Changing the VP Reserve Readiness System to Match the Crew-Coordination Requirements of Reserve Aircrews.

Recently, the VP community has been identified as a force area where reserves could be used more in peacetime contributory support. The subsequent increased interaction between reserve and active VP forces has led to a similar readiness system. The current VP readiness system promotes long-term, fixed crews with TACNUC rules. Adhering to these crew composition rules can cause considerable scheduling difficulties for reserve squadrons. Squadron readiness officers are often forced to change events, pick different crews, or turn the event into a practice session due to last minute civilian commitments of SELRES crewmembers. This thesis examines current crew-coordination research to determine the value of keeping crews together. The study proposes alternatives to the current TACNUC rules and analyzes their perceived impact according to SME interviews. This study recommends discarding the TACNUC rules in favor of a readiness system based on individual qualifications. The desired crew-coordination training can be accomplished through the ongoing TPC and ACT programs. Standardization of crew communication patterns and positional task expectancies should continue so that each individual crewmember can perform well on an crew.