Examining Options to Optimize the Air Force Enlisted Feedback System

Abstract

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) faces persistent challenges in delivering effective developmental feedback to enlisted Airmen, with many reporting that guidance from supervisors is inconsistent, transactional, or insufficient to support meaningful growth and promotion readiness. These issues stem from systemic gaps in supervisory training, cultural inconsistencies across units, and a lack of structured processes that promote continuous dialogue and developmental accountability. This thesis examines these challenges through a user-centered lens focused on a single Civil Engineering unit in the DAF. Using Hacking for Defense (H4D) methodology, and the output of 84 semi-structured interviews, the authors developed The Prepare, Align, Carry Out, Evaluate (PACE) framework, a cyclical feedback model built to enhance clarity, structure, and two-way communication between raters and ratees. Pilot testing demonstrated that the framework improves goal alignment, deepens developmental conversations, and supports greater ownership of professional progression, even within high-tempo operational environments. The authors recommend broader implementation, digital integration, and continued research to evaluate long-term effectiveness across diverse DAF contexts.