Late in 1996, the Air Force enlisted RAND's help to respond to inquiries from Congress about the effects of a specific Air Force proposal to consolidate and divest a portion of Eglin Air Force Base's test and evaluation capabilities. The analysis found areas of financial merit in the proposal but also elements that may not be cost effective. The authors highlight areas of risk for Air Force consideration prior to implementation.

Develops an overall force-management framework for identifying roles and organizations to provide analysis and diagnosis of understrength conditions and to also execute appropriate policy interventions to solve the problems. Develops an overall force-management framework for identifying roles and organizations to provide analysis and diagnosis of understrength conditions and to also execute appropriate policy interventions to solve the problems. Key to force management as a whole is operational-level (career-field) force management, which provides both the policy framework that guides tactical-level (individual career) management and the basic informational input for strategic-level (total Air Force workforce) decisions.