EAGLE FLAG evaluation tool: A quantitative measure for assessing readiness capability and managing risk of expeditionary mid-level, supervisory religious support teams of the United States Air Force Chaplain Service

In 2003, United States Air Force (USAF) Chief of Staff, General John Jumper ordered the establishment of a new Air Force-level exercise designed to assess the ability of Air Expeditionary Forces (AEF) to open and establish air bases in the quickest time and most efficient manner. The exercise is called EAGLE FLAG. Mid-level, supervisory Air Force Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants were involved providing ministry and planning for incoming Religious Support fears (RST).;Exercise developers were directed to design assessment instruments that measured on a two-point scale: "go/no go." The instrument only measured the RSTs ability to provide overhead supervision and to provide ministry to deployed personnel. It did not assess the quality of their readiness capability or their level of spiritual preparedness.;This project takes the parameters established in a previous rating instrument and expands them to develop an instrument that can be used to assess readiness capability and manage the risk of deploying RSTs. Observer/Controllers (O/C) can use it as a rating instrument and to provide instructional feedback to the RST. RSTs can use it as checklist of necessary actions to establish successful religious operations. Finally, planners and Commanders can use the instrument to determine the level of risk they assume by accepting the RST for deployment.;The project was tested once and shows promise. The expanded rating scale provided better fidelity of the capabilities of the RST and provided enough data for the RST to win an award internal to the EAGLE FLAG exercise. The questions on spirituality raised awareness and proved to be helpful, though more value would be gained by not associating a rating scale with spirituality. Though more testing would have given better results, and multiple usages would overcome resistance to change, overall the project provides an aid to mid-level, supervisory RSTs accomplishing their expeditionary leadership tasks.