Enhancing Professionalism in the U.S. Air Force
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C O R P O R A T I O N Enhancing Professionalism in the U.S. Air Force Jennifer J. Li, Tracy C. McCausland, Lawrence M. Hanser, Andrew M. Naber, Judith Babcock LaValley For more information on this publication, visit www.rand.org/t/RR1721 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available for this publication. ISBN: 978-0-8330-9700-2 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © Copyright 2017 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. 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Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Preface Writing about the profession of arms in a February 2012 white paper, then–Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff GEN Martin Dempsey wrote, “We must continue to learn, to understand, and to promote the knowledge, skills, attributes, and behaviors that define us as a profession.”1 In January 2014, the U.S. Air Force announced an investigation into officers of the 341st Missile Wing who were alleged to have cheated on a proficiency exam. In February 2014, the U.S. Navy announced an investigation into cheating by trainers at a school for nuclear power reactor operators. These examples highlight behaviors that most would agree are unbecoming to the military profession. In March 2014, in response to these and other ethical lapses by military personnel, then–Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced the appointment of RADM Margaret Klein to be his special assistant for military professionalism. In this report, we consider the U.S. Air Force definition of professionalism—“A personal commitment and loyalty to Air Force standards and expectations framed within an environment of shared trust, guided by Air Force Core Values”2—as a starting point to address the question: What can the Air Force do to increase its professionalism? The research reported here was commissioned by the vice commander of U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command and conducted within the Manpower, Personnel, and Training Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE as part of a fiscal year 2015 project titled, “Air Force Professional Development.” This report is intended for leaders of all ranks throughout the Air Force. RAND Project AIR FORCE RAND Project AIR FORCE (PAF), a division of the RAND Corporation, is the U.S. Air Force’s federally funded research and development center for studies and analyses. PAF provides the Air Force with independent analyses of policy alternatives affecting the development, employment, combat readiness, and support of current and future air, space, and cyber forces. Research is conducted in four programs: Force Modernization and Employment; Manpower, Personnel, and Training; Resource Management; and Strategy and Doctrine. The research reported here was prepared under contract FA7014-06-C-0001. 1 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “America’s Military: A Profession of Arms,” white paper, February 2012. 2 Profession of Arms Center of Excellence, Strategic Roadmap: United States Air Force Profession of Arms, Air Education and Training Command, May 2015, p. 4. iii Additional information about PAF is available on our website: www.rand.org/paf This report documents work originally shared with the U.S. Air Force on September 30, 2015. The draft report, issued in September 2015, was reviewed by formal peer reviewers and U.S. Air Force subject-matter experts. iv Contents Preface ........................................................................................................................................... iii Figures .......................................................................................................................................... vii Tables .......................................................................................................................................... viii Summary ......................................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ xvi Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. xvii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Study Background ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Research Approach and Data Sources ....................................................................................................... 2 Organization of This Report ...................................................................................................................... 3 2. Defining Air Force Professionalism ............................................................................................ 5 Definitions of Military Professionalism from the Literature .................................................................... 5 How the Air Force Defines Profession of Arms, Professional, and Professionalism ............................... 7 Challenges to a Shared Understanding of Air Force Professionalism ...................................................... 8 Recommendations for the Way Forward ................................................................................................ 10 3. An Examination of Professionalism-Related Events from the Recent Past .............................. 12 Establishing a Need to Adopt a Macrolevel Perspective ........................................................................ 12 Timeline of Major Ethical Incidents, Military Conflicts, and Professionalism Efforts .......................... 13 Timeline of Professionalism-Related Events .......................................................................................... 16 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 Interviews with Senior Leaders Responsible for Initiating Professionalism Efforts .............................. 20 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 25 4. Violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice as an Indicator of Failures of Professionalism ........................................................................................................................ 27 Method .................................................................................................................................................... 28 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 37 5. Civilian and Military Attitudes Related to Professionalism ...................................................... 39 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey ..................................................................................................... 39 Status of Forces Survey of Active-Duty Members ................................................................................. 44 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 50 6. A Snapshot of Learning Opportunities Related to Air Force Professionalism ......................... 51 Approach ................................................................................................................................................. 53 Officer Developmental Education Courses ............................................................................................. 55 Enhancing Human Capital Seminar ........................................................................................................ 58 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 63 7. Applying Themes from Organizational Culture and Change to Strengthen Professionalism ... 65 v Urgency ................................................................................................................................................... 65 Cultural Leadership ................................................................................................................................. 66 Communication