Historical Analysis of the Development of RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operation Repair Squadron, Engineering)

摘要

The purpose of this study was to analyze the historical events leading up to the creation of RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operation Repair Squadron, Engineering). The study has two objectives: (1) Capture the decision making rationale for the creation of RED HORSE by summarizing Air Force Civil Engineering's historical situations, problems, and solutions, in past wars, since WWII. (2) Provide a historical perspective of the decision making processes within the Air Force Civil Engineering community since its existence, with a focus on RED HORSE. The research methodology included (1) personal correspondence conducted with two AFCE leaders who were heavily involved in the creation of RED HORSE and were former commanders of RED HORSE during their Air Force careers, (2) review of such journals as The Air Force Engineering and Services Quarterly, Air University Review, The Civil Engineer, and The Military Engineer, and various theses and papers written at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Air War College, and Air Command and Staff College, and (3) research at the Air Force Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB AL. The study concludes that due to the lack of sufficient support from sister services during past conflicts, after WWII, the Air Force sought for, and was granted, organic troop construction and contract construction management capability in the form of RED HORSE.