The Total Force: Cultural Considerations for the Future of the Total Force Integration
Abstract
Total Force Integration (TFI) of the U.S. Air Force National Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty (AD) components is here to stay and will continue to provide the combat power required by Combatant Commanders for the future. The purpose of this paper is not to refute a need or disparage conclusions that TFI associated units will help meet budgetary constraints, but rather to highlight implementation strengths and weaknesses in order to improve the program for future success. Members from all components have and continue to exhibit reservations concerning the mixing and matching of component forces; however, it is undeniable that TFI is both cost efficient and effective in providing combat power. The question is how to correctly identify past, present, and future, problems that hinder its continued evolution. This project provides a brief history of TFI to give a foundation for program origination, and incorporates both objective and subjective studies to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the program. Knowing why and how Air Force structure needed to change and then analyzing the stumbling blocks it faced in the past as well as continues to confront in the present will enable Air Force leadership to better address current inefficiencies and to improve TFI today and ensure its success in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1032506
Entities
People
- Ryan E. Haden
Organizations
- National Defense University