Combat Support Operations

Report

Improving Air Force Command and Control Through Enhanced Agile Combat Support Planning, Execution, Monitoring, and Control Processes

Describes agile combat support (ACS) process gaps and recommends ways to improve Air Force command and control through enhanced ACS planning, execution, monitoring, and control processes.

Research Brief

Addressing Commanders' Needs for Information on "Soft" Factors

A framework for thinking about commanders' critical information needs in countersurgency operations, offering practical ways for commanders to integrate influence activities into combined arms planning and assessment.

Research Brief

Standing Up a More Capable Joint Task Force Headquarters

The U.S. Army needs to improve its ability to command and control joint, interagency, and multinational forces in diverse environments, and to prepare Army headquarters to perform as components of, or headquarters for, joint task forces.

Report

Enhancing Army Joint Force Headquarters Capabilities

The U.S. Army needs to improve its ability to command and control joint, interagency, and multinational forces in diverse environments, and to prepare Army headquarters to perform as components of, or headquarters for, joint task forces.

Report

A Repair Network Concept for Air Force Maintenance: Conclusions from Analysis of C-130, F-16, and KC-135 Fleets

The initial phases of a study of the Air Force logistics enterprise finds that consolidated wing-level scheduled inspections and component back-shop maintenance capabilities would be more effective and efficient than the current system.

Report

Understanding Commanders' Information Needs for Influence Operations

In order to improve the effectiveness of combined arms planning and assessment operations, ground commanders need information pertaining to cultural and other "soft" factors and practical ways to integrate such information into influence operations activities.

Report

Combat Support Execution Planning and Control: An Assessment of Initial Implementations in Air Force Exercises

Two command post exercises in 2004 offered an operational environment in which to observe Air Force combat support execution planning and control activities.

Report

Sense and Respond Logistics: Integrating Prediction, Responsiveness, and Control Capabilities

This monograph identifies the elements of sense and respond combat support and shows what is necessary to use the concept within the Air Force.

Research Brief

"Sense and Respond" Capabilities Can Make the Air Force Combat Support System More Agile

This research brief summarizes a promising approach -- sense and respond combat support -- to distributing materiel to fielded forces as they need them and to adapting quickly to changing operational needs.

Report

Strategic Analysis of Air National Guard Combat Support and Reachback Functions

Evaluates options for Air National Guard combat support and reachback missions in four Air Force mission areas to support the Air and Space Expeditionary Force and Future Total Force capabilities.

Research Brief

Transforming Combat Support in the Air National Guard Would Support Air Force Deployment and Sustainment Goals

This research brief summarizes an evaluation of four options for transforming Air National Guard combat support mission areas to enhance support to the Air and Space Expeditionary Force.

Research Brief

Improving Agile Combat Support for the U.S. Air Force: Lessons from Operation Iraqi Freedom

Research Brief

New Analytic Tools Evaluate Overseas Combat Support Basing Options for the U.S. Air Force

RAND Project AIR FORCE (PAF) developed a set of analytic tools that can be used to evaluate various storage options to meet a given set of operational scenarios.

Report

Network-Centric Operations Case Study: Air-to-Air Combat With and Without Link 16

How much of an increase in mission effectiveness does the Link 16 communications system provide in prosecuting air-to-air combat and how can the observed increase in actual performance be attributed to the advantages of network-centric operations?

Report

Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Lessons from Operation Iraqi Freedom

Presents an analysis of Air Force combat support experiences associated with the year of planning and the first month of combat in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and compares these experiences with those associated with Operation Allied Force and the first 100 days of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Report

Sustainment of Army Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom: Battlefield Logistics and Effects on Operations

Describes how Army forces were sustained with materiel during Operation Iraqi Freedom, examines how well this support performed, and discusses the effects on operations, emphasizing the period from the start of ground combat to the fall of Baghdad.

Report

Centralized Maintenance Can Improve USAF Combat Support

Despite many advantages, reorganizing the U.S. Air Force into an Air and Space Expeditionary Force places serious demands on combat support infrastructure. Consolidating intermediate maintenance at forward support locations may lessen the burden.

Report

Supporting Air and Space Expeditionary Forces: Analysis of Combat Support Basing Options

Evaluates global forward support locations (FSLs) for storing war reserve materiel and presents a framework for evaluating FSL options.

Report

A Framework for Evolving Agile Combat Support Concepts to Meet NATO Reaction Air Force Operational Requirements

The authors explore a planning framework that could be used in evolving the Agile Combat Support and mobility systems of participating partners to meet the operational needs of the NATO Reaction Air Force.

Research Brief

Supporting LANTIRN in the Expeditionary Aerospace Force

RAND's EAF combat support research evaluates how alternative support structures, technologies, and methods affect EAF capabilities.