Situational Judgement

Question 1

Situation 1. During routine observations of an aircraft you notice that non-essential but important equipment has been improperly repaired. You are behind on your own tasks, aircraft maintenance is not under your command, and you are aware the airplane will be inspected before flight.

Possible Actions:
A. Take the time to seek out maintenance crew and inform them privately of your
observations.
B. Take the time to seek out and inform the maintenance supervisor of your observations in
case the incident is not isolated.
C. Wait until you see the supervisor at a future date and describe the incident.
D. Drop casual hints whenever you see the maintenance crew in hopes of prompting better
attention.
E. Make a point at the next supervisory meeting to stress the importance of oversight and
encourage all sections to conduct informal quality reviews.

Questions:
1. Most Effective:
2. Least Effective:

Answer 1

1. Most Effective: A
2. Least Effective: D

Even thought the aircraft will undergo inspection before use, it is never a good idea to ignore
important equipment that is broken or improperly repaired. Dropping casual hints about the problem does not guarantee the equipment will be checked and is the least effective course of action. Waiting to address the issue is also insufficient, as the problem should be corrected
immediately. The most effective course of action is directly informing the maintenance of your observations. There is no need to involve a supervisor regarding an isolated incident.

Question 2

Situation 2. You enter a room where an exchange between two people is already underway. It appears one of your colleagues is bullying another, who is clearly shaken-up. You are aware of credible rumors about severe bullying, but it is impossible to be certain what transpired given the lack of context and firsthand information. Moreover, some hazing is par for the course, even expected, as integral to military training and bonding.

Possible Actions:
A. Say something to both parties at that time, risking being incorrect or putting the victim in
a more difficult situation, but making your intolerance of bullying publicly known.
B. Seek out the potential victim privately and offer support.
C. Seek out the potential bully privately and make your intolerance of bullying clear.
D. Both B and C.
E. Seek out the potential bully’s supervisor, share all the information that you have, and ask
that individual about the best course of action.

Questions:
3. Most Effective:
4. Least Effective:

Answer 2

3. Most Effective: E
4. Least Effective: D

Given that you are uncertain of what transpired, saying something to both of the people who
are involved may be inappropriate and create problems where there are none; this is the least effective course of action. On the other hand, there is some indication of a real problem that should not be ignored. The most effective course of action is sharing your concerns with the potential bully’s supervisor while emphasizing the inconclusiveness of your information.

Question 3

Situation 3. While you are on leave, you discover that you have lost your key card to a secure facility at your duty station. You lost the card thousands of miles away from the facility, and it has no readily identifiable features that could link the card to the facility or to you. You are further aware that to remedy the situation while away from your duty station, you will have to involve
superiors who already question your professional judgement. If you report the loss when you return
to your duty station in the next 24 hours, you will not only face fewer consequences, but administrative personnel will also have an easier time remedying the problem.

Possible Actions:
A. Wait to report the loss since you will be back at your duty station shortly, there is no real
threat to the facility, and it is the easiest solution for everyone involved.
B. Attempt to contact the local administrator directly so that you can report the loss immediately but avoid telling the superiors who question your judgement.
C. Report the loss immediately, exactly as specified in your training and security protocols,
regardless of the consequences to you are extra hassles to other personnel.
D. Report the loss immediately to “friendlier” superiors under the pretense you were uncertain
of protocols and in hopes of avoiding the involvement of superiors who question your
judgement.
E. Wait to report the loss until after you have been back to your duty station for several days,
under the pretense you lost the card locally and are therefore not required to involve the
superiors who question your judgement.

Questions:
5. Most Effective:
6. Least Effective:

Answer 3

5. Most Effective: C
6. Least Effective: E

It is imperative that you follow all security protocols under all circumstances, and reporting
the loss as specified in your training is the most effective course of action. Waiting to inform administrators may result in security problems you cannot anticipate, and lying about the circumstances of the breach is ill-advised. Misrepresenting your circumstances only exacerbates the issue and is the least effective course of action.

Question 4

Situation 4. You have just recently learned that an old high school friend has enlisted. You are
aware the young man suffers from mental health problems that would preclude service, indicating
your friend must have lied on his medical forms and during examinations. You are also aware the young man was very successful at managing his problems with medication and could be a real
asset to the military.

Possible Actions:
A. Conduct more research on the mental health problems that your friend has and how it may
impact his ability to serve before making a decision about what to do.
B. Confront your friend directly with the intent of accepting whatever explanation he provides: he may not suffer from mental health problems anymore, he may feel it is none
of the military’s business if the problems are managed, or he may have gotten a special exclusion.
C. Confront your friend directly, indicating that either he has to tell his superiors, or you will.
D. Contact his superiors immediately; it is neither your friend’s nor your decision whether an individual can serve effectively with a given health issue.
E. Do nothing. Your friend’s medical history is private information, and what he did or did not disclose to the military is not your business.

Questions:
7. Most Effective:
8. Least Effective:

Answer 4

7. Most Effective: B
8. Least Effective: D

It is never appropriate to discuss someone’s medical history with a third party without their express permission. In this case, the information that you have is, at best, outdated, and may be wholly inaccurate. The least effective course of action is to contact his superiors. If your relationship once included sharing each other’s medical histories, then asking your friend about his current state of health and asking him to disclose problems as necessary is the most effective course of action. If you are not close, it is best to refrain from taking any action.

Question 5

Situation 5. Your superiors are planning an important long-term operation and will place an
especially skilled and well-liked officer in charge of training mission personnel. The officer is
embracing his pending assignment, but you are aware he plans on leaving the military before the
mission will be completed. His leading the training regimen will be crucial to the mission’s success, but his departure immediately prior to deployment will upend morale and group cohesion. You are part of the mission.

Possible Actions:
A. Do nothing. You are not involved in mission-planning, and it is not your place to disclose private information about an officer.
B. Do nothing, but resolve to drop hints and otherwise help prepare less experienced mission
personnel for the possibility the officers in charge may change.
C. Approach the officer privately and tell him your concerns about his not disclosing his plans to leave.
D. Hint to your superiors that you think the officer’s sole leadership of the group might not be
wise—anything can happen over extended missions and it’s better to insure against loss of
continuity when possible.
E. Approach your superiors and share the information that you have about the officer’s plans to leave the military when he is eligible for discharge.

Questions:
9. Most Effective:
10. Least Effective:

Answer 5

9. Most Effective: A
10. Least Effective: D

You are not involved in mission planning nor in a position to disclose private information
about an officer; the most effective course of action is to do nothing at this time. If and when there is a transition in leadership, step up and offer guidance to your team as is appropriate to your status. The least effective course of action is to hint that there is a problem. Such hinting
is a form of gossip, which is always inappropriate among professionals and never a solution.

Question 6

Situation 6. You are taking the Air Force Officers Qualifying Test at a testing center, and it is clear to you that another individual taking the AFOQT is cheating. The test administrator appears unaware that the test-taker is cheating.

Possible Actions:
A. Do nothing; it is not your business.
B. Confront the test-taker during a break, and warn the individual that if you see any more cheating, you will report it.
C. Confront the test-taker and insist the individual withdraw from testing.
D. Confront the test-taker during a break, and let the individual know that you will be reporting the cheating.
E. Say nothing to the test-taker and report the suspected cheating to the test administrator.

Questions:
11. Most Effective:
12. Least Effective:

Answer 6

11. Most Effective: E
12. Least Effective: B

Your responsibility at the testing center is to stay focused and give your best to the exam. It is not your responsibility to police other test takers, and keeping an eye on other test takers for cheating will only distract you and potentially lead to conflict. This is the least effective course of action. The most effective action is to maintain your own privacy and the integrity of the test
scores by quietly informing the test administrator there may be a problem.

Question 7

Situation 7. You are in the field for two weeks on a training exercise, and one of your squad members is pumping her breast milk during the exercise. She is as discreet as possible given your current working and living conditions, and pumping is in no way affecting her participation or performance. Still, it disturbs you, and you don’t believe it should be allowed in the military.

Possible Actions:
A. Mock the squad member or otherwise try to make her feel uncomfortable so that she will
refrain from pumping whenever you may be in the area.
B. Approach the squad member and ask that she never pump if you are in the area.
C. Do nothing. The squad member is not breaking any rules and has a medical need to pump her breast milk. It is up to squad members to be understanding and supportive.
D. Complain to your superiors that pumping breast milk is disruptive to field training even when done discretely, and push for changes in future assignments.
E. Make an effort to learn about breast feeding and breast pumping, about why military personnel would continue to breast feed and need to pump milk once returning to active duty, and about the extra challenges women who are still breast feeding and pumping their
milk face when serving.

Questions:
13. Most Effective:
14. Least Effective:

Answer 7

13. Most Effective: C
14. Least Effective: A

We all face situations that make us uncomfortable when working with and in diverse communities and must find ways to work together regardless. The best way to overcome discomfort with gender, ethnic, and cultural differences is to learn more about what, how, and
why people do what they do. In the context of a training exercise, however, the most effective
course of action is to do nothing since your colleague is not breaking any rules. The least effective course of action is to mock her. Mocking is a form of bullying and never acceptable; mocking someone over biological needs is particularly grievous.

Question 8

Situation 8. You have just been informed of the need for a rescue mission, but the only available
crew has just returned from a prolonged and exhausting reconnaissance mission. The co-pilot is particularly uncomfortable flying again without sleep and expresses concern over the safety risk
in doing so.

Possible Actions:
A. Do not send the crew on the mission.
B. Try to convince the co-pilot he is fit enough to go on the mission.
C. Send the crew on the mission without the co-pilot.
D. Contact Command and request an asset from another unit in order to go on the mission.
E. Call other military, police, air traffic monitoring, and air med-evac units to request help.

Questions
15. Most Effective:
16. Least Effective:

Answer 8

15. Most Effective: D
16. Least Effective: C

An unfit or exhausted rescue crew is easily more a liability than an asset and should not be sent out. Sending the crew without a co-pilot is dangerous and does not address the exhaustion of other crew members; this is the least effective course of action. Unless you are aware of
another unit that is immediately available, calling around to see who might be able to help may waste valuable time. The best course of action is to contact Command to request an asset.

Question 9

Situation 9. You are at a party at a private home in a state where the recreational use of marijuana
is legal under state law. It is not long before you see several other officers smoking marijuana.

Possible Actions:
A. Do nothing; other officers’ behavior is none of your business and smoking marijuana is hardly a big deal anymore.
B. Leave the party to insure you are in no way connected to, or appear to condone, the drug use.
C. Approach the senior officer in the group, and tell him you will take action if he doesn’t.
D. Explain to all of the officers involved that their conduct is contrary to the Uniform Code
of Military Justice and that you have no choice but to report them.
E. Say nothing at the party, but report all of the officers who were using drugs to your
commander.

Questions:
17. Most Effective:
18. Least Effective:

Answer 9

17. Most Effective: C
18. Least Effective: A

In this situation, you are unlikely to get a positive response if you publicly approach the officers as a group. They may brush you off out of discomfort or you may alienate yourself from other guests. Moreover, it is not your responsibility to police all military personnel who
attend the same parties. Doing nothing is the least effective action and may also be taken as complicity and a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The most effective course of action is to discretely approach the senior officer in the group to find a solution while not
disrupting on your host and other guests.

Question 10

Situation 10. The pilot you are training under for the day is notoriously critical of crew members, but he is an exceptional pilot and teacher. Before and during flight, he takes-on an insulting and
aggressive manner toward your fellow crew members. It is clear they are upset and may not be
learning all they can given the unsettling circumstances.

Possible Actions:
A. Consider adopting the pilot’s demeanor because his successes outstrip the problems he creates.
B. Say nothing, but provide an example of better leadership by being respectful to the crew.
C. Say nothing to the pilot, but drop comments to the crew that you don’t approve of his behavior and that you would not treat the crew so terribly.
D. Approach the pilot after the flight and tell him his behavior is inconsistent with the Commandant’s guiding principle of treating people with respect.
E. Approach the pilot after the flight and tell him you will report him if he continues to mistreat the crew.

Questions:
19. Most Effective:
20. Least Effective:

Answer 10

19. Most Effective: D
20. Least Effective: A

It is never appropriate or necessary to be insulting to others. Adopting the pilot’s demeanor will only perpetuate unprofessional behavior and worsen the learning environment.; this is the least effective course of action. Provide an example of strong leadership by talking to the pilot after the flight and share your concerns respectfully and privately.

Question 11

Situation 11. You’ve been asked to serve in an advisory capacity for a newly formed Direct Reporting Unit. The short-term assignment is a significant career opportunity, and you believe strongly in the DRU mission. The duty station is plum. However, in the past, you have had a
difficult relationship with one of the men whom you would serve under. You know that he has little regard for protocol, is a risk-taker, and can be volatile. You consider him unethical and are hesitant to work with him again. You are not required to serve.

Possible Actions:
A. Accept the detail with the condition that you serve under a different officer. The request
will be denied, but you are hoping someone will ask why you have refused to serve with this officer.
B. Accept the detail. You can tolerate the difficult work situation for the short-term and any unethical decisions your superior makes are not your responsibility and will not impact you.
C. Accept the detail. It’s important to have someone alert to potential problems on the mission, and there may be an opportunity to re-direct any unethical decisions using the proper channels.
D. Decline the detail, but say nothing. If the superior violated protocols and/or made unethical
decisions in the past, those behaviors should have been addressed at that time.
E. Decline the detail, but explain why so that other members of the DRU know there is a problem.

Questions:
21. Most Effective:
22. Least Effective:

Answer 11

21. Most Effective: C
22. Least Effective: D

Declining the detail and saying nothing fails to address the situation at hand and ultimately allows someone else’s poor behavior to impact your professional development and career
path. Accepting the detail, but with demands attached, is likely to be perceived as inappropriate or unprofessional. Accepting the detail as offered provides an opportunity for career advancement, and the heightened attention of someone aware of potential problems
will be an asset to the mission. Accepting the detailing and being prepared to address any violations is the most effective course of action.

Question 12

Situation 12. While at the officers club, you observe a superior drink too much, and you think you overhear him disclose classified information. The superior’s drinking problem is well-known and poses an ongoing risk.

Possible Actions:
A. Do nothing. You are not certain your superior disclosed classified information and his superiors are already aware he has a drinking problem.
B. Approach the superior directly in a private setting and inform him he may have disclosed classified information.
C. Approach the superior directly in a private setting. Inform him he may have disclosed classified information and that you will report him if his drinking continues unchecked
because he poses a risk to others.
D. Report your concerns about the officer’s drinking and the possible disclosure of classified
information to his immediate superior officer.
E. Report your concerns about the officer’s drinking and the possible disclosure of classified
information higher up the chain of command because his immediate superiors are already aware the officer has a problem and have done nothing.

Questions:
23. Most Effective:
24. Least Effective:

Answer 12

23. Most Effective: D
24. Least Effective: C

Approaching the superior directly and threatening to report him or her is unlikely to garner a productive response and may subject you to accusations of insubordination. This is the least effective action. Reporting to the officer’s immediate superior honors the chain of command and the possibility his superior has made efforts to address the problem that
simply need to be more aggressive. It is likely with The potential disclosure of classified information, efforts will be increased; this is the most effective course of action.

Question 13

37

Situation 13. You are meeting with the squadron social worker to discuss the mental health of one
of your pilots when the counselor is briefly called away from his office. You are concerned the counselor has been withholding information about the pilot’s mental stability and realize you have an opportunity to look at his medical records.

Possible Actions:
A. Do not look at the medical records. Looking at the records would violate the airman’s right
to privacy, and the counselor has specialized training in balancing personnel and mission needs. You trust the counselor’s judgement regarding when and what to disclose.
B. Do not look at the medical records. Looking at the records would violate the airman’s right
to privacy, but express your concerns to the counselor that information is being withheld.
C. Do not look at the medical records. Looking at the records would violate the airman’s right
to privacy, but express your concerns to the counselor’s supervisor.
D. Do not look at the medical records. Looking at the records would violate the airman’s right
to privacy, but express your concerns to the pilot directly. Talking to your airman directly may give you the most insight, but may also undermine his confidence in his privacy, in himself, and in your relationship.
E. Look at the medical records. The safety of all of your pilots and the integrity of the mission must supersede the airman’s right to privacy. It would also be valuable to know if the counselor is disclosing all of the information that you need to know.

Questions:
25. Most Effective:
26. Least Effective:

Answer 13

25. Most Effective: B
26. Least Effective: E

It is never appropriate to violate an individual’s medical privacy rights, nor to rifle through other professionals’ records. Moreover, any information you would gain would be stripped of the informed context that the counselor brings to the table through specialized training and
personal experience with the airman in question. Looking at the medical records violates a number of principles, and, if something is wrong, you will need to speak with the counselor anyway; this is the least effective course of action. Contacting the counselor’s superior is also inappropriate at this time; you do not know that there is a problem, and you have not given the counselor an opportunity to address your concerns. Respecting the airman’s privacy, the counselor’s training and position, and the limits of your own role in the current situation is
the best course of action; talk to the counselor and acknowledge the need for balancing personnel and mission needs while diplomatically reinforcing your request for disclosure.

Question 14

Situation 14. You are aware a group of airmen in your squadron are bullying a female pilot on social media. They are not sexually harassing her, but intimidating her, and you think it is affecting her confidence. You also know that reporting bullying can actually make things worse for the victim, especially for women in the military.

Possible Actions:
A. Approach the men who are bullying the pilot without informing the pilot. Let them know you will report them if they do not stop the behavior.
B. Approach the pilot and offer your support. Offer to talk to the bullies and/or their superiors on her behalf, but do not take action without her consent.
C. Approach the pilot and offer your support. Let her know that the men need to be reported for her sake and for others’ and that you will report them if she doesn’t.
D. Report your concerns to your superior officer and ask him take the initiative.
E. Do nothing. It’s none of your business.

Questions:
27. Most Effective:
28. Least Effective:

Answer 14

27. Most Effective: D
28. Least Effective: A

Bullying and harassment of any kind cannot be tolerated and must be reported. Offering her support is well-advised, but the most effective course of action is to report your concerns to your superior as an independent witness. A need for sensitivity toward the female airman can also be expressed as a legitimate part of your concerns. Approaching the men directly is unlikely to change their behavior and may exacerbate the situation; this is the least effective
course of action.

Question 15

Situation 15. You just found out that your commanding officer is going to recommend you for a service award based on your quick and critical decision-making that saved lives. However, you know that your decisions were based on the recommendations of your co-pilot. She is nonetheless happy to see you receive the award that comes at an important point in your career.

Possible Actions:
A. You approach your commanding officer immediately and correct the record, insisting your co-pilot receive the award.
B. You approach your commanding officer immediately and indicate that your co-pilot was instrumental in your decision-making and the mission’s success. You ask that she also be recognized.
C. Do nothing. Your co-pilot’s disinterest in being recognized is genuine, and you really do need the career boost.
D. Take no official action, but make sure fellow Flight members know what really happened.
E. Take no official action, but promise your co-pilot to pay her back somehow in the future.

Questions:
29. Most Effective:
30. Least Effective:

Answer 15

29. Most Effective: A
30. Least Effective: D

Approaching your commanding officer immediately with full details of your co-pilot’s role in the mission is the most effective course of action. If your co-pilot deserves full credit, then insist she get it. Taking no official action but spreading the word about your co-pilot to fellow Flight members is the least effective course of action. It not only fails to give your co-pilot the official recognition due her, it conveys to Flight members that taking credit for other’s work
is acceptable and that you are more interested in personal gain than what is right and fair.

Question 16

Situation 16. You find out that a group of airmen are selling the answers to various military
qualifying exams.

Possible Actions:
A. Contact your superior officer and report the people who are involved.
B. Contact the test administrators and tell them everything you know except the airmen’s names.
C. Drop hints to your superiors that some of the tests may be compromised and consider taking
more direct action if needed.
D. Tell the airmen you will report them if the behavior doesn’t stop.
E. Do nothing. It’s none of your business.

Questions:
31. Most Effective:
32. Least Effective:

Answer 16

31. Most Effective: A
32. Least Effective: E

Doing nothing is the least effective course of action. Not only will the airmen continue to profit from criminal behavior, but the integrity of military testing will remain weakened and with potentially dangerous repercussions. The situation warrants more aggressive and professional
action than “dropping hints” in hopes of a resolution. Inform your superior officer. He or she can approach the airmen, as well as test administrators and facilitate appropriate responses;
this is the most effective course of action.

Question 17

Situation 17. You are close friends with your co-pilot, and your families frequently socialize on the base. You suspect that he is physically abusing his wife. You know that if you confront him your relationship will be threatened, and you are about to start training for a challenging mission.

Possible Actions:
A. Ask your spouse to encourage the co-pilot’s wife to seek help if she needs it.
B. Ask your superior officer to talk to your co-pilot. This may create more problems for him than necessary, but it is important to preserve your relationship for the mission.
C. Approach your co-pilot in a non-confrontational manner to let him know you are paying attention, but downplay your concerns if he becomes defensive.
D. Let your co-pilot know that spousal abuse unacceptable. Offer support as his friend, but indicate you will intervene if necessary.
E. Contact the USAF Police on base.

Questions:
33. Most Effective:
34. Least Effective:

Answer 17

33. Most Effective: B
34. Least Effective: A

The least effective course of action is to place the burden of stopping domestic abuse on the victim, who may be too scared or ashamed to seek help or who may feel she can’t take action if there are children involved or she is financially dependent. On the other hand, domestic abuse rarely stops because a friend or co-worker speaks to the perpetrator, and police cannot
take action based on your suspicions. The most effective course of action is to ask your superior officer to intervene and to stay alert to signs of ongoing abuse.

Question 18

Situation 18. You see a master sergeant under your command shoplifting at a local drugstore. You
know him to be a good person with a great deal of promise in the Air Force who has come under an unusual amount of stress. You are reluctant to cause him any additional problems, but you have
no way of knowing if the incident is isolated or not.

Possible Actions:
A. Approach the master sergeant directly and let him know that he has been caught stealing. Do not take any official action, but indicate that you will if you hear of future problems.
B. Approach the master sergeant directly and let him know that he has been caught stealing. Do not take official action, but insist that he seek counseling. Follow-up with him
periodically over the next several months.
C. Accompany the master sergeant back to the store to pay for the stolen items and request
the store manager not pursuit further action.
D. Take the master sergeant to the USAF Police.
E. Take no direct action, but follow the master sergeant’s progress over the next several months. You are confident that with some time and opportunities to engage in some
challenging work, he will straighten-out.

Questions:
35. Most Effective:
36. Least Effective:

Answer 18

35. Most Effective: B
36. Least Effective: D

It’s important that the master sergeant know he has been caught and that you consider the
issue to be a serious one, but given his current circumstances and overall promise, involving other parties may be unnecessary and have serious repercussions. The most effective course of action is to insist the master sergeant seek counseling so that the shoplifting and its possible
relationship to the stress that he is under can be addressed. The least effective course of action is to contact the USAF Police, who may have a program addressing theft, but who have no jurisdiction off base.

Question 19

Situation 19. You have been stationed overseas for over a year, during which time a fellow officer
has become close friends with a local man and his extended family. The family is well-known and
well-regarded on the base. The officer is planning on marrying the man so that he can immigrate
to the United States. She and her future husband have fulfilled all requirements for military
personnel marrying a foreigner, but you are aware the marriage is fraudulent.

Possible Actions:
A. Do nothing. You are unaware of any security risks, and it is not your responsibility to assess the legitimacy of potential spouses.
B. Inform the officer that she has a specific amount of time to withdraw her plans or you will report her to your superiors.
C. Report the officer to your superiors.
D. Anonymously inform the embassy that must recognize the marriage to prompt a more thorough evaluation of the officer’s intentions.
E. Inform all relevant parties, including your superiors, the embassy, and local licensing
authorities because the officer is perpetrating a significant fraud that could affect international relations.

Questions:
37. Most Effective:
38. Least Effective:

Answer 19

37. Most Effective: C
38. Least Effective: E

It is difficult for any outsider to assess whether someone else’s relationships are “fraudulent,” particularly given that the reasons people marry vary significantly across
cultures. Moreover, the Air Force does not regulate marriage to foreigners, per se. If you are confident the officer is violating U.S. immigration laws, the most effective course of action is to report the officer to your superiors. They will be able to assess the situation in
greater detail and act accordingly. The least effective course of action would be involving outside parties, effectively creating an incident where none yet exists.

Question 20

Situation 20. One of the airplane mechanics on base is showing increasingly erratic behaviors. He
loses his temper easily, is tired and impatient all the time, and appears to be moving through his work extremely rapidly- too rapidly. However, there is no indication that the quality of his work is suffering or that he is breaking any rules.

Possible Actions:
A. Approach the mechanic privately and casually, noting he seems to be under a lot of stress lately. Offer your support but take no further action.
B. Approach one of the other mechanics whom you know to be friendly with the man in question. Ask if he has noticed any problems and request he keep an eye on his friend.
C. Mention your concerns to the mechanic’s supervisor, but stress there have been no violations or slacking of duties.
D. Mention your concerns to the mechanic’s supervisor, and press for better oversight. Pilots should not have to police other personnel or be concerned about their job performance.
E. Do nothing. Since there is no indication the mechanic’s work is compromised, he deserves the benefit of the doubt and his privacy.

Questions:
39. Most Effective:
40. Least Effective:

Answer 20

39. Most Effective: A
40. Least Effective: D

The most effective course of action is to casually and quietly touch base with the mechanic, while trying not to put him on the spot. People facing a difficult time can benefit from knowing they aren’t isolated and have support. Unless you have strong personal relationship with his cohort, asking other people about the mechanic is gossipy and may or may not prove helpful. Pressing for better oversite by the mechanics supervisor is the least effective course of action.
It oversteps bounds and violates the mechanics privacy. He’s done no wrong; just keep an eye out for your fellow man.

Question 21

Situation 21. You are responsible for vetting contractors who have bid on a particular project that you are overseeing. After ranking each contractor based on objective criteria, you discover that your parents hold a lot of stock in the highest ranked company. Your parents will profit if the favored company is awarded the contract, but the company is particularly well-suited for the job.

Possible Actions:
A. Say nothing. You ranked the contractors prior to knowing about your parents’ investments, you will not benefit directly, and you are not the only person deciding who is awarded the contract.
B. Disclose the conflict of interest to other members of the hiring committee, but emphasize the objectivity of your initial ranking and the company’s particular qualifications.
C. Disclose the conflict of interest to other members of the hiring committee and recuse yourself from the hiring process. Provide all members copies of the materials that led to your original rankings and let them make their own decision about whether or not to
consider the company and, if so, how it should be ranked.
D. Disclose the conflict of interest to other members of the hiring committee, recuse yourself
from the hiring process, and insist the company in question be removed from consideration.
E. Disclose the conflict of interest to other members of the hiring committee and insist the company in question be removed from consideration.

Questions:
41. Most Effective:
42. Least Effective:

Answer 21

41. Most Effective: C
42. Least Effective: A

It’s important to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, an inevitable conclusion if one is
caught withholding important information; saying nothing leaves yourself and the Air Force vulnerable and is the least effective course of action. At the same time, it is unnecessary to remove both yourself and the company from the hiring process. If recusing yourself from the
process does not place undue burden on team members, this is the most effective solution.

Question 22

Situation 22. You are tasked with picking-up a number of personnel from various locations and driving them to a meeting using a government vehicle. The meeting is very early in the morning and timely arrival is mission critical, so you have signed the vehicle out and driven it home the evening before. You realize very late at night that you have lost your driver’s license and should not drive in the morning.

Possible Actions:
A. Immediately call the other attendees despite the late hour and find someone who can drive to your home in the morning, get the vehicle, and take over your responsibilities as driver.
B. Risk delaying the meeting and wait until morning to call the other attendees to find someone who can take over your responsibilities as driver.
C. Hire a local car service and pay out of pocket to avoid any additional hassles before the meeting. Make arrangements for someone to return the vehicle to the duty station after the meeting
D. Drive the vehicle illegally to your first pick-up and then switch drivers. You only have to drive 8 miles, which is far less than you have already driven from your duty station to your home.
E. Say nothing to your colleagues and drive the car as planned. It’s a fluke that you realized your license was lost before the meeting anyway, and you are very unlikely to get caught. The risk isn’t worth undermining the meeting and your reputation.

Questions:
43. Most Effective:
44. Least Effective:

Answer 22

43. Most Effective: E
44. Least Effective: A

Driving the car as planned is illegal, against policy, and might delay the meeting if you are caught; it is the least effective action. The most effective course of action is to call fellow attendees despite the late hour. The meeting is mission critical, and it may prove difficult to find someone who can get to your home in the morning or offer another solution. If you know for a fact that the person within 8 miles can come in the morning, it may be reasonable to wait to call.

Question 23

Situation 23. You have discovered a fellow airman is distributing religious pamphlets and providing religious counseling to local community members while on leave. The airman is not acting as a private citizen but explicitly capitalizing on shared religious beliefs to improve locals’
opinions of military personnel. He is also very successful; interactions with locals have improved
dramatically ever since his efforts began.

Possible Actions:
A. Do nothing. There may be good reasons for disallowing the promotion of religion while
representing the United States, but in this instance, it is serving the mission well.
B. Confront the airman immediately and insist that he stop disseminating religious information while in uniform or otherwise clearly affiliated with the military.
C. Work with the airman to transform his efforts from a religion-based project to a secular one so that the benefits to the military and local community are preserved. Once you have made some progress, seek out support from superior officers to proceed within existing programs and regulations.
D. Report the airman to his superiors but emphasize the need for a similar community initiative.
E. Report the airman, emphasizing the inappropriateness of his behavior for both the military
and the local community.

Questions:
45. Most Effective:
46. Least Effective:

Answer 23

45. Most Effective: C
46. Least Effective: A

There are good reasons for disallowing the promotion of a specific religion while representing
the military and to do nothing leaves the airman and the unit vulnerable to public backlash or other unintended consequences; this is the least effective course of action. The most effective course of action is to offer your support in transforming his efforts within existing military
programs and protocols. Even if he is disinterested, you are unable to pursuit the project in the long run, or there is no base support, you will have opened up a dialog through which you can redirect the airman’s inappropriate actions. If he is unwilling to comply with military
regulations, then his superiors should be notified.

Question 24

Situation 24. You are administering an in-flight certification exam to a fellow pilot whom you know well. She is an excellent pilot and unquestionably qualified for certification; however, she does not perform well and fails the exam by two points. Her failure will exclude her from a mission for which she is very much needed and will impact morale.

Possible Actions:
A. Fail the pilot and replace her for the mission.
B. Fail the pilot, but ask that she be allowed to retest before the requisite waiting period ends
so that you can preserve the mission.
C. Lie about instrument problems so that she can retake the test the following day.
D. Fudge her results.
E. Delay the mission until she can qualify.

Questions:
47. Most Effective:
48. Least Effective:

Answer 24

47. Most Effective: B
48. Least Effective: D

The least effective course of action is to fudge her results. Not only is it unethical, but her performance may have suffered due to a real problem that shouldn’t be masked. Moreover,
she will not be able to take pride in her advancements, which could undermine her confidence in the long run. The most effective course of action is to fail the pilot and work
with superiors to allow her to retest or find another solution.

Question 25

Situation 25. You have been stationed overseas at a facility with personnel from multiple branches
of the U.S. military. You have learned that two army corporals are using supply lines to smuggle antiquities from your host country into the United States. The items were recovered from war-torn areas and would likely be destroyed or lost if not taken by the servicemen.

Possible Actions:
A. Do nothing. People in all branches of the military send all sorts of things back home. It is not your job to police army personnel.
B. You consider the artifacts fair game since members of the local community have shown no interest in them and they are being damaged as is. Approach the corporals hoping to secure one or two items as gifts for your family since they also make sacrifices for your service.
C. You consider the shipments a good way to make needed money without hurting anyone; it’s a ‘victimless crime.’ Approach the corporals hoping to get involved in some way.
D. You don’t want to get involved with the army corporals but decide you can also ship a few artifacts back home if everyone else is doing it. You start picking up small items that don’t look particularly valuable whenever you can.
E. Report the corporals immediately. There is no one on base qualified to assess the value and legal status of the items being taken, and trafficking in stolen antiquities is a serious crime that can start an international incident.

Questions:
49. Most Effective:
50. Least Effective:

Answer 25

49. Most Effective: E
50. Least Effective: C

Cultural items are extremely important in establishing people’s history in an area, in communicating cultural values and beliefs, and for personal, sentimental reasons. Their
apparent abandonment in areas suffering from natural or man-made disasters is no indication of their importance to a community and does not undermine locals’ right to self determination regarding their cultural patrimony and heritage. Willingly destroying or taking cultural items is fundamentally disrespectful to local communities and undermines U.S. government, military, and civilian relations. It is not a victimless crime, and to condone and perpetuate the sale of cultural items is the least ethical and effective response to the illegal trade of antiquities. The most effective course of action is to report the corporals immediately.