For crisis response operations, NATO's Air Command and Control structures are based on standing up a Joint Force Air Component – a command and control centre that plans and executes the delivery of NATO Air Power across the entire spectrum of joint operations. Allied Air Command is responsible for the standing up of the NATO Command Structure's Joint Force Air Component that will be specifically tailored in size for any NATO operation.

Depending on the size of the operation, the Joint Force Air Component can be augmented from all Allied Air Command entities or from other NATO Force Structure or national Joint Force Air Components. As of today, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America have a national Joint Force Air Component capability.

At Allied Air Command a permanent full-time "Core" team is tasked with the preparation of the NATO Command Structure Joint Force Air Component to undertake the full spectrum of Air Operations and to prosecute Air Operations in accordance with with the Commander's intent. They provide a wide variety of Subject Matter Experts from the full spectrum of NATO military and civilian specialist areas that may be routinely called-upon to furnish advice to the Core Joint Force Air Component.