Using Rand’s Military Career Model to Evaluate the Impact of Institutional Requirements on the Air Force Space Officer Career Field

This report models the effect of filling institutional requirement (IR) positions on a career field’s health. The report also examines how changing the number of IRs affects the operational development, career experience diversity, and career paths of space officers. The fill rates of most space jobs would not be affected by reductions in the total number of IRs allocated to the space career field. IR effects on space officers’ careers could be lessened by careful job selection and position prioritization.