Re-Emphasizing the Profession of Arms: Implications on the Contracting Career Field

Abstract

Abstract : The United States Air Force's Officer's Career Path Guide cites 47 different careers paths that an officer can pursue covering a vast array of specialty occupations required to support the ultimate mission of the Air Force. As officers progress up the chain of command, the demands placed on them change and their knowledge base is required to expand beyond that of their native specialty. However, the Air Force born from technology and dedicated to the pursuit and exploitation of it has evolved an officer development process that puts greater emphasis on individual specialization skills and expertise than on the future broad development of our senior leaders. The effect of this long-term policy is the creation of senior officers with highly specialized skills in a specific occupation yet lacking the true knowledge and skills in our real profession, the Profession of Arms. The contracting career field is a prlme example of what many refer to as a stove-piped specialty in which officers enter as lieutenants and stay until completion of their Air Force career, many never venturing far away from their home career field.