTIONSp. 33
  9. Chapter 10—JOINT BASESp. 34
  10. Chapter 11—OVERSEAS BASINGp. 35
  11. Chapter 12—NON-DAF FORCE ENTITIES ONTO DAF INSTALLATIONSp. 37
  12. Chapter 13—DAF ENTITIES ONTO NON-DAF INSTALLATIONSp. 38
  13. Chapter 15—EXEMPTIONS TO THE STRATEGIC BASING GOVERNANCE PROCESSp. 40
  14. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 42
  15. Attachment 2—DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE STRATEGIC BASING PROCESSp. 52
All 91 contents entries
  1. Chapter 1—PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND OTHER COMPLIANCE AREASp. 7
  2. 1.1. Purposep. 7
  3. 1.2. Applicabilityp. 7
  4. 1.3. Environmental Impact Analysis Process and Decision Makingp. 7
  5. 1.4. Documentationp. 7
  6. 1.5. Basing Actionp. 8
  7. 1.6. Thresholds for Department of the Air Force Strategic Basing Actionsp. 8
  8. 1.7. Resource Commitmentp. 9
  9. 1.8. Public Announcementsp. 9
  10. 1.9. Exceptionsp. 9
  11. Chapter 2—DAF STRATEGIC BASING STRUCTUREp. 10
  12. 2.1. Overviewp. 10
  13. 2.2. Secretary of the Air Forcep. 10
  14. 2.3. Strategic Basing Boardp. 10
  15. 2.4. Strategic Basing Groupp. 10
  16. 2.5. Strategic Basing Panelp. 11
  17. Chapter 3—PROCESSp. 12
  18. 3.1. Overviewp. 12
  19. 3.2. Strategic Basing Action Process Stepsp. 12
  20. 3.3. Document Distributionp. 16
  21. 3.4. Information Release Limitationsp. 16
  22. 3.5. Decision Announcementsp. 16
  23. Chapter 4—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 17
  24. 4.1. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations (SAF/IEI) will:p. 17
  25. 4.2. Directorate of Strategy, Posture, and Assessments (AF/A5S) will:p. 17
  26. 4.3. Director of Strategic Planning (AF/A8X) or Director of Programs (AF/A8P) will:p. 17
  27. 4.4. Air Force Strategic Basing Division (SAF/IEIB) will:p. 18
  28. 4.11. Directorate of Training Readiness (AF/A3T) will:p. 20
  29. 4.13. Air Force Test and Evaluation Policy and Programs Division (AF/TEP) will:p. 21
  30. 4.14. Directorate of Weather (AF/A3W) will:p. 21
  31. 4.15. Director Total Force Integration (AF/DSI) will:p. 21
  32. 4.16. National Guard Bureau (NGB) will:p. 22
  33. 4.17. Lead MAJCOMs/FLDCOMs/NGB will:p. 22
  34. 4.18. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) will:p. 23
  35. 4.19. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) will:p. 23
  36. 4.20. Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) will:p. 24
  37. 4.21. Major Command/NGB/FLDCOM Basing Divisions and/or Branches will:p. 24
  38. 4.22. Unit and Installation responsibilities:p. 25
  39. 4.23. Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs (SAF/IA) will:p. 25
  40. Chapter 5—SITE SURVEYSp. 27
  41. 5.1. Site Surveysp. 27
  42. 5.2. Requesting Site Survey Control Letterp. 27
  43. 5.3. Survey Coordinationp. 27
  44. 5.4. Approval Authorityp. 27
  45. 5.5. Survey Requirementsp. 28
  46. 5.6. Site Survey Number Usagep. 29
  47. 5.7. Follow-on Surveysp. 29
  48. 5.8. Overseas Site Surveysp. 29
  49. Chapter 6—TOTAL FORCE ENTERPRISEp. 30
  50. 6.1. DAF Strategic Basing Processp. 30
  51. 6.2. Administrative Reviewp. 30
  52. 7.2. Air Reserve Componentp. 31
  53. 7.3. National Capital Region (NCR) Basingp. 31
  54. 7.5. Global Force Management Allocation Planp. 31
  55. Chapter 8—UNCOVERED/UNEARNED MANPOWER ACTIONSp. 32
  56. Chapter 9—REAL ESTATE ACTIONSp. 33
  57. 9.1. Estate Actionsp. 33
  58. 9.2. Strategic Basing Panel and Strategic Basing Groupp. 33
  59. 9.3. Real Estate Survey Control Letterp. 33
  60. Chapter 10—JOINT BASESp. 34
  61. 10.1. Joint Basesp. 34
  62. 10.2. DAF Supporting Componentp. 34
  63. 10.3. DAF Supported Componentp. 34
  64. 10.4. Basing Action Approvalp. 34
  65. Chapter 11—OVERSEAS BASINGp. 35
  66. 11.1. Generalp. 35
  67. 11.2. Policyp. 35
  68. 11.3. Processp. 35
  69. 11.4. Lead Major Command/FLDCOM/NGB Responsibilitiesp. 35
  70. 11.5. Classificationp. 36
  71. 11.6. Environmental Impact Analysis Process Responsibilityp. 36
  72. 11.7. Realignmentsp. 36
  73. 11.8. Congressional Notification of Overseas Strategic Basing Actionsp. 36
  74. Chapter 12—NON-DAF FORCE ENTITIES ONTO DAF INSTALLATIONSp. 37
  75. 12.1. Initial Requestp. 37
  76. 12.2. Request Coordinationp. 37
  77. 12.3. Strategic Basing Processp. 37
  78. 12.4. National Environmental Policy Actp. 37
  79. 12.5. Public Educationp. 37
  80. Chapter 13—DAF ENTITIES ONTO NON-DAF INSTALLATIONSp. 38
  81. 14.1. Department of the Air Force Environmental Impact Analysis Processp. 39
  82. 14.2. Proceduresp. 39
  83. 14.3. Environmental Baseline Surveyp. 39
  84. Chapter 15—EXEMPTIONS TO THE STRATEGIC BASING GOVERNANCE PROCESSp. 40
  85. 15.1. Exemptionsp. 40
  86. 15.2. Air National Guard Basesp. 40
  87. 15.3. Industrial Facilitiesp. 40
  88. 15.4. Launch Servicesp. 40
  89. 15.5. Exempted Non-DAF Entitiesp. 40
  90. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 42
  91. Attachment 2—DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE STRATEGIC BASING PROCESSp. 52

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Air Force index

REF: DAFI 10-503, effective June 12, 2023

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFI 10-503

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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