Running Head: Air Force’s CBT 1 Table of Contents Title: United States Air Force (UAAF) and Computer Based Training (CBT) I. EXECUTIVE SUMMMARY II. INTRODUCTION A. Purpose and Scope B. Assumotions C. Methods D. Limitations E. Definitions III. BODY IV. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION V. BIBLIOGRAPHY 2 Air Force’s CBT Executive Summary The purpose of this research is to make recommendations on process improvement of the United States Air Force Computer-Based Training. Many Air Force personnel from my organization constantly complains about Computer-Based Training (CBT) that are ineffective and a waste of time doing. After an initial survey from other collogues from a different unit, they are having the same issue with how members react about CBTs. With great things the USAF provides, we always find problems or issues for process improvements or for research like this. The problem that I have encountered and will address with this organization is the ineffective virtual training. CBTs or Computer Based Training have been around since I joined the service but I do not find them effective and efficient training for the service members. Some, I might say, are not very useful as you can skip through the slide show, power point, videos, etc., and get granted the required certificate that your leadership has requested. I do believe that our leadership is also bypassing the issue and only cares about the member having the ‘completed’ status on their record so they are not under the radar of those who they report to. Solving this problem is important to the organization because I’ve heard other members complain, cheat the system, and skip through it without getting any knowledge from the training provided. I would do a research and propose a better idea of how to go by doing these training with cost and time efficient with proper knowledge that an individual could learn. One of the resolutions I thought will be eliminating those that do not apply and spend proper time, budget, and actual hand-on training. For example, important stuff like fire extinguisher training—this is something that hands-on training is needed for better readiness skills. 3 Air Force’s CBT Introduction The key foundation of the Unites States Air Force (USAF) is proper training to support the missions at all times. Computer-based training (CBT) are widely used in the Air Force to conduct training. The current CBTs that the Air Force is providing to the Airmen might not be as effective as the officials think they are. Purpose and Scope There are multiple CBTs that need to be completed by a single Airman yearly. Some of these virtual trainings are one time only when a member just did a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), but most are annual or pre-deployment and post-deployment training. Not only active duty service members are required to complete CBTs but also the civilians and contractors attached to the organization. The purpose of this research is to make recommendations on improving the usage of CBTs and possibly limit it to those effective and applicable to the mission. This report will cover issues on how effective are virtual training with the Air Force’s current mission. Also, it will show statistics that some specific virtual trainings are less effective compare to hands-on training. Furthermore, this paper will cover the cost and development of CBTs. Assumptions From the effect of my current organization, it shows that most personnel overlook at the CBTs and treat them as ‘required’ to-do-list rather than the importance of the training. I am assuming that trainings will be more effective if some of the existing virtual trainings can to be transmitted Air Force’s CBT 4 back to an actual face-to-face and more hands-on training. Methods Information from this report are gathered from online articles, existing survey report, and interview from my current organization. The research initiated from a current problem and complaints coming from fellow Airmen that I work with regarding ineffectiveness of CBTs. The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force also gave recommendation and questions the systems of how effective are CBTs to the Air Force mission. Definitions There are few terms that are used repeatedly in this report that I would like to simplify beforehand. Computer-Based Training or CBT are the main issue, it is an online training that most Air Force personnel need to complete for progression. CBT is sometimes referred to as virtual training in this report, they are in a matter of power point or online software. Unit is also a term that the USAF uses and identifies different organization, for example, medical, aircrew, logistics or supply, engineers, etc. 5 Air Force’s CBT Problems and Issues How Effective are Virtual Training with Current Air Force Missions? Many current Air Force personnel believe that virtual training might not be working effectively that even the Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) of the Air Force questioned, “CBTs are not going away, but do they always have to be used?” (2015) in one of the one article of the Air Force Times , a publishing news for the USAF. The same exact proposal I am trying to recommend with this paper is to not completely obsolete all CBTs but some like fire extinguisher training could use hand-on training for better results. The CMSgt of the Air Force also proposed, “Can there be other methods used to deliver that are more efficient and effective – and over what period of time? Does it all have to be done at the same time or we space some of this out and have it build on each other?” (2015). Virtual trainings are required for most units and due dates are given along which could be challenging for some individuals. Besides an Airman’s daily duties, when training comes up, it becomes a priority. From my experience, Airmen would try to finish these trainings as soon as possible without understanding the concept of what it contains but to be able to print out a certificate to present that training has been completed. Virtual is Less Effective than Face-to-Face Training One of the annual CBT that we are required to complete is Fire Extinguisher, I personally have not touched or tried operating a fire extinguisher, yet we are “trained” to properly use it when needed. (Find a resource/data/survey that shows fire extinguisher training virtual vs. hand-on and create chart/graphic) 6 Air Force’s CBT What are the Cost and Development of CBTs Michael Hathaway, a journalist of International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, conducted a research study on how and why military accepted virtual trainings for aircrew with the shrinking budgets. “Technology acceptance has been cited as a problem for years in: information technology programs, education cases, on-line learning and in mandatory use environments.” Because of the funding cuts, the U.S. military has learned to accept the technology mandated for training virtually. Conclusion and Recommendations The USAF and other military services (Marines, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard) should always prioritize and give importance to trainings. Training is a base foundation for mission to take effect. The officials of the USAF should take in consideration of reconsidering what current CBTs need to stay and which ones they need to obsolete. For effective training to support the mission, my recommendation are the following: 1. USAF should re-consider hand-on training a. For some training: Fire Extinguisher, Explosive Observance Disposal (EOD) Training, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) training. b. Some CBTs could be done by group in a class or Commander’s Call in –house for more focused audience. 2. Air Force Officials should survey the effectiveness of CBT trainings a. Conduct a unit specific survey to collect data if CBTs are working Air Force’s CBT b. Manage an oral question test after completing a CBT 3. Cost: Have a budget for more effective training a. Officials need to invest to get military personnel ready 7 8 Air Force’s CBT Bibliography Hathaway, Michael. "The Military Learner: The Acceptance of New Training Technology for C130 Aircrews." International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace 3.2 (2016): 1-29. Web. School, Jeff. "Air Force Rethinking Computer-Based Training." (2015): n. pag. 13 Sept. 2015. Web. Walsh, William J., Patricia J. Yes, Sherilyn A. Grozier, Elizabeth G. Gibson, and Steven A. Young. "Http://ljournal.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/d-2016-154.pdf." A Survey of Air Force Computer-Based Training (CBT) Planning, Selection, and Implementation (1992): n. pag. 2016. Web.
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