Black Hats and White Hats: The Effect of Organizational Culture and Institutional Identity on the Twenty-third Air Force

摘要

On 1 March 1983, the United States Air Force activated the Twenty- third Air Force to consolidate the Air Force Special Operations Forces (AFSOF) and the Air Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS). The Twenty-third Air Force's stewardship of AFSOF and rescue forces lasted until 1989, when the Military Airlift Command separated the two communities. Although brief, the Twenty-third Air Force's experience provides sufficient data for a thorough analysis of the effect of organizational culture and institutional agendas on the evolution of a nascent organization. The basic hypothesis explored in this paper is that organizational culture and institutional agendas significantly affected the rise and fall of the Twenty-third Air Force. The significance of this research effort is clear considering the 1 October 2003 merger of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and AFSOF under the aegis of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). In light of recent events, this study's ultimate goal is to provide a preview of how culture may affect AFSOC's endeavors to strengthen CSAR capabilities. By studying the past, the paper looks for glimpses into the future. An extensive bibliography contains published and unpublished books and documents, unit histories, official correspondence and messages, e-mails, online biographies, briefings, doctrinal publications, journal articles, point papers, and congressional bills and resolutions. An analysis of the Desert One disaster is appended.