Future Total Force: A Phenomenological Analysis of United States Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Technicians

Future Total Force: A Phenomenological Analysis of United States Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Technicians

Author: Michael W. Platt

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 9781109881943

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This qualitative study describes and explains the advantages and challenges the U.S. Air Force faces in the implementation of its Future Total Force (FTF) concept with Manned Aircraft Maintenance Technicians. The FTF concept calls for the integration of Air Force Reserve Components and active duty forces into the same unit. In order to capture the perceptions and lived experiences of the Maintenance Technicians, the conceptual framework of phenomenology is employed in this study. Four active duty and four Air National Guard participants are selected based on researcher developed criteria that ensures fair representation of the aircraft maintenance community. The researcher gathers the study's data by conducting on-site, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with each participant. Upon completion of the data collection process, the interview recordings are transcribed and coded into meaningful clusters. The researcher identifies noteworthy participant statements and the essence of the participants' experiences using a Modified van Kaam method. A computer assisted qualitative data analysis program is used to help the researcher identify reoccurring themes, allowing for the unearthing of emergent themes that are common to all of the participants interviewed. Five themes of the Maintenance Technicians' experiences with the phenomenon of FTF implementation are realized: (a) culture change clash, (b) cross training, (c) FTF-affected training, (d) promotion potential, and (e) quality-of-life. The researcher concludes the study with recommendations for the leadership of the Air Force and suggestions for other related subject areas that warrant investigation.


Challenges to United States Tactical Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Personnel: Past, Present and Future

Challenges to United States Tactical Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Personnel: Past, Present and Future

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 239

ISBN-13:

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This study assessed the challenges Tactical Air Force (TAF) aircraft maintenance personnel face as a result of the TAF reorganization. The goal was to provide aircraft maintenance managers a basis for evaluating and meeting those challenges. To accomplish this, emphasis was placed on documenting the concepts, events, and conditions which led to changes in military aircraft maintenance from the birth of aviation to the present. Current issues such as the proposed move to two-level maintenance and the formation of the TAF composite and Objective Wings were also addressed. Research was conducted through the review of available historical documents, complemented by current literature and personal interviews. The TAF reorganization results in a more centralized maintenance organization with a generalized workforce. History shows that when faced with comparable conditions--reduced threat and loss of defense dollars, the Air Force took similar action. The on-equipment aircraft maintenance technician will experience the least negative impact from the reorganization. Those most likely to experience the greatest changes are the off-equipment aircraft avionics maintenance technicians. The TAF reorganization also eliminates many of the overhead supervisory positions held by intermediate- level officer and enlisted aircraft maintenance managers.


An Analysis of United States Air Force Maintenance Technical Data From the Maintenance Technician's Perspective

An Analysis of United States Air Force Maintenance Technical Data From the Maintenance Technician's Perspective

Author: Steven E. Bunch

Publisher:

Published: 1978

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13:

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Technical data occupy a prominent position in guiding maintenance technicians toward the goal of task accomplishment. In 1962, the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories (AMRL) prepared a study on the Air Force technical data system. This study analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of existing technical data and made a number of recommendations for improvement. The object of this thesis effort was to determine the extent to which Air Force technical data have changed since completion of the 1962 study. The thrust of this effort was threefold: to assess the attitudes of maintenance technicians, to compare the result of this study with the results of the 1962 AMRL study, and compare attitudes of newer and older weapon systems technicians toward the technical data they use. It was concluded that maintenance technicians today (1978) have a favorable attitude toward the technical data they use, however, there was a strong indication that inadequacies still exist. No significant difference was found to exist between 1962 and 1978 technician attitudes toward technical data. Finally, no difference was found to exist between the newer and older weapon system technical data as perceived by maintenance technicians. (Author).


Air Force Maintenance Technician Performance Measurement

Air Force Maintenance Technician Performance Measurement

Author: Joel R. Hickman

Publisher:

Published: 1979

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13:

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The purpose of this study is to find or develop some method for evaluating and measuring the performance of aircraft maintenance technicians in the United States Air Force. This evaluation method is to be used in another research effort to develop a model or models for predicting or evaluating the effectiveness of maintenance technician performance. The performance appraisal method developed in this study is based on a review of the literature on the subject. A literature review has been necessary, as existing appraisal methods either are not applicable to statistical analysis, are highly inflated, or provide incomplete and non-current coverage of maintenance organizations. The performance appraisal method developed relies on subjective supervisor appraisals of maintenance technician quantity and quality of performance. An evaluation of the performance appraisal method has been conducted within the aircraft maintenance organization of one pilot training base. The random sample consists of 20% of the assigned technicians. Thirty-six supervisory groups of five or fewer technicians per group have been selected and found to represent the organization as a whole in terms of experience and relative manning. Quality of performance ratings have a mean value of 7.2 (median of 8.0) on a 10.0 scale, while quantity of performance ratings have a mean value of 6.6 (median of 7.0). The quality of performance data shows only marginal correlation with existing personnel inspection data. The performance ratings as a whole, however, display superior face validity and usefulness compared to existing personnel inspection data. (Author).


The Past, Present, and Future of the Air Force's Future Total Force

The Past, Present, and Future of the Air Force's Future Total Force

Author: Dennis P. Duffy

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 55

ISBN-13:

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This project examines the history of the Total Force policy since its inception in 1970 through its implementation today in an effort to determine a future direction for the Air Force's Future Total Force initiative. It cites histories of the Air Force, the Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve to depict the historical reference for the Total Force policy. The project relies on the Congressional testimony by subject matter experts such as undersecretaries of defense, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, as well as the Air Force's own Future Total Force policy pamphlet to relate the current implementation and potential future direction for the policy. Analysis of the past implementation does offer lessons for future implementation of the policy. These lessons include the undeniable efficacy of the policy, given proper manning and funding of the Air Reserve Component. The vital importance of maintaining a symbiotic relationship between the active duty and Air Reserve Component represents another lesson of the history of the Total Force policy. Finally, realizing the limitations of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve within the context of the Air and Space Expeditionary Force is a final lesson to consider when determining the future of the Air Force's Future Total Force.


Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs

Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2010-11-09

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 0309177014

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The Air Force requires technical skills and expertise across the entire range of activities and processes associated with the development, fielding, and employment of air, space, and cyber operational capabilities. The growing complexity of both traditional and emerging missions is placing new demands on education, training, career development, system acquisition, platform sustainment, and development of operational systems. While in the past the Air Force's technologically intensive mission has been highly attractive to individuals educated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, force reductions, ongoing military operations, and budget pressures are creating new challenges for attracting and managing personnel with the needed technical skills. Assessments of recent development and acquisition process failures have identified a loss of technical competence within the Air Force (that is, in house or organic competence, as opposed to contractor support) as an underlying problem. These challenges come at a time of increased competition for technical graduates who are U.S. citizens, an aging industry and government workforce, and consolidations of the industrial base that supports military systems. In response to a request from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering, the National Research Council conducted five fact-finding meetings at which senior Air Force commanders in the science and engineering, acquisition, test, operations, and logistics domains provided assessments of the adequacy of the current workforce in terms of quality and quantity.


Red Is Good: Transformational Changes for US Air Force Aircraft Maintenance

Red Is Good: Transformational Changes for US Air Force Aircraft Maintenance

Author: Colonel Usaf Paul J McAneny

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2012-09-22

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13: 9781479369812

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Over the last two decades, the Air Force's fleet of aircraft has shrunk 40 percent, while the average inventory age has increased from eight years in 1973 to a projected 26.5 years by 2012. Concurrently, this smaller, older fleet has been tasked with 2.3 million flight hours per year since the end of Operation Desert Storm. In an environment of flat bud-gets, limited manpower, and an aging, shrinking fleet, the Air Force seeks cultural transformations to remain the world's premier air, space, and cyberspace force. The trans-formation initiative Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21) was designed to increase productivity, responsiveness, and efficiency, thus improving equipment readiness, reliability, and availability. Given the mixed results of past transformation efforts, has AFSO21 achieved the desired effects? Col Paul "P. J." McAneny offers an analysis focused on aircraft maintenance but applicable to the entire force and recommends cultural changes to support lasting transformation. He ex-amines the impact of metrics on transformation and evaluates the USAF aircraft maintenance culture. He asks several questions: Can focused metrics precede cultural change? Does the aircraft maintenance community support a Red Is Good culture, in which metrics are used to illuminate problems rather than measure success or failure? If so, is the community a true learning organization that can maximize its impact through continuous process-improvement initiatives? The answers lead Colonel McAneny to recommend several Air Force-level changes to meet long-term aircraft readiness and reliability targets.