Missing in Action

<p>Since 1947 there have been five Air Force officers selected to command a Geographic Combatant Command (GCC). Although arguably overrepresented in Functional Combatant Commands the dearth of Air Force officers among the GCCs is a troubling phenomenon. By way of comparison six Marine Corps officers have been selected to lead a GCC since 1986. This thesis examines the duration and significance of the Air Force's problem; the causes internal to the Air Force that influence GCC selection; and the external perceptions of the Air Force through the perspectives of the Army Navy Marine Corps and national leaders. This study concludes that the Air Force's rhetoric has frequently not matched its reality. In other words the Air Force often says one thing and does another. This perception is based on a comparison of the Air Force's declared values in documents such as the Airman's Creed with its operative values such as its infatuation with the doctrinal role of the Joint Force Air Component Commander. These inconsistencies adversely affect external perceptions of the Air Force. The perceptions of sister-service personnel influence to some degree the perceptions of national leaders who ultimately determine who is selected to command the GCCs. Through differences in perspectives of time and space and through historical dealings with Airmen and the Air Force the sister-services have developed common and service-specific perceptions of the Air Force some of which are positive and others of which are negative. Similarly national leaders hold varying perspectives on Airmen based on the Air Force's performance since 1947. In summation the Air Force must act directly to effect internal changes that will indirectly reinforce the positive perceptions of external actors in the GCC selection process while mitigating their negative perceptions. Over the long term such activities should enhance the probability of Airmen being selected for GCC leadership which will benefit b</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>