An Air Force at Peace: Are We Ready to Fight and Win Our Nations Wars

Abstract

Competitive sourcing, formerly known as outsourcing, and privatization of key support activities has occurred or is underway on virtually every Air Force installation. The organizational make-up of fewer and fewer "blue suiters" represents the future of Air Force installations for the conceivable future. As the Air Force transitions to an Air Expeditionary Force, the effects of this new reality will begin to become clearer. Competitive sourcing and privatization resulted from declining military and civilian force structures, reduced Defense budgets caused by the changing world order, and the end of the Cold War. While the reason our service applies these tools is basically money, the continued implementation of them throughout the Air Force must be a very conscientious, deliberate process. If the tools are applied haphazardly, then a reemergence of the hollow force of the 1970's becomes a very real threat. Force modernization concerns, degrading infrastructures, high operations tempo, and personnel retention difficulties all point to potential serious issues for the Air Force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA395717

Entities

People

  • Duncan H. Showers

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accounting
  • Business Administration
  • Cost Reductions
  • Defense Industry
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Patient Care
  • Procurement
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Strategic Security Studies