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Eliminating Mission Distracters -- Bridging the Gap in Essential Personnel Support for Individual AugmenteesA considerable percentage of the forces in the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility are individual augmentees (IA). IAs represent personnel from across the service components tasked by the Joint Staff to fill critical joint manning positions. These individuals may fill key positions or possess critical skill sets essential to the mission. Integrating these individual deployers into a unit or staff and making them feel a part of the team is paramount in a deployed environment. Taking care of these Airman, Sailors, and Marines includes preparing them to deploy and providing them with essential personnel support in theater while they are part of an Army-centric team. Eliminating mission distracters caused by unresolved personnel issues will result in a higher level of morale and higher operating strength. This paper examines the pre-deployment process and the level of support that exists in theater for the Army, Air Force, and Navy. It also identifies the range of services provided for IAs and the various automated systems used to support them. Lastly, the paper recommends implementation of a standardized validation process for preparing and supporting IAs throughout their deployment.
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The Critical Role of Officer Communications in the 21st Century Army: A Summary of FindingsToday's missions, from peacekeeping to preparing for war, are going to require more decentralized leadership. As retired Lieutenant General Paul Blackwell has stated, "Leaders are finding themselves operating in environments that are increasingly more complex, faster-paced and more lethal than ever before." Trusting our soldiers and leaders to execute their duties is paramount in today's Army. Leaders must show confidence in their soldiers as well as trust that they will accomplish their mission. However, being told you are trusted and knowing you are trusted are two completely different things. Trust is built over time with hands-on leadership. One general officer I spoke to during this study believes that what we really need are "adaptive leaders"-that is, leaders who can recognize a situation, understand the commander's intent, and then execute the mission as required. For the past several years there has been much discussion about the numbers of captains leaving the Army. Numerous reasons have been suggested and many surveys have been completed. It is my intent through this research to identify potential solutions that could address the concerns of captains and ensure that our junior officers continue to develop to a very high level.
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Blues to Civvies: Morphing the Military ProfessionHiring contractors to perform Air Force operations is morphing the military profession. Never before have so many contractors been hired to support or perform operations both in theater and on CONUS bases. This research will assess today's unprecedented employment of defense contractors in the Department of Defense and the Air Force, including real-world examples from operations in Iraq and at the 45th Space Wing. Similarities will be drawn with NASA's Space Shuttle Program and its outsourcing issues. The original idea of outsourcing support functions has been surpassed, as contractors are now employed as pilot instructors, intelligence officers, prison interrogators, unmanned aerial vehicle operators, landmine clearers, military academy instructors, and aircraft maintainers. This research was conducted through a thorough article and book review, conference attendance on privatized security, in-depth budget reviews, and personal interviews with personnel in the D.C. area, the Pentagon, and the 45th Space Wing. The findings support the supposition that contractors are more prevalent than senior leadership has ever imagined, including in operations both in theater and CONUS and their presence brings new issues to the military. Congressional influence by major contractors, Air Force and contractor funding and costs, contractor performance, and contract oversight must be understood and mitigated by Air Force leadership. The impacts to military culture through the erosion of core values and discipline, national security, troop retention/career development, and unit morale will be examined A comparison of today's Air Force and NASA prior to the Columbia tragedy show eerie similarities Both organizations face(d) the same issues: budget squeeze, downsizing, outsourcing, maintenance of old equipment, deteriorating infrastructure, change agents at the helm, and base closures.