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Some Doctrinally Mandated OCS Planning and Integration Tasks Are Not Being Performed

• Most tasks are being performed in practice, but gaps remain — and some are significant.
• Reasons for these gaps could include staffing shortfalls, a lack of knowledge about OCS and low priority given to these responsibilities in the overall force, or a lack of training in the skills necessary to perform these tasks.

There Are Shortfalls in OCS-Related Training Across the Force

• Despite a clear need for training, very few professional military education courses provide instruction on any element of OCS.
• Resource constraints hinder efforts to expand training opportunities, but two models may be feasible: offering a basic level of instruction at initial entry to the military, with more advanced concepts addressed as personnel progress through their careers, and an expeditionary training model in which mobile teams conduct train-the-trainer sessions.

Several Human Capital Strategies Could Strengthen the OCS Planning and Integration Workforce

• Flexible staffing solutions that allow defense organizations to meet their OCS planning and integration responsibilities with dedicated or generalist OCS personnel would provide more options when resources are limited or when skill set and task needs vary.

The United States relies on contractors to fill support roles in theaters of conflict to an extent that is unprecedented in modern history. Contractors provide supplies and perform a variety of other functions, including security (personal security details, convoy security, and static site security), logistical support, weapon and equipment upkeep and maintenance, intelligence, communication, transportation, construction, engineering, and base support operations and maintenance. It is important to ensure that these operational contract support (OCS) capabilities are available when needed for operations, but U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) oversight and planning for OCS activities is decentralized, making it difficult to determine manpower and training requirements for these DoD activities. This comprehensive review of the DoD OCS planning and integration workforce shows that some doctrinally mandated OCS planning and integration tasks are not being performed by DoD personnel, that personnel across the force receive limited training in OCS, and that there are several human capital approaches to address these shortfalls. Staffing estimates, findings, and recommendations were informed by an exhaustive review of OCS-related policy, doctrine, and training materials, as well as survey responses and interviews with experts. The result is a clearer picture of staffing requirements for the OCS planning and integration workforce and gaps in awareness, training, and career path options.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  The History and Strategic Significance of Operational Contract Support

• Chapter Three

  Current Thinking on Operational Contract Support Integration Activities

• Chapter Four

  Current Operational Contract Support Integration in Practice

• Chapter Five

  Closing Gaps: Training

• Chapter Six

  Closing Gaps: Potential Workforce Models

• Chapter Seven

  Conclusions and Recommendations

• Appendix A

  Overview, Summary, and Analysis of Key Policy Documents

• Appendix B

  Illustrative Position Descriptions

• Appendix C

  Methodology for Estimating Staffing Requirements for OCS P&I Workforce Positions