Measuring the Operational Readiness of an Air Force Network Warfare Squadron

As part of its squadron activation, the 315th Network Warfare Squadron (NWS) requested assistance from the Air Force Institute of Technology in developing criteria for declaring Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and Full Operational Capability (FOC) to assess the unit's operational readiness. The research methodology included a review of current Department of Defense (DoD), Joint, and Air Force publications and instructions, as well as a review of three different unit activations: the new Air Force Cyberspace Command, an F/A-22 Fighter Squadron, and an Intelligence Squadron. By comparing the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process and the Status of Resources and Training System (SORTS) process, it is clear that unit readiness is measured and reported by SORTS Category Levels (C-Level) to support wartime missions, not by IOC and FOC milestones. This paper reviews SORTS computations and provides a case study of a notional Air Force NWS to propose that any new cyber squadron should report operational readiness starting with C-5 for unit activation, then C-3 to declare initial operational readiness, and finally C-1 to declare full wartime mission readiness.