Problem Solving
During a critical incident, a commander quickly gathers all available facts about the situation. What step of the OODA loop is the commander on?
Observe
A supervisor forms an overall positive impression of a new Airman based solely on his charisma, causing them to overlook other areas needing improvement. What cognitive bias is the supervisor demonstrating?
Halo Effect
While working with a coalition task force, you're asked to brief allied partners on the Air Force's foundational capabilities. One officer wants to know which function ensures U.S. forces can operate without fear of enemy aircraft interference during ground operations. Which USAF core function are you describing?
Air Superiority
An Airman commits a minor offense. Their commander decides to impose non-judicial punishment rather than pursuing a court-martial. This type of punishment is commonly referred to by what article of the UCMJ?
Article 15
Which branch of the U.S. government is responsible for establishing military authority?
Executive Branch
A team has set improvement targets as part of their long-standing mission. What is their next logical step in the 8-step PPSM?
Determine Root Causes
During a debrief, a team member presents a conclusion followed by a series of reasons intended to support that conclusion. What is this combination of conclusion and supporting reasons called in the context of evaluating information?
An argument
During a cross-branch exercise, a Guardian is asked which USSF competency ensures the military can monitor and protect U.S. and allied interests in orbit. You overhear the conversation and correctly identify which of the following as the relevant Space Force core competency?
Space Security
An enlisted service member is accused of a minor offense and faces a court-martial where only one officer acts as the judge. What type of judicial punishment is this?
Summary court-martial
A military officer orders a civilian to house a group of soldiers in their private residence against their will. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution specifically prohibits this action?
3rd Amendment
A problem-solving team has successfully developed and implemented countermeasures for a persistent issue. After observing positive changes, what is the next step in the 8-step PPSM if the process proves successful?
Standardize Successful Processes
A planner is developing a new strategy. They consider how the strategy might affect different stakeholders and the broader environment. Which intellectual standard are they demonstrating by looking at the problem from multiple angles?
Breadth
While advising on contingency operations, your commander emphasizes the importance of delivering equipment and personnel rapidly to a developing humanitarian crisis across the globe. He highlights the unique Air Force capability of in-flight refueling as a key enabler. Which core function is being demonstrated, and what is its purpose?
Rapid Global Mobility
Recognize the need for a military justice system (State the main three reasons).
1)Crimes unique to the military
2)Discipline
3)Worldwide operations
The U.S. Constitution specifically limits the authority of the Federal Government to only those powers explicitly granted to it. Which constitutional provision embodies this principle?
Enumerated Powers (Limited Government)
Define Problem Solving.
The purposeful act of observing a problem and then deciding to solve it, after considering solutions and deciding upon one.
State the nine intellectual standards used in assessing one’s thinking, and briefly define each one.
-Clarity: A gateway standard and relevant to all others
-Accuracy: Addresses the validity of the information at hand
-Precision: Helps refine information
-Relevance: Evaluates what's most related to the issue
-Depth: Addresses the complexities of an issue
-Breadth: Addresses various interpretations of an issue
-Logic: Thoughts are mutually supporting and makes sense
-Significance: The most important pieces of an argument or issue
-Fairness: A "gut check" to avoid personal interests, ego, and unjustified assumptions
You are deployed as part of a joint contingency response team in a remote Pacific island chain following a natural disaster. Despite minimal infrastructure, your team is able to receive live satellite imagery, communicate with multiple command nodes, and share real-time updates with humanitarian partners across three continents. During a debrief, a senior officer asks how these capabilities were possible given the austere environment. Which USSF core competency best explains how your team was able to maintain rapid and reliable data and communications under these conditions?
Information mobility
Recall the functions of the Staff Judge Advocate, Area Defense Counsel, and the Victims Counsel.
SJA: The "Staff" for the Commander, representing the Air Force, handling prosecution, claims, and civil law.
ADC: The "Accused's Defense" Counsel, representing the individual service member.
VC: The "Victim's Champion", specifically for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
List the three provisions embodied in the US Constitution, and briefly describe each.
Federalism - The division and sharing of power between the federal and state governments
Enumerated powers/Limited Government - The US Constitution limits the power of the Federal Government by using "enumerated powers," meaning it does not have powers unless explicitly granted to the national government
Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances - Government divided into three equal branches: legislative, executive, and judicial; goal is to limit the other Branch's natural desire to acquire more power
State the 4 steps of the OODA loop and what steps of the 8-step PPSM correlate with each.
Observe - Clarify the problem, ID performance gaps
Orient - Set improvement targets, determine root causes
Decide - develop countermeasures
Act - See countermeasures through, confirm results, standardize successful processes
State then briefly describe the elements of reasoning that are used in the critical thinking process.
Purpose: What is the objective of my thinking?
Question at Issue: Is this the right question? Or is this relevant to the questions that need answers?
Points of View: What's my viewpoint? Would it look differently from another perspective?
Data, Information, Evidence: Is it accurate, fair, clear? Are there alternate sources? Do we need more?
Concepts and Ideas: What concepts am I relying on? Do others accept them as well?
Assumptions: What beliefs and values influence my thinking? Are they balanced and fair?
Implications and Consequences: What might be the outcome? On what? For whom?
Inferences: What am I inferring here that is unstated? Is it valid?
Identify the purpose of the AFFORGEN (include 3 principles) and SPAFORGEN, then cite the phases of each.
AFFORGEN purpose: enable operational preparedness and readiness recovery while ensuring a predictable and sustainable force offering (3 principles: readiness, predictability, sustainability)
SPAFORGEN purpose: better articulate risk, capacity, and readiness data to combatant commanders
AFFORGEN phases: Reset, Prepare, Ready, Commit
SPAFORGEN phases: Prepare, Ready, Commit
State the two main purposes of Administrative Action, then identify and define the six tools within it that may be utilized.
Administrative action: To reform the offender AND discourage further infractions
Types include:-
1)Letter of Counseling (LOC) - Document verbal counseling
2)Letter of Admonishment (LOA) - More serious
3)Letter of Reprimand (LOR) - Official censure of inefficiency, impropriety, or misconduct
4)Unfavorable Information File (UIF) - Repository, Contains Article 15 + LOR
5)Control Roster (CR) - Those on watch due to disciplinary actions
6)Officer Selection Record (OSR) - Derogatory data, kept for 10 years
Recall the Amendments to the US Constitution that governs military officer authority.
1st) Freedom of speech
2nd) Right to bear arms; prohibits military officers from taking weapons from the public
3rd) No quartering of soldiers
4th) Search and seizure
5th) Free from involuntary discrimination, right to legal counsel
6th) Right to a speedy trial
7th) Right to a trial by a jury of your peers
8th) Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail amounts
9th) Rights retained by the people; Just because a right wasn't mentioned in amendments doesn't mean gov can use it as an excuse to deny those other rights
10th) States rights; A catch-all amendment that states powers not delegated to the US by the constitution nor prohibited by the states are reserved to the states or to the people