AF SNCOA QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
While conducting roll call with his airmen, SMSgt Hunt says, "When possible, take advantage of
training opportunities when they present themselves. When enrolled in a distance learning
course, put your best effort into completing it and learning from it. Seek out opportunities that
will help you grow as an airman".
Because SMSgt Hunt ___________, his actions will MOST likely __________ mission
effectiveness.
a. understands Professional Standards; enhance
b. misunderstands Professional Methods; hinder
c. misunderstands Professional Standards; hinder
d. understands Professional Methods; enhance - Answers- b. understands Professional
Methods; enhance
Rationale: SMSgt Hunt's comments demonstrates he understands the Professional Methods
quality of Progressive Professionalism. The POA chapter states, "As a senior leader, your
continued monitoring and commitment to ensuring professional methods are maintained and
enhanced should add value to the meaning of professionalism for you and those you lead. If
done effectively, these actions can help you (and others) continue to move further along to the
right side of the continuum."
CHAPTER: POA & the SNCO (LM01)
SOB: Predict the impact of the Profession of Arms on subordinate, SNCO, unit, and mission
effectiveness.
MSgt Prince is well liked and appreciates how his subordinates respect him and feel
comfortable coming to him about anything. This morning his newest NCO, SSgt James, tells
Prince, "I'm still receiving my overseas' cost of living allowance (COLA), but I really need the
money, should I update my records." Because he understands James' current financial
situation, having experienced financial problems himself, and not wanting to change how James
feels about him, Prince replies, "Okay, for now, but you should establish a personal budget and
then stop the COLA."
MSgt Prince's effectiveness will MOST likely _________ because he _________. - Answers-
decrease; fell into an ethical trap
Rationale: MSgt Prince clearly fell into the ethical trap of worry over image, which according to
Ethical Leadership chapter is where a leader makes decisions based on how the decision will
impact one's reputation/standing among peers, subordinates, supervisors, community etc.
rather than on military rules, regulations and codes of conduct. In the scenario, Prince was
clearly concerned about his reputation as evidenced by the statement, "Not wanting to change
how James feels about him ..." Decreased effectiveness is the only possible outcome of
unethical decision-making.
,MSgt Moxley was just briefed by SMSgt Fiscus that he will be taking over the Dispatch
Operations section because the section has been struggling to meet the service response times
outlined by senior leadership. He asks the shift supervisors to gather data necessary to
measure just how well they are at meeting their goals. Upon review of the information he begins
to notice a trend. Since the installation of the new database in the dispatch section, most of the
members are still struggling to input information correctly, resulting in them not being on time for
aircrew pickups. MSgt Moxley decides to conduct a training session to get all members up to
speed on the new database.
MSgt Moxley's action BEST illustrate the use of the_________________ perspective.
a. Learning & Growth
b. Financial
c. Business - Answers- a. Learning & Growth
Rationale: According to the Strategic Planning chapter, the Learning & Growth perspective
includes employee training and corporate cultural attitudes related to both individual and
corporate self improvement. In a knowledge-worker organization, people are the main resource.
In the current climate of rapid technological change, it is becoming necessary for knowledge
workers to be in a continuous learning mode. MSgt Moxley conducted inservice-
training to bring his people up to speed on the new
database.
CHAPTER: Strategic Planning (LM13)
SOB: Illustrate Strategic Planning concepts and their
impacts on SNCO and mission effectiveness.
While speaking with a tribal elder to see if there is any trouble in the area, MSgt Stafford begins
to sense that the elder doesn't understand what he is saying. Although the elder is keeping eye
contact, Stafford remembers from his cultural training and begins to increase the rate of his
speech and adjust his pitch to ensure he is getting through to the elder.
MSgt Stafford's __________ will MOST likely ___________his effectiveness.
a. misuse of paralanguage; hinder
b. understanding of nonverbal communication; enhance
c. use of paralanguage; enhance
misunderstanding of nonverbal communication; hinder - Answers- c. Use of paralanguage;
enhance
Although the elder is using nonverbal communication, nothing
in this scenario indicates MSgt Stafford is using it. According to the Cross Cultural Competence
chapter, there are four types of nonverbal communication (haptics, proxemics, chronemics, and
kinesics).
According to the Cross Cultural Competence chapter,
paralanguage shapes how we say what we say via volume,
intonation, word emphasis, rate of speech, and pitch. In this
scenario, MSgt Stafford is using paralanguage as evidenced by increasing the rate and pitch of
his speech. Stafford's
,use of paralanguage will MOST likely enhance his
effectiveness because changing the rate and pitch of his
speech with the elder may help him determine/learn about
any trouble in the area.
CHAPTER: Cross Cultural Competence (LM06)
SOB: Predict the impact of Cross-Cultural Competence on
subordinate, SNCO, unit, and mission effectiveness.
MSgt Johnson has noticed that two of his NCOICs have been in some sort of dispute the last
couple of days and seem unable to work it out. Johnson decides to call them into his office and
they ask him to mediate their dispute. After his opening comments, Johnson allows each party
plenty of time to speak about the issue, their interests, and their position so that everyone
understands.
This scenario BEST identifies the _____step of Mediation.
a. Joint Discussion
b. Mediator's Opening Statement
c. Parties Opening Statement - Answers- c. Parties Opening Statement
According to the Mediation chapter, during the opening
statement, the parties' are given adequate time to speak about the issue at hand and share their
interests without interruption. Each party should fully explain the issue, their interests, and
positions as they see it so that all parties, including the mediator, understand. This is what the
scenario identifies (Johnson allows each party plenty of time to speak about the issue, their
interests, and their position so that everyone understands).
CHAPTER: Mediation (LM07)
SOB: Identify Mediation concepts and/or their impact on
subordinate and mission effectiveness
MSgt Lingle is the POC for the installation of a new wireless network in his work center. He uses
all of the resources at his disposal and integrates all actions and facets of the project together in
order to be successful. He monitors quality while remaining cognizant of timeliness of the
product while keeping an eye on potential risks. During the process, he continuously informs the
commander of the installation on progress in case adjustments are needed.
MSgt Lingle's actions BEST illustrate the project ______ step of Project Management.
a. Execution
b. Initiation
c. Planning - Answers- a. Execution
MSgt Lingles's actions best illustrate the Execution step of
Project Management. According to the Project Management
chapter, "The execution process involves coordinating people
and resources, as well as integrating and performing the
activities of the project in accordance with the project
, management plan."
CHAPTER: Project Management (LM12)
SOB: Illustrate Project Management concepts and/or
their impact on SNCO and mission effectiveness.
While preparing for a patrol in his deployed location, SMSgt Swenson tells his team, "In the
U.S., we tend to live in our own home and value making our own choices. As we go door to
door, we may encounter many extended family members living in one space because their
culture is different than ours. Remember this for your and our safety."
SMSgt Swenson's comments BEST illustrate ___________ and its impact on mission
effectiveness.
a. collectivism
b. individualism
c. individualism and collectivism - Answers- c. individualism and collectivism
SMSgt Swenson's comments include both individualism
and collectivism.
Response
Feedback:
CHAPTER: Cross Cultural Competence (LM06)
SOB: Give examples of Cross-Cultural Competence
and/or its impact on subordinate, SNCO, unit, and mission
effectiveness.
MSgt Petty is good at connecting and negotiating with all types of people and was charged with
reconfiguring the work center's floor plan. To help with the task, he selects two members who he
believes are creative, can think "outside-the-box", and are good at viewing problems from
different perspectives. Next, he selects three members who are capable of analyzing solutions
logically. Finally, he chooses two more people who he knows will deliver high-quality results.
Several weeks later, Petty's group submits and receives approval for the new floor plan.
This scenario BEST identifies MSgt Petty's understanding of _______ impact on team success.
a. the "Z" process and its
b. team roles and their
c. team dynamics and their - Answers- b. team roles and their
According to the Team Dynamics chapter, the roles that people find most comfortable fulfilling
based on their most natural thought processes and behavioral tendencies include Creator,
Advancer, Refiner, Executor, and Flexer. MSgt Petty used his understanding of team roles to
pick creators (creative and good at viewing problems from different perspectives), refiners
(capable of analyzing solutions logically), and executors (deliver high-quality results) to give his
team the best chance for success. MSgt Petty's team was successful since the new floor plan
was approved.
CHAPTER: Team Dynamics (LM08)