The Readiness Crisis of the U.S. Air Force

CIAO DATE: 8/99

The Readiness Crisis of the U.S. Air Force: A Review and Diagnosis

US Defense Posture
April 22 1999

Executive Summary

1. Introduction
	1.1	The Big Picture: Comprehensive Measures of Military Resources and Activity
	1.2	Why focus on the Air Force?
	1.3	Alternative Hypotheses on Readiness Problems
	1.4	A Framework for Analyzing the Readiness Condition of the USAF

2. Parameters of the Recent Crisis
	2.1	Mission Capable Rates and Unit Readiness
	2.2	The Delayed Effects of Budgetary Action
	2.3	Overall Unit Readiness Ratings

3. Mid-term problems: The USAF Pilot Shortage
	3.1	The Pilot Inventory: A Tour in Time
	3.2	A Shortage in the Making
	3.3	The Pilot Retention Problem
	3.4	Ending the Pilot Shortage/Surplus Cycle

4. The Long View: Air Force Readiness in the post-Cold War Era
	4.1	A Twenty Year Perspective on Mission Capable Rates
	4.2	Cannibalization in Context
	4.3	Optempo and the Burden of Operations Overseas
		4.3.1	Guaging the Increase in Operational Tempo Flying Hours Operational Deployments Foreign Presence & Deployments Hours Spent Flying Support for Operations
		4.3.2	Managing Operational Tempo Uneven Burdens: Select Commands are Under Stress Toward Balanced Utilization pf USAF Fighter Assets Air Lift Optempo Uneven Burdens: Select Systems Under Stress
		4.3.3	Optempo and Training Readiness Reducing the Draw on Training Time
	4.4	Toward A Broader View of Optempo
		4.4.1	“Tempo” at Wing Level
		4.4.2	Managing Optempo

5. Conclusion

6. Bibliography