What does a Specialty Training Standard (STS) describe for a given Air Force specialty?

• A. Tasks and knowledge expected on the job and the 3-5-7 skill levels.
• B. The annual training budget for the specialty.
• C. The safety policies of the Air Force.
• D. The base housing requirements.

Answer: (A)

The main thing an STS describes is what a given Air Force specialty requires in terms of tasks and the knowledge needed to perform them, along with the expected skill levels (the 3-5-7 progression). In other words, it outlines what a practitioner must be able to do on the job and what they should know at different stages of their career, so training and evaluations are aligned to those standards. The 3-5-7 levels correspond to the typical progression from entry to journeyman to craftsman, adding more depth and complexity at each step.

Budget, safety policies, and housing requirements aren’t the focus of an STS. Budgets come from financial planning documents, safety policies are part of broader safety program guidance, and housing requirements are handled by base housing or personnel policies. The STS specifically targets the competencies and performance expectations for the specialty.