Squadron Officer College

Existing List of SOS Frequently-Asked Questions
Q. How many SOS classes are held each year?
A. Squadron Officer School conducts five classes (A - E) a year. Each class has approximately 840 students and lasts eight weeks.

Q. Who is eligible to attend SOS?
A. Captains with at least four and fewer than seven years of total active federal commissioned service, who are not in a failed or deferred promotion status, are eligible to attend SOS. Students must have a passing PFT score which is current throughout course duration. Department of Defense (DOD) civilians in the grade of GS-12 or NSPS equivalent with at least four years of continuous civil service are eligible. See Air Force Catalog 36-2223, USAF Formal Schools, for additional information.

Q. Where/How do I get a waiver to come to SOS if I'm outside my eligibility window?
A. Waivers are issued by your MAJCOM/DP. Requests should go up through your chain of command. If you are on a waiver, it must be noted on your orders.

Q. Where do I go to check-in?
A. You must report to the Squadron Officer College, Building 1403, located just across Chennault Circle from the JAG school and the B-52 static display, between 1300 and 1900 in the snack bar area on the day before class for our mass in-processing.

Q. How long does automated check-in take?
A. On average, the whole procedure takes less than 30 minutes in the snack bar area of the Squadron Officer College. We have several computer workstations available so several people can check-in simultaneously.

Q. Do I have to be in Service Dress the first day of class?
A. Yes.

Q. Do I need ABUs if I wear a flight suit?
A. Yes. You must bring one pair of utility ABUs for rugged outdoor activities with you. Recommended clothing needed for SOS is described .

Q. Am I required to in-process with a current PFT score?
A. Yes. If you do not have a current PFT score which is current throughout course duration, you will be returned to your unit.

Q. I’m in a master’s degree program, will I have time to work on it while I’m at SOS?
A. Due to the intense nature of the curriculum you should not plan to work on your master’s degree while at SOS. Also, you should check with your school to determine if you can obtain credit for your degree from your attendance at SOS. The AU Registrar can provide the required documentation for your school.

Q. I’m pregnant, can I come to SOS?
A. No. The ETCA specifically states, "No officer or civilian with a temporary profile for conditions such as fractures, pregnancy, torn ligaments, or surgical recovery will attend SOS. Units should schedule these personnel for class after becoming medically capable of participating in strenuous SOS physical conditioning and passing the Air Force physical fitness test."

Q. Can I have time off from SOS if my wife is pregnant and due during the class, I'm getting married during class, I'm scheduled to be in a wedding, or my family is having a reunion?
A. No, you need to reschedule to come to a later class when SOS can be your exclusive focus for 8 weeks.

Q. I’m coming to SOS and bringing my spouse. Where will the room I’m assigned be?
A. All accompanied rooms have private baths. However, some rooms have private kitchens and some have shared kitchens. Rooms are assigned based upon needs of the flights (i.e., specific AFSCs). Therefore, you cannot request a specific room. For the most part, flights live in the same dormitory. If you tell your spouse the room is small (i.e., the size of a Motel 6 room), with only a shared kitchenette, he/she will know what to expect.

Q. I’m bringing my dogs/cats/birds; where can I board them if I stay on base?
A. We discourage bringing pets with you to SOS. Billeting does not allow pets in their facilities. Boarding is very expensive--$10/day in most places in Montgomery. You will have to make your own arrangements.

Q. I can’t get there until after the first day of class.  What do I do?
A. You MUST contact SOC/DPS to arrange for late arrival procedures so we don't count you as a "no-show", which counts against your MAJCOM. As soon as you do arrive, go directly to the lodging office at University Inn Bldg 157. Tell them you are an SOS student and they will put you in your assigned room. If you arrive more than two days early, go directly to the University Inn and they will place you in a temporary room until you can check-in.

Q. Can I leave school during the weekends?  How far can I go?
A. Yes, you can sign out on a pass for the entire weekend unless your flight has an activity scheduled. You can sign out on Friday after the last scheduled activity and go anywhere in the CONUS as long as you are back for class Monday morning.

Q. What is my mailing address going to be?  Can I get my P.O. Box number assigned before I get there so my mail won’t get lost?
A. The mailing address is: Rank, Name; 550 East Maxwell Blvd #8000 SOS 10# (# class alphabetic identifier A through G); Maxwell AFB AL 36112-8000. Individual post office box numbers are issued by SOC/DPS when you in-process.

Q. What is the per diem rate? Are meals available?
A. Military students are on proportional per diem - $29/day plus $5 for incidentals. Civilian students receive full per diem - $38/day. Students are authorized to eat breakfast and dinner in the dining facility; lunch is not authorized. There are several places to eat lunch on the base. Lodging reimbursement is $39/day. Spouses are not authorized to eat in the dining hall. Per diem and lodging amounts are the same regardless of whether spouses accompany the student.

Q. What Medical and OB services are available to families traveling with a service member on TDY?
A. Please see the Accompanied Spouse page for details on local medical care for dependents.

Q.  Has Flickerball been eliminated from the program? 
A.  In the past, Flickerball was part of the curriculum, however, it was not delivering the level of leadership instruction commensurate with the time invested.  Nevertheless, it proved to be an enjoyable and powerful team-building exercise.  For that reason, it has been removed from the academic curriculum. There continues to be a field-day activity where students can continue to experience this trademark SOS experience freed from concerns that their performance will count towards their student ranking. In addition, following the closing of ASBC in 2011, the more doctrinally-focused warfare field activity has been incorporated into the new SOS curriculum.

Q.  Is there a debate exercise in the curriculum?
A.  Yes.  It is a critical-thinking/communication-skills activity that pits students against one another over a topic regarding International Security Studies.  While Air Force officers seldom find themselves in formal debates, the processes and skills exercised in such an exercise are particularly applicable to military service.  The exercise tests officers’ ability to think critically and quickly, create and present coherent arguments, and listen effectively to others’ ideas.

Q .  Can I get credit towards a master’s degree for attending SOS?
A.  It depends upon your school and program.  The American Council on Education reviewed the SOS resident curriculum in 2002 and made a 3-credit-hour, graduate-degree-category recommendation in the area of leadership/managerial human relations.  The SOS curriculum has improved significantly since the 2002 review, incorporating a dynamic new leadership emphasis that is well in keeping with that employed in the best leadership-development institutions across the country.  At the conclusion of the ongoing transformation, SOC will request another review of its program seeking a higher credit-hour recommendation for its offerings.

Q.  According to press releases, SOS has transitioned from an observer-evaluator to a coach-mentor format in its instruction.  What does that mean?
A.  In the past, SOS flight commanders – the faculty instructors – were prohibited from intervening in student performance for fear of giving an unfair advantage in the student ranking.  Obviously this “non-intervention rule” was created and executed with the best intentions; however, it severely restricted the students’ potential to gain insights from the highly qualified faculty.  What other school would restrict its teachers from intervening to help their students learn?  The new coach-mentor model encourages faculty to help whenever it is appropriate.  They cannot “take the test” for the students, but they can ensure that their students are educated and equipped to perform to their maximum potential both within the SOS program and in the “real test” that follows, back in their units!

Q.  According to press releases, PowerPoint is “going away” at SOS.  What exactly does that mean?
A.  In the past, the academic sessions comprising the SOS program had devolved to a series of formal and informal lectures, typically accompanied by vast decks of PowerPoint slides and scripts.  Since learning can be stymied by this approach, SOS has embraced the teaching style prevalent at most graduate-level institutions focusing on leadership; interaction.  Through guided discussions in the classrooms, in-class and field exercises, and experiential activities that mimic combat conditions, the faculty and students join forces to share their knowledge and experience in ways that help students achieve the desired learning outcomes.  It is far more active learning experience in which students can take responsibility for their learning and tailor the important lessons being taught to their particular developmental needs as military leaders.  This does not mean that students will not see PowerPoint slides – there are times when slides are both useful and appropriate.  It only means that classroom sessions will not be limited to “scripted briefings,” but will instead focus on interactive, collaborative learning.