The Squadron Officer College (SOC) Dean of Academic Affairs (SOC/DE) is responsible for the College’s curriculum This includes the Squadron Officer School (SOS) resident and distance learning programs as well as the courses that comprise the Leadership Development Program and the Leadership Concentration of the ACSC Master of Military Art and Science Online Master’s Program Additionally, SOC/DE offers courses aimed specifically at enhancing the teaching effectiveness of the College faculty.
The SOC curriculum is based on educational requirements levied by the joint staff, the HQ USAF staff, the Air Force Learning Council, Air University, and the Spaatz Center for Officer Development. These requirements are researched, validated, and met through an analytical, holistic approach based on the Air Force Instructional Systems Development (ISD) model. In addition to developing, assessing,and validating the curriculum, DE faculty and staff provide ongoing developmental experiences for the professional military faculty who teach in residence and consult routinely with the instructional staff who deliver the courses online.
This centralized-development, decentralized-execution approach to curriculum offers tremendous synergies and efficiencies in support of SOC’s educational mission The centralized development assures requirements are met at the most opportune time in an officer’s professional military development, thus minimizing repetition of requirements coverage in multiple educational venues while ensuring a coherent and consistent sequence of developmental opportunities and experiences for CGOs. Additionally, this method enhances efficiency by centralizing the College’s developmental expertise.
Course Descriptions and Curriculum Content
In early 2009, SOC launched a review of its resident curriculum. This review resulted in a new approach to CGO education founded on post-graduate educational principles and dedicated to individual understanding and growth. In addition to adopting new curriculum content, the College fundamentally altered its instructional methodologies to transition from an assessor-evaluator approach to a coach-mentor approach. The changes resulting from the 2009 have resulted in continuing review and revision of course syllabi and lessons.
SQUADRON OFFICER SCHOOL (SOS) RESIDENT MSOS001
SOS Resident is an eight-week leadership-development experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, that fulfills the Professional Military Education requirement for captains. The curriculum is designed to promote self-reflection and build upon the students’ experiences to strengthen their leadership skills and knowledge for the good of Air Force units across the globe. Using the Full-Range Leadership Model as its philosophical foundation, the course introduces students to the challenges of leadership and command but also equips them with new skills and knowledge to address those challenges. Students also study joint educational requirements as outlined in the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Officer Professional Military Education Policy (OPMEP), important material that they will use as they progress in their military careers.
SOS resident is offered five times annually to four to seven year captains and DoD civilians grades GS-9, WG-10, WL-9, and WS-8 and above with four years of continuous Civil Service employment. Students represent all major commands and job specialties from across the Air Force, and include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members, as well as DoD civilians. In addition, international officers from over 50 nations attend SOS in three of the five terms.
Faculty Development Initiatives
THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES OF ADULT EDUCATION (TPAE) acquaints new SOC flight commander candidates with basic flight room educational concepts they will need to execute the SOS curriculum. Emphasis is on instructional methodologies, educational theory, and classroom management techniques. The course provides an overview/orientation of basic curriculum development concepts including ISD, lesson design and execution, and evaluation.
ADVANCED PRINCIPLES OF INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN (APID) equips newly assigned SOC curriculum developers with information and experience necessary to design and develop world-class curriculum for the USAF’s only Company Grade PME institution. Emphasis is on the analysis, design and development of curriculum through knowledge of ISD principles. Evaluation principles and test-item analysis are also thoroughly discussed.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF ADULT EDUCATION (PAAE) provides new SOC flight commander candidates with a series of seminars and a practical experience in executing the SOS curriculum. Emphasis is on the execution of instructional methods and classroom-management techniques, focused on the SOS curriculum.
SOC Nonresident Programs
SOC offers three nonresident programs:
- SQUADRON OFFICER SCHOOL (SOS) NON-RESIDENT (DISTANCE LEARNING)
(Professional Military Education for captains)
- THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (4 COURSES)
(Professional Continuing Education)
- MASTER OF MILITARY OPERATIONAL ART AND SCIENCE ONLINE MASTER'S PROGRAM, LEADERSHIP CONCENTRATION (Partial PME and Master's Credit for Majors)
