Does Having a Technical Degree Make a Better Space Officer?

Abstract

Abstract : We are a nation at war. Warring nations can ill afford to waste money on desired, yet unnecessary expenditures. This happens all across the Air Force every time a 2nd Lieutenant enters active duty with a technical degree, yet goes into a job that does not require the high level of technical competence possessed by the Lieutenant. This paper shows, using statistical analysis and case studies, that an expensive degree is not required for a 13S space operator, and therefore there is no need for the Air Force to foot the bill if the skill set is not going to be used. Space and missile operations is a career field that has a force where almost 30% possess technical degrees; in fact over 50% of 2009's Air Force Academy graduating class categorized as a 13S has a technical degree, yet this paper will show that no such degree is required. This is too much. The attitude of, train everyone to the same high standard, and they can succeed in any is not without merit; engineers and those with technical degrees can and do succeed in space and missile operations. But so do those without technical degrees. In this renewed era of limited resources, it is time to focus recruiting where the Air Force needs it, and limiting where it does not. If an expensive degree is required for a particular job, so be it. The Air Force should recruit appropriately to get the right person with the set of necessary skills required for the job. Space and missile operations is a unique career field. No longer do blue-suit space operators troubleshoot their systems in the event of a major technical malfunction - the Air Force pays contractors to do that. However the Air Force still needs intelligent warriors to lead, as well as manage these multi-billion dollar systems. Every person counts. Every dollar counts. Training and education counts. It is time that the Air Force realizes that it needs to make every dollar invested in training and educating in every person count.