This white paper explores how the U.S. Department of War can move beyond traditional training metrics—such as course completion—to measure true workforce readiness. It introduces the Mission Readiness Knowledge Index (MRKI), a competence-based model powered by FedLearn’s AI-driven Z1 score, which evaluates knowledge transfer, retention and real-world application during training. By aligning learning outcomes with mission-essential tasks, MRKI provides leaders with a more accurate, data-driven way to assess and improve operational readiness.