Fighter Maintenance and Total Force Integration: Current Active Duty Manpower Implementation Practices and the Impact on Deployment Capability

摘要

Total Force Integration (TFI) initiatives are on going across the total force. This paper examines how Air Force TFI manpower implementation practices combine with the legal limitations of deploying reserve members to impact the ability of active duty fighter maintenance units to meet full Unit Type Code (UTC) deployment taskings. Current TFI manpower practices for active duty units in classic associations with a reserve unit result in a reduction of active duty maintenance positions for full-time, non-supervisory reserve positions. This practice fails to account for the legal limitations of deploying reserve members. These limitations combine with active duty maintenance manpower reductions to place at risk the ability of a unit to fulfill Unit Type Code (UTC) deployment taskings if required. Unless mobilized, reservists must volunteer for deployments. As a result, reserve units in associate relationships cannot commit to filling a specific number of UTC positions for Air Expeditionary Force taskings. The active duty unit must be able to fill all its UTC taskings without assistance from its reserve associate in the event there are few or no reserve volunteers. A manpower analysis of two TFI fighter maintenance units was conducted to illustrate the impact of active duty manpower reductions on the capability of these units to meet all UTC requirements without assistance from the reserve associate unit. Analysis revealed that neither active duty unit is able to meet UTC taskings without assistance from the reserve associate unit. Each TFI initiative must be evaluated individually to ensure the remaining active duty maintenance manpower can fulfill its UTC taskings without reserve assistance to make certain expeditionary capability is available when needed.