Alternatives to Current Structure for Air Mobility Operations Squadrons

Within Air Mobility Command, Air Mobility Operations Squadrons are tasked to fill core positions in the Air Mobility Division within a Joint Air Operations Center. Specifically, these positions include airlift planners, tanker planners, and command and control specialists. However, due to manpower and budget constraints, coupled with recent changes in doctrine, Air Mobility Command has not organized, trained, nor equipped its forces well to fill Air Mobility Division roles. This project explores alternative solutions to current structure for the Air Mobility Operations Squadrons using a two round Delphi study to generate consensus among a group of experts in Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Tanker Airlift Control Center, and Air Mobility Division duties. The consensus of this panel provides the best current solution Air Mobility Command can employ to best organize its forces in peacetime to achieve greater wartime effectiveness. Respondents were chosen based upon an initial self-rating assessment of knowledge level in areas under study. The top seven respondents were then surveyed using quantitative and qualitative questions. Results were aggregated to generate controlled feedback. The feedback on group ideas was then given to respondents in a phone interview to generate consensus. This consensus forms the conclusions for the research.