Plugging Loopholes in the Military Paradigm

The first duty of Air Force Civil Engineers should be to ensure public safety on Air Force bases and this requires engineers that are competent in the practice of engineering. Although some civil engineers participate directly in facility design projects, most only oversee design work by professional Architect-Engineering firms. Regardless of this fact, all civil engineers in the Air Force make decisions everyday that affect the safety of base personnel. Some decisions, as illustrated in the story of the Hyatt Regency atrium collapse, involve making design changes during the construction process. Other decisions involve reviewing the existing condition of base facilities. Some examples of these decisions are advising users how much weight can be stored in overhead attic spaces and conducting facility inspections to determine if rust or termites have degraded the structural integrity of load bearing members. In all, incompetent decisions by engineers may result in structural failures that could potentially injure or kill facility occupants. These few examples highlight the importance in the Air Force to ensure the professional competency of its civil engineers. The Air Force regulates two other professional fields to ensure competency. The first is the field of medical practice, which certainly is a public safety interest. Air Force Policy Directive 41-1 holds the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General responsible for ensuring the competent practice of medicine in the Air Force.29 Air Force Instruction 41-117 implements the policy by issuing regulatory guidance and enforcement to medical practitioners.30 The AFI requires Medical Service Officers to maintain certification and state licensure for the appropriate specialties and to practice continuing education through professional organizations.31 Although not a matter of public safety, the Air Force regulates the field of legal practice in similar ways.