"He believes that despite what they might wish, that people should support the president's budget," said the official.
Although Gates is "mindful of the need to prepare" for potential future conflicts, the official said, "we are fighting two wars right now, and he wants to make sure no one is overlooking that fact or conducting business as usual."
One "Above All" ad on the Air Force website highlights the service's contribution in Iraq. But the bulk of the campaign is focused on other challenges, such as cyberattacks.
Air Force officials say that the fact that they are emphasizing preparation does not mean they have shifted their focus from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It is our No. 1 priority to win the current fight," said Chambers. "Do we have eyes on the future? Yes. But that is part of giving good military advice."
And though the Air Force is supposed to shrink, top officials say, they have asked Congress for money to halt the cuts and restore its ranks. The Air Force’s budget proposal, released in February, says the objective of the advertising campaign is to increase the service's "brand awareness."
"The program seeks to change a mind-set by educating the American public on how today's Air Force is the most engaged, versatile and high-tech of all military services," the budget document says.
Officials more recently insisted that the ads first and foremost are recruiting spots.
Ads have run on the History Channel and during the NCAA tournament. The ads aim at parents, teachers and other adults in a position to act as "influencers" to potential recruits, officials said.
"If we are even thinking about turning around from a declining Air Force to an increasing Air Force, we need to show what we are doing in support of the nation," said Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne.
"We need the influencers not to think about the Air Force as a dead end."
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julian.barnes@latimes.com
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peter.spiegel@latimes.com
