Plugging Loopholes in the Military Paradigm

<p>The first duty of Air Force Civil Engineers should be to ensure public safety on Air Force bases and this requires engineers that are competent in the practice of engineering. Although some civil engineers participate directly in facility design projects most only oversee design work by professional Architect-Engineering firms. Regardless of this fact all civil engineers in the Air Force make decisions everyday that affect the safety of base personnel. Some decisions as illustrated in the story of the Hyatt Regency atrium collapse involve making design changes during the construction process. Other decisions involve reviewing the existing condition of base facilities. Some examples of these decisions are advising users how much weight can be stored in overhead attic spaces and conducting facility inspections to determine if rust or termites have degraded the structural integrity of load bearing members. In all incompetent decisions by engineers may result in structural failures that could potentially injure or kill facility occupants. These few examples highlight the importance in the Air Force to ensure the professional competency of its civil engineers. The Air Force regulates two other professional fields to ensure competency. The first is the field of medical practice which certainly is a public safety interest. Air Force Policy Directive 41-1 holds the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General responsible for ensuring the competent practice of medicine in the Air Force.29 Air Force Instruction 41-117 implements the policy by issuing regulatory guidance and enforcement to medical practitioners.30 The AFI requires Medical Service Officers to maintain certification and state licensure for the appropriate specialties and to practice continuing education through professional organizations.31 Although not a matter of public safety the Air Force regulates the field of legal practice in similar ways.</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>