Hollow Force of the 1990s? a Critical View of Air Force Operational Readiness Decline

The late 1970s was an era that most, if not all, defense analysts agree was a period of a "hollow" Air Force. Many indicators drove this conclusion, including dips in equipment readiness rates and personnel, training, and logistics statistics. In the 1990s, the Air Force is experiencing similar dips in indicators. Senior Air Force leadership has drawn short of using "hollow force" to describe the current Air Force situation. However, many parallels exist between the two eras. In addition, there is significant disparity between forward and deployed readiness levels in the 1990s.