What does the 18 AF/CC have the power to do?

• A. Make policy decisions for the DMO
• B. Override host nation aviation rules
• C. Order diplomatic clearance
• D. Deviate from normal procedures

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that a senior commander has latitude to depart from standard procedures when doing so is necessary to accomplish the mission or protect people in time-sensitive or safety-critical situations. In practice, the 18 AF/CC can approve deviations from normal procedures to ensure mission success or safety when strict adherence would hinder that mission. This authority is not a blanket power to rewrite rules at will—any deviation must be justified, coordinated as soon as feasible, and documented for accountability and later review.

Why the other possibilities don’t fit: policy decisions for the DMO aren’t made by a single air force commander; policy typically comes from higher-level leadership or formal processes. Overriding host nation aviation rules isn’t permitted as a routine authority because host nation sovereignty governs those rules and any changes require proper diplomacy and formal processes. Ordering diplomatic clearance is a formal diplomatic action that follows established channels, not something a regional commander unilaterally enacts. The ability to deviate from normal procedures is the accurate reflection of a commander’s operational flexibility in the face of real-time constraints.