Professionalism in the USAF: A Comparative Analysis of Commissioned Officers with Non-Commissioned Officers

The study examines the shift from traditional military values to occupational values among military officers, driven by the transition to an all-volunteer force and increased technological specialization. It highlights the vulnerability of the officer corps to occupationalism, which may weaken organizational commitment. By utilizing Moskos' institutional versus occupational professionalism model, the research aims to analyze a broader sample of Air Force personnel to assess this trend's magnitude and offers recommendations to enhance professionalism across all ranks within the Air Force.