Assessment and Selection for U.S. Air Force Special Warfare

📖 The Scoop

Air Force Special Warfare (AFSPECWAR) operators conduct some of the most physically and mentally challenging missions in the U.S. military. Operating in these career fields and job environments benefits from specialized assessment and selection. Assessing and selecting personnel begins with identifying job-relevant attributes for AFSPECWAR. Based on several sources from civilian and military domains, the authors identify eight attributes: Communication, Drive, Integrity, Physical Fitness, Problem Solving, Stress Tolerance, Teamwork, and Trainability. They then explore the relative importance of these attributes and whether certain attributes should be weighted more heavily than others when making a final selection decision. Although this process for identifying, weighting, and evaluating the job-relevant attributes is resource-intensive and requires engagement from many subject-matter experts, the outputs are foundational for establishing effective talent management practices. Selecting candidates who are suitable for the job and the environment has the potential to improve performance, increase satisfaction and commitment, and reduce turnover. The authors also highlight approaches for improving the accuracy of ratings and identify potential gaps in current AFSPECWAR assessment and selection practices, which can be addressed by adopting best practices for designing and implementing assessment centers. Closing these gaps will further strengthen AFSPECWAR's objective to effectively assess and select individual members of the U.S. Air Force who have the attributes needed for training and job success.

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