How does the Assessment Center method apply to Air Force schools?
As mentioned earlier, the original purpose of the Assessment Center method was personnel placement or promotion evaluation. Whereas industry primarily uses the Assessment Center method for job placement purposes, the Air Force should use it for the leadership development and education of the professional officer. Each school using the Assessment Center method should tailor the method to its own needs based on the curriculum objectives and length of the course. Preparation should include having key faculty members attend an active Assessment Center to observe the process from beginning to end. It would not be necessary to hire a civilian consulting firm to establish the Assessment Center, as most civilian corporations do. There is sufficient expertise and material available within the resources of Air University to establish a developmental Assessment Center method in any Air Force school. Squadron Officer School has used only minimum outside resources in establishing their Assessment C
