When applying Air Force manpower standards, which positions must be addressed before calculating foreign national civilian positions?

When applying Air Force manpower standards, military-essential positions must be addressed before calculating foreign national civilian positions for several significant reasons. Military-essential positions directly impact the operational readiness and mission effectiveness of the Air Force. These roles are filled by military members who are critical to maintaining the core functions of the military, such as combat readiness, training, and strategic planning.

By prioritizing military-essential positions, the Air Force ensures that the workforce aligns with its primary mission objectives and that any gaps in operational capability are filled first. Only after these essential roles are fully accounted for and assessed can the focus shift to evaluating foreign national civilian positions, which play supportive, rather than core, roles in the mission. This structured approach allows the Air Force to maintain a balance between essential military duties and support functions necessary to enhance overall effectiveness.

In this context, administrative roles, support staff, and contract workers, while important, do not hold the same priority as military-essential positions when it comes to manpower assessment. These groups typically provide additional support rather than primary operational capability, which is why they are considered after addressing the military-essential needs.