Managing the human weapon system: a vision for an Air Force human-performance doctrine

Managing Airmen's capabilities through human performance erects a new doctrinal edifice with three foundational pillars: performance sustainment, performance optimization, and performance enhancement (fig. 1). Since no universally accepted human-performance definitions exist, the names chosen for the pillars serve as placeholders for major enterprise areas rather than specific definitions.16 Figure 1 also depicts the pillars resting on an organizational foundation that embodies attributes of the university model: dissemination of knowledge, research, and teaching.17 Doctrine, organizations, and weapon systems are interrelated history demonstrates that advances in one area without corresponding advances in the others limit the overall effectiveness ofweapon systems.\n Therefore, performance optimization maximizes efficiencies and cost savings through primary and secondary prevention.