DoD Use of Civilian Technicians,
Abstract
This study recommends revisions to DoD policy on the use of civilians, both in-house and contractor, for engineering and technical services. The DoD operating forces rely heavily upon civilians to provide advice, instruction, and training of military personnel in the installation, operation, and maintenance of weapon systems and equipment. Civilians also provide liaison between users and equipment manufacturers. OSD has questioned current policy because continuing reliance on these civilians means that maintenance skills are not being successfully transferred from producers to users. Hence, materiel readiness of key weapon systems could be degraded if those civilians choose not to continue doing thier jobs in wartime. The DoD policy should recognize organic self-sufficiency in maintenance as a goal, but without any arbitrary time limit on the use of contractor technical assistance whenever needed to transfer skills from producers to users. It should eliminate any distinction between contractor field service and field service representation personnel. OSD should require the Military Departments to submit (on a one-time basis) summaries of their latest reviews of technical assistance usage to uncover shortcomings in compliance with current policy. OSD should actively support in-house effort to solve the problem of civilian technician technician availability in wartime. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA093154
Entities
People
- Richard M. Fabbro
- Robert D. Kaiser
Organizations
- LMI