Dissertation

Blunting the talons: The impact of peace operations deployments on USAF fighter crew combat skills

Stillion, John William

1999

Overview

The primary purpose of this study is to develop a better understanding of how peace operations deployments impact individual fighter aircrew air-to-ground and air-to-air combat skills. It uses existing psychological literature on learning and skill acquisition, and previous studies of fighter crew combat skill acquisition to generate a number of testable hypotheses. Hypotheses are tested through a statistical analysis of data on the number and type of training events USAF aircrew accomplish at home station and when deployed in support of ongoing peace operations over Bosnia and Iraq. This analysis sheds light on the relationship between factors such as aircrew experience, recent practice and combat skill performance and reacquisition. The analysis suggests that fighter crews must practice their combat skills about once a week to maintain proficiency and that lack of practice during peace operations deployments causes rapid and marked decline in important air-to-air and air-to ground combat skill performance—especially for less experienced crews. The findings of the statistical analysis inform an examination of various options available to military and civilian decision makers for reducing the readiness impact of peace operations deployments on fighter crew combat skills.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: Occupational psychology / Public administration
• ISBN: 0599949724, 9780599949720