HISTORY
Squadron Officer School is the first course in the Air Force officer professional military education (PME) system. The school traces its roots to the Air Corps Tactical School founded in 1946 at Maxwell Field, Alabama. SOS became an arm of Air Command and Staff College in 1950 when the Tactical School closed. Col Russell V. Ritchey, founder and first commandant, opened the Squadron Officer Course-the real beginning of SOS-at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, that same year. In 1959 SOS became a separate Air University school reporting directly to the Air University commander. In 2000, Squadron Officer College (SOC) was formed with the mission to provide professional development for company grade officers. SOS has a subordinate resident and nonresident programs within SOC.
MISSION
SOS helps officers grow professionally. While at SOS, officers step out of their specialties and broaden their focus on essential leadership competencies in AFDD1-1 as well as Officership, Leadership, Problemsolving, Core Values, and the Air Force as an institution in the profession of arms. Students strengthen their Officership and Leadership techniques and apply what they learn in classroom discussions and field exercises. SOS not only provides students with an opportunity to see how their leadership skills influence team success, but also to experience Followership in support of other student leaders.
SOS Mission:
"Educate,
motivate, and mentor Captains as current and future Air Force leaders."
SOS Goal:
Educated students will value their unique role as Air Force officers by applying Air, Space, and Cyberspace leadership to effectively execute military missions, and valuing the warrior-leader ethos and its impact on Air, Space, and Cyberspace development
SOS SELECTION PROCESS
AFPC allocates quotas to each MAJCOM, FOA, and DRU proportional to the number of eligible officers assigned. MAJCOMs, FOAs, or DRUs may reallocate quotas and delegate to subordinate units the responsibility of designating the most qualified officers as primary and alternate resident SOS attendees.
Eligible health care and legal officers are selected by their respective MAJCOM staff agency. Civilians apply using AF Form 4059 to AFPC/DPIFA who holds a central selection board.
Each base selects nominees who meet eligibility requirements to attend SOS and sends the names of the nominees to the MAJCOM for final selection. The MAJCOM nominees are forwarded to AFPC for compilation. SOC Student Services downloads the class roster from AFPC approximately 1-2 weeks from the class start date.
SOS is not involved in the selection process.
Planning Dates
SOS Class Number |
Class Start Date |
Graduation Date |
11G |
12 Sep 11 |
14 Oct 11 |
12A |
CANCELLED |
CANCELLED |
12B |
09 Jan 12 |
02 Mar 12 |
12C |
26 Mar 12 |
18 May 12 |
12D |
04 Jun 12 |
27 Jul 12 |
12E |
13 Aug 12 |
05 Oct 12 |
|
|
|
CONUS Students: CONUS students should arrive no earlier than one (1) day prior to the class start date.
Overseas Students: Overseas students are authorized to arrive two (2) days prior to the class start date.
Graduation Planning: Under NO circumstances will graduating SOS students make any return air travel arrangements out of Montgomery on flights that depart before 1400 hours (2:00 PM) on their Graduation Date.
TRAINING REPORTS (AF Form 475)
In accordance with AFI 36-2406, the Squadron Officer College (SOC) will forward the original AF Form 475, Education/Training Report (TR), to HQ Air Force Personnel Center for filing into the Master Personnel Record Group (MPerRGp) within 60 calendar days after completion of Squadron Officer School or Air and Space Basic Course. SOC does not keep a copy of the Training Report.
For missing Training Reports, contact the agency below:
Active Duty – AFPC/PBSE / Randolph AFB, TX / DSN 665-4612
Guard/Reserve – ARPC/DPBR1 / Denver, CO / DSN 926-6340
TRANSCRIPTS FOR COLLEGE CREDIT
Students should visit the Air University Registrar web page (URL below) to request a copy of their transcript:
http://www.au.af.mil/au/registrar.asp
