For Valor or Value: An Examination of Personnel Recovery Operations

Abstract

This study attempts to determine the rationale behind the conduct of personnel recovery operations. In doing so, the author first develops the history of rescue within the United States and particularly the United States Air Force beginning with World War I and building through Operation Allied Force. Next, he examines the commonly held beliefs for conducting personnel recovery operations to include sanctity of human life/casualty aversion, loss of a valuable resource, denial of intelligence and propaganda, and impact on military morale. Finally, he distills these reasons down to the basis that the United States has a morale and ethical obligation from the government to the individual soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, as well as their families. Finally, he describes briefly how the US Government could codify this commitment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA407802

Entities

People

  • Billy D. Thompson

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Birds
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Geography
  • Military Force Levels
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Strategic Security Studies