Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy in 2030

Book excerpt: "In response to the Developing the 2030 Enlisted Force memorandum published by the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) (Bass, 2021), the Commandant of the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (AFSNCOA) created an internal group to explore what the AFSNCOA looks like in the year 2030. The team consisted of AFSNCOA faculty members that represent a cross-section of the Air Force and have experience teaching two different courses to SNCOs both virtually and in resident. The team was tasked to research and answer are who we teach, what do we teach, how do we teach, and what incentives are involved. The team used the following methods to conduct their research; instead of focusing on what the AFSNCOA could do in the immediate future, the team first looked at what the AFSNCOA should be in 2030 to remain relevant to the warfighter. By taking a conceptual approach to their initial research the team minimized ties to current processes with clean-sheet thinking. Following two idea sprints, and weeks of independent research four lines of effort (LOE) emerged and endured: 1. Integrate with the learning ecosystem; 2. Modernize in-residence experience; 3. Become a talent and opportunity gateway; 4. Increase military content. The conclusions of this paper are meant to be a detailed vision statement for the future of the AFSNCOA but may have implications to Enlisted Professional Military Education (EMPE) as a whole. Aligning current and near-term improvements to the needs of the future will ultimately achieve the 'acceleration' demanded by senior Air Force Leaders."--Page 1.