ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?

AU/ACSC/2016

AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE AIR UNIVERSITY

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?

A FRESH LOOK AT THE FIFTH-GENERATION FIGHTER EXPERIENCE MODEL

by Joseph S. Miranda, Maj, USAF

A Research Report Submitted to the Faculty In Partial Fulfillment of the Graduation Requirements

Advisor: Dr. Ed Ouellette

Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama June 2016

DISTRIBUTION A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. i

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government or the Department of Defense. In accordance with Air Force Instruction 51-303, it is not copyrighted, but is the property of the United States government.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

DISCLAIMER...................................................................................................i TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................................................ii LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................iii PREFACE......................................................................................................iv ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................v INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................1 BACKGROUND...............................................................................................3

Fighter Generations....................................................................................3 Fighter Experience.....................................................................................4 WHY DOES EXPERIENCE MATTER?.......................................................................................8 Requirements..........................................................................................8 Use of Simulators....................................................................................12 Evaluation Framework..............................................................................13 ANALYSIS...................................................................................................15 Aircraft Utilization Rates...........................................................................15 Fourth and Fifth Generation TTE Comparison..................................................16 Flight Lead Upgrade Timing......................................................................18 RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................................21 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................23 APPENDIX A................................................................................................25 APPENDIX B................................................................................................28 END NOTES.................................................................................................30 BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................................................................31

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LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Elements of the Aircrew Management System................................................8 Figure 2: Inexperienced Flight Leads (F-15C, A-10, F-22), May 2016...............................20

LIST OF TABLES Table 1: FY16 11F Requirements (2015).................................................................10 Table 2: Average Hours PAI (Inexperienced Flight Leads), 1 May 2016............................19

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PREFACE This work would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my wife. No words could begin to acknowledge my thanks for her support, advice, and sacrifice throughout every endeavor of my career. She is my best friend and I take comfort in the knowledge that she is by my side through every challenge. The men and women of the Air Force Personnel Center's Rated Assignments branch also deserve recognition. The thankless work accomplished by these officers and civilians enables our force to execute the mission with the right people, in the right place, at the right time. Complex human problems are uncomplicated through their efforts. In particular, I'd like to thank Colonel Russell "Torque" Garner, Lieutenant Colonel Scott "Hummer" Cerone, Mr. James Weimer, and Mr. Richard Houston for providing a phenomenal education in rated force management, and the 2014-2016 fighter assignment officers Major John "BATT" Platt, Major Nicholas "Warble" DeFazio, Major Christopher "Bow" Russell, and Major Benjamin "Showdown" Schill for their tireless efforts to reconcile the shortage in fighter experience. These unsung heroes preserve our nation's ability to project power through the greatest air and space force the world has ever known.

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