The Forces We Need: Building Multi-Capable Airmen to Enable Agile Combat Employment

Shawn Cochran
Bok · Engelsk · 2023

Annen tittel	Forces We Need
Utgitt	RAND Corporation , 2023
Opplysninger	Through the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operational concept, the U.S. Air Force seeks to enhance the survivability and effectiveness of combat aircraft through a combination of dispersed basing, minimal footprint, and rapid and unpredictable movement. Under this concept, small teams of airmen are forward deployed to austere air bases to launch, recover, and maintain combat aircraft. ACE presents two distinct labor problems. First, the concept hinges on a significant number of airmen operating from austere forward sites with little external support and under the near constant threat of enemy attack. Among airmen in most career fields, there is a shortage of the requisite advanced expeditionary skills for this mission. Second, the concept requires a small personnel footprint at dispersed locations to limit exposure to adversary attack, reduce logistical demand, and facilitate rapid movement. When adding up all the Air Force specialties needed to stand up, operate, and protect a forward site, team size quickly becomes unwieldy. The Air Force's nascent Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) initiative represents a solution to both problems.  This report documents the findings and recommendations from a study focused on helping the Air Force refine the MCA concept and identify next steps for developing an Air Force–wide approach. The report provides an overview of relevant policy and guidance around the MCA concept; presents stakeholder perspectives on MCA-related concepts, training, implementation, and deployment; presents case study analysis of lessons learned from five select MCA training efforts and related ACE exercises; and provides recommendations for next steps.