RankLabPractice Questions →
AFH 1 · Chapter 15 · Section 15.1

Accountability

Part of Mentoring · 3 sections · ~789 words · WAPS PFE study material

📝 Practice 3,000+ WAPS questions on RankLab — free for E-5 and E-6 prep.
Try Free →

Accountability — Foundation and Personal Responsibility

Definition

Accountability Definition
Accountability is defined as demonstrating reliability and honesty and taking responsibility for the behaviors of self and team.

Core of Being an Airman

Core of Airmanship
Accountability is at the core of what it means to be an Airman.

Survey Ranking

#1 Foundational Competency
In surveys of USAF members, accountability has been consistently rated as the MOST IMPORTANT foundational competency for success in a USAF career.

What Accountability Requires

Three Requirements
Accountability requires:
  • Leading by example
  • Admitting mistakes
  • Doing the right thing even when it is unpopular or difficult

Embodying Core Values

Accountable Airmen Embody Core Values
Accountable Airmen embody the USAF Core Values:
  • Integrity First
  • Service Before Self
  • Excellence In All We Do

…and take personal responsibility even when faced with the most challenging situations.

Three Components of Personal Responsibility

Three Components of Personal Responsibility
Taking personal responsibility requires:
  1. Understanding the significance and potential irreversibility of failing to act
  2. Recognizing your competence and ability to take the steps needed in a given situation (self-efficacy)
  3. Acting out of a sense of personal control (autonomy)

Accountability — Significance Through Examples

Real-World Scenarios

Nuclear Facility Example

Nuclear Cheating Example
Imagine you are working in a nuclear facility. You find out that one of your friends, a nuclear weapons specialist, has been cheating on his exams to maintain weapons system certification.
Nuclear Question
Do you report him? What if your supervisor tells you to ignore the issue?

Military Training Instructor Example

MTI Abuse Example
Imagine you are working as a military training instructor. You observe one of your peers:
  • Pushing his trainees too hard
  • Yelling obscenities at them when they make mistakes
  • Forcing them to train more hours than is authorized
MTI Question
Will you say something? What if your immediate leadership is pressuring your peer to work his trainees more hours in order to meet training goals?

Significance — Bigger Picture

Bigger Picture Thinking
In each of these situations, try to understand the significance of the situation by thinking about the bigger picture.

What If Many Responded Like You

What If Everyone Did Same
What if the same way you responded to your co-worker in these situations was the way other people in the USAF were responding in similar situations?

Scaling the Risk

Scale of Failure
That is:
  • What would happen if not just one, but many, MTIs pushed their trainees too hard, to the point of physical injury?
  • What would happen if not just one, but many, nuclear weapons specialists didn't have sufficient expertise to repair key equipment or correctly follow emergency procedures?

Self-Identity Question

Self-Identity Reflection
What does the way you would respond to these situations say about who you are as a person?

Are you someone who:

  • Cheats and enables cheaters?
  • Looks the other way when there are potential risks to security?
  • Fails to stand up for the most junior and vulnerable Airmen among us?

Accountability — Self-Efficacy and Autonomy

Self-Efficacy

Self-Efficacy Definition
Self-efficacy is a person's belief in their ability to address a situation, based on the skills they have and the circumstances they face.

Recognize Personal Strengths

Recognize Strengths
Recognize your own personal strengths and think about how you can bring your skills to bear on a situation.

How to Apply Self-Efficacy

Apply Skills to Situations
For example, you can:
  • Use your communication skills (reflection, active listening, recognition of non-verbal cues)
  • Influence your peers by appealing to reason or shared values
  • Demonstrate perseverance and persist in addressing an issue with others
  • Take initiative and try to help peers see situations as opportunities to learn

Use Unique Strengths

Use Unique Strengths
Try to make use of your unique strengths and talents:
  • Maybe you can teach your friend (the nuclear weapons specialist) better study techniques to help him learn the material needed to pass his weapons system exams
  • Maybe you can show your friend (the MTI) better teaching techniques or coach him on how to exercise self-control and patience when correcting trainees
Have Confidence
Have confidence in yourself and your abilities to address challenging situations.

Autonomy

Autonomy Foundation
Ultimately, you are your own person. You make your own decisions on your actions or inactions.

Freedom to Choose

Freedom to Choose
You have the freedom to choose how to respond to a situation.

Resist Pressure

Resist Pressure
Even if so-called "leaders" or "friends" try to pressure you otherwise, you can act to support the greater good.

Ready to test what you've learned?

RankLab has 3,000+ WAPS-style practice questions covering every AFH 1 chapter.

Start Free Practice →