Forging Leaders: Perceptions of Class 19-07's Prior-Enlisted Personnel on Leadership Development at the United States Air Force Officer Training School

Abstract

This capstone aims to capture the thoughts, feelings, experiences, and perceptions of prior-enlisted members throughout the leadership maturation process at United States Air Force (USAF) Officer Training School (OTS) with the intent to explore, analyze, and identify trends in the USAF OTS leadership development realm. Although studies have explored different aspects of OTS, military leadership, and prior-enlisted personnel separately, a significant gap remains in understanding where these areas converge. Using the case study methodology focused on Class 19-07, the research examines nine prior-enlisted participants from the 24th Training Squadron (24 TRS), providing insights into the largest graduating class in OTS history and its unique integrated training approach. Key findings reveal that while all participants value student leadership positions and networking opportunities, 8 out of 9 participants advocate for a divergent training pathway for prior-enlisted members, and all 9 participants note an over-reliance on prior-enlisted trainees to informally teach non-prior enlisted members. The findings lead to recommendations for modifying program structure, customizing leadership training, standardizing policies across training squadrons, and investigating informal training burdens. Future research opportunities include studying non-prior enlisted members’ experiences, expanding participant diversity, and employing multiple data collection methods beyond interviews.