Human Capital Needs for the Department of Defense Operational Contract Support Planning and Integration Workforce

Abstract

In recent U.S. conflicts, operational contractors have accounted for more than half of U.S. forces on the ground. To ensure the readiness, availability, and effectiveness of these contractors, operational contract support (OCS) capabilities must be integrated into the total force and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) planning activities. OCS planning and integration (P and I) personnel within DoD are required to fulfill this function, integrating contractors into the total force and into DoD processes. Specifically, OCS P and I personnel are to perform OCS contract support integration tasks as defined in joint doctrine. This entails the coordination and synchronization of contracted support, executed in a designated operational area in support of the joint force, through such activities as collaborating with boards, centers, cells, and working groups; conducting assessments and providing recommendations, identifying contract requirements, and managing information. Yet, OCS P and I activities to date have not been sufficient to meet doctrinal and policy requirements. To remedy this shortcoming, a number of legislative and policy measures over the past decade have recommended that DoD identify OCS P and I workforce manpower requirements and improve OCS planning and execution. For example, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 directed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in consultation with the DoD components, to determine the operational contract support requirements of the armed forces and [recommend] the resources required to improve and enhance operational contract support for the armed forces and planning for such operational contract support. To assist in making this determination, the Operational Contract Support Division of the Joint Staff Logistics Directorate (J4), asked the RAND Corporation to assess the total force staffing needs of the OCSP and I workforce across the defense enterprise.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2017
Accession Number
AD1085560

Entities

People

  • Brian Nichiporuk
  • Katherine Hastings
  • Michael Schwille
  • Molly Dunigan
  • Peter Schirmer
  • Samantha Cherney

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Business Administration
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Employment
  • Health Services
  • Lessons Learned
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Education
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Private Military Companies
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States Africa Command
  • United States Central Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.