Evaluating the Efficacy: How Should the Air Force Contracting Career Field Assess its Training Methods

Abstract

This study aims to address the critical gap in evaluating the effectiveness of Air Force Contracting’s initial skills training program by identifying best practices from other Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and industry that could be adopted to improve training outcomes. To achieve this, we first established a baseline understanding of the current measures used to assess the efficacy of Air Force Contracting’s training. We then applied a case study methodology to examine best practices within other DoD organizations and conducted an analysis of industry approaches to gain a holistic perspective on effective training evaluation. Our findings indicate that other government agencies employ diverse and systematic techniques—such as competency mapping and outcome-based assessments—to evaluate the effectiveness of their initial skills training programs. These practices provide actionable insights that Air Force Contracting could leverage to create standardized and comparable metrics for training evaluation. By adopting these evidence-based practices, Air Force Contracting can generate meaningful data to refine its training programs, enhance workforce development, and ensure personnel are well-prepared to meet mission-critical objectives. This research lays the foundation for long-term improvements in training efficacy, contributing to a more prepared contracting workforce.