Demographic Shifts in the United States Air Force: 1994-2007

The United States military continues to fill its ranks on a voluntary basis, but does so under the auspices of an active war in Southwest Asia, unlike other long-term engagements such as World War II and Vietnam, where conscription filled a majority of the ranks. In seeking volunteers, the U.S. Air Force USAF actively competes against civilian industry and other military services for manpower, increasing the level of difficulty in recruiting motivated and qualified candidates. Finally, recent actions to reduce the USAF by 40,000 personnel in the next two fiscal years a reduction in end-strength of about 11 create a strain on those already serving because the existing operational tempo is not expected to appreciably decline. As existing manpower is relied upon to keep this operational tempo, the retention of personnel in whom the USAF invested heavily through training and equipping will prove to be a challenge. Therefore, investigating shifts in the composition of the USAF population as a whole and within the officer and enlisted force can provide insights into determining whether certain segments male, female, White, African-American, etc. are either being drawn away from or to military service, and the USAF in particular. In addition, comparisons with the U.S. population can determine if the USAF is reflecting traits common to both, or if there are unique aspects to the USAF population due to military service and the challenges it poses to service members. In the end, it is vital that we continue to examine the demographics of both the U.S. and USAF populations to be alert to possible changes that can affect recruitment, retention, and how the USAF will posture itself to face the 21st century. This paper will show that there are significant demographic changes taking place within the USAF that may change the way it utilizes existing or future manpower.