Aviation Commissioned Officer Skill Development: How Changes to Force Structure and Key Aviation Publications have Impacted the Junior Officer's Skills

Abstract

This thesis examines the changes that have taken place in doctrinal aviation training manuals, aviation regulations, and career development guidelines for commissioned aviation officers. The intent is to determine how Aviation Branch, through the evolution of these key publications, has affected the skill development of commissioned officers. Additionally, this thesis compares current aviation tables of organization and equipment to past "H" series tables of organization and equipment organizations as well as current tables for the other combat arms branches. This comparison is to determine whether or not current force structures cause aviation officers to spend significantly more time in staff rather than line positions compared to their predecessors and their combat arms peers. This study concludes that the capstone aviation regulations, training manuals, and career development guidelines have, over time, gradually de-emphasized the development of flight skills for the commissioned officer. Additionally, the study concludes that aviation officers have less, and in some cases, much less opportunity to serve in line positions than did their predecessors and current combat arms peers because today's aviation force structures have disproportionate staff to line officer ratios.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 02, 2000
Accession Number
ADA382933

Entities

People

  • Robert B. Quackenbush

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Airframes
  • Artillery
  • Attack Helicopters
  • Attrition
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Flight Crews
  • Flight Training
  • Force Structure
  • Guidance
  • Military Science
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Students
  • Training
  • Training Management
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.