Inbound Student Information

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 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 Course Dates