Force Structure: Potential Exists to Further Reduce Active Air Force Personnel
NSIAD-97-78
Published: Mar 28, 1997. Publicly Released: Mar 28, 1997.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Air Force's personnel reduction efforts, focusing on: (1) how the size and composition of the active Air Force has changed since 1986; (2) whether the Air Force has sufficient numbers of personnel to meet wartime requirements; and (3) whether there is potential to further reduce the active force that could result in a more efficient force.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Air Force | Several ongoing Air Force studies have identified the potential to replace military personnel with contractors or civilian employees. Therefore, once the ongoing studies are completed, the Secretary of the Air Force should develop a plan that identifies time frames to study whether it is more cost-effective to transfer commercial activities now performed by military personnel to civilian employees or private contractors. |
Closed – Implemented
GAO's work on competitive sourcing over the past 2 years has shown that the Air Force is continuing to study whether it can replace military personnel with contractors or civilian employees. However, the Air Force's goals have changed over time, and it has not developed a comprehensive plan with timeframes as GAO envisioned. Rather, the Air Force has revised its competitive sourcing estimate with each new budget submission and is examining alternative approaches such as strategic sourcing (which provides a complete functional or organizational assessment of government functions and activities but does not require competition between the public and private sectors).
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| Department of the Air Force | Several ongoing Air Force studies have identified the potential to replace military personnel with contractors or civilian employees. Therefore, once the ongoing studies are completed, the Secretary of the Air Force should develop a plan that includes time frames to convert military positions in inherently governmental functions to civilian positions. |
Closed – Implemented
The Air Force has developed a plan through fiscal year 2007 that identifies the number of military positions each year that will be studied to determine whether they can be converted to civilian positions or outsourced to the private sector. In total, the Air Force plans to conduct A-76 studies of 8,374 military positions.
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Topics
Air Force personnelCivilian employeesForce structureCombat readinessDefense capabilitiesDepartment of Defense contractorsMilitary cost controlMilitary downsizingMilitary officersPersonnel managementStaff utilization