The Life-Cycle Cost of Life-Style: Strategic Implications of Health in the Air Force
Abstract
For fiscal year 2012, the Department of Defense (DoD) will spend $53 billion on health care. Without reform, the DoD estimates military health care spending to reach $64 billion by 2015. General Norton Schwartz, the United States Air Force (USAF) Chief of Staff, has said the military needs to be careful about unbounded healthcare costs that can force out military content elsewhere in the DoD portfolio. Drastic cuts in the defense budget will likely intensify over the next ten years, as health care costs make fewer funds available for new technology, repairs to outdated equipment, and quality-of-life programs on military bases. This thesis examines the state of health, health care, and health costs within the Air Force. It evaluates the health of Air Force personnel and their immediate families (vital because military families, including retirees under age 65 and their dependents, make up 62 of the costs) addressing tobacco and alcohol abuse, obesity, physical activity, and nutritional fitness. This thesis compares the state of health of Airmen, dependents, and retirees with their counterparts in the other services and the American population at large. In addition, it compares the Air Force health care system with best practice in the other services and the civilian population, identifying reforms that might benefit the Air Force. It concludes that leadership policy changes together with holistic wellness programs could prove beneficial for Air Force budgets, individual readiness, and overall health outcomes of service personnel and their dependents. The Air Force can and should improve the health and health care of the larger Air Force family, ultimately improving readiness and leaving more funds for mission accomplishment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- AD1019700
Entities
People
- Jannell C. Macaulay
Organizations
- Air University