Fighters of the Total Force in the 21st Century

This paper examines the increased utilization of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard in contingency operations, reasons for using the reserves, problems arising as a result of that use, and potential recommendations for countering those problems. The national policy of 'Engagement and Enlargement' resulted over the past decade in a three-fold increase in the number of deployments of US military personnel around the world. The increase is one often-cited reason for retention and recruiting problems in the active force, particularly among fighter units. The Air Force turned to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve for help. The increased tasking of the reserve component in-turn generated retention and recruiting problems in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve similar to those of the active duty component. Retention among fighter units in particular is a leading cause and indicator of poor retention and recruiting in the reserve component. Recommendations in this paper provide suggested solutions to some retention and recruiting issues.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.