[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# U.S. Air Force Career Field Management: At the Intersection of Futures Studies and Systems Thinking

## Details

**Authors** Wiggins A

**Year** 2022

**Publisher** Journal of Systems Thinking 2(1):1-19

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Military

**Reading level** intermediate

**Kind of engagement** scholarly

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.2025-0061AW) 
10.54120/jost.2025-0061AW

## In authors' words

### Abstract

Air Force practices of career field management have yet to adapt to the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment that it is increasingly encountering. This paper augments established Air Force management practices with tools and techniques pulled from futures studies. A case study and the agentbased approach was used to recommend the futures practice of horizon scanning and gaining more inclusion from voices throughout the career field.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

A paper augmenting US Air Force career field management with tools from futures studies, using a case study and the Agent-Based Approach.

### What they found (results)

Career field management has yet to adapt to a VUCA environment; horizon scanning and more inclusion of voices throughout the career field are the recommended practices.

## Commentary

### In short

Combines futures-studies tools with the Agent Based Approach to recommend changes to how the U.S. Air Force manages its career fields.

### Response

Combines futures-studies methods with Cabrera's Agent-Based Approach to recommend changes to Air Force career field management. An application in military workforce planning.

**Patterns it shows** D, S, R, P

## Questions it bears on

- Q10. [What is an adaptive organization?](https://dsrpevidence.org/question/adaptive-organization)

**How to cite this** Wiggins A (2022). U.S. Air Force Career Field Management: At the Intersection of Futures Studies and Systems Thinking. Journal of Systems Thinking 2(1):1-19.