A Psychometric Examination of Mission Essential Competency (MEC) Measures Used in Air Force Distributed Mission Operations Training Needs Analysis

Abstract

The Mission Essential Competency (MEC) approach to work and training needs analysis has been the focus of a multiyear research project of the United States Air Force. This article was written with the specific goal of reviewing the psychometric characteristics of the various measures that are used in this process. Using extensive survey data from different target populations, we show that the MEC measures are reliable and perform in a way that valid measures would be expected to perform, such as demonstrating appropriate expert/novice differences, expected relationships between general competencies and MECs, and reasonable relationships between job tenure and knowledge/skill.