Author Description

Current force readiness and availability metrics have important deficits that limit their ability to inform U.S. Air Force decisionmakers about the number of units available and to identify capability and capacity shortfalls in meeting scenario demands. The authors of this report developed an approach that allows authoritative data sources that feed the current readiness reporting system to be leveraged and aggregated and therefore better measure the readiness of Air Combat Command forces to meet scenario demands. The methodology proposes the definition of combat power as the specific collection of personnel and equipment to fulfill a given capability (e.g., the air superiority capability of a six-ship of F-22 aircraft). Combat power readiness would be measured by linking the status of personnel and equipment to specific capability sets (e.g., fly the aircraft, maintain the aircraft) that contribute to the required set of Unit Type Codes demanded by scenarios when said power would be utilized.