Forgetting Correctly: The Air Force and Strategic Adjustment

By Kevin D. Hickman

This study comprises an analysis of the disappearance of specific capabilities from the Air Force repertoire, characterizing such disappearances as Air Force forgetfulness. Battling the competing needs to maintain readiness and to prepare for the future, the Air Force must adjust to remain effective in a constantly changing international security environment. The analysis uses strategic urgency, technological possibility, and domestic and organizational desirability as evaluation criteria to analyze the reasons behind organizational decisions to forget. Based on the details of three historical cases of Air Force forgetfulness, the study reveals a complex interaction of the three criteria that creates situations in which forgetting results from choices, some more difficult for the Air Force than others. Often, urgency, possibility, and desirability interact in such as way that forms an incentive to forget. The final chapter of the study offers recommendations to assist Air Force leaders in future force structure decisions, suggesting action required to enable the Air Force to forget correctly.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1288290152
• ISBN13: 9781288290154
• Release Date: November 2012
• Publisher: Biblioscholar
• Length: 72 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.1" x 9.2"