PME boosts civilian leadership opportunities Published Jan. 12, 2009 By Susan K. Wilson 21st Force Support Squadron PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- In the Air Force's current climate of shared leadership, civilians are being provided opportunities to fill positions that have historically been held by military officers. For goal-oriented civilians, there are many opportunities to attend Professional Military Education (PME) courses to prepare for career advancement. Quotas allow civilians to attend PME courses that provide leadership doctrine and management philosophy through in-residence attendance, on-base seminars and correspondence courses. Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., conducts professional military education, graduate education and professional continuing education for officers, enlisted members and civilians throughout their careers. Air University's PME schools prepare students from the Air Force, its sister services and allied nations for more responsible positions as they progress through their careers. Emphases in these programs include leadership, military doctrine and aerospace power. All can be completed in correspondence and/or in residence for those NCOs, SNCOs, officers and civilians competitively selected. Each year there are slots for civilians for the following PME schools in residence. They include the Non-commissioned Officer Academy (NCOA), Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC), Squadron Officer School (SOS), Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) and Air War College (AWC). The guidance for civilian applications is generally received in the early spring and forwarded to the base civilian training managers to disseminate to their squadron POCs and commanders. However, this process is under review and any changes will be widely publicized. Below are the schools with a brief description and the civilian eligibility requirements: Airman Leadership School (ALS) (correspondence only): The ALS curriculum consists of 3 volumes. Volume One, Profession of Arms, is designed to provide airmen the knowledge and value skills necessary to succeed as supervisors in a military environment; Volume Two, Leadership and Management, is divided into six units of instruction that focus on the philosophy, concepts, principles and operating practices of effective leadership; and Volume Three, Communication Skills, focuses on providing tools/knowledge to be more effective communicators. Civilian eligibility includes the following: GS-4 or NSPS equivalent. Enrollment procedures are to report to the Education Center for completion of the enrollment process. Non-commissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) (correspondence and/or in-residence): The NCO Academy's 223-hour curriculum for in residence consists of three academic areas -- Profession of Arms, Communication Skills, and Leadership. The principal method of instruction is the guided discussion for the in resident course. In correspondence, the NCOA consists of 3 volumes. Volume One, Profession of Arms, addresses subject matter that uniquely characterizes and separates the uniformed service from the society we serve. The lesson addresses the obligation of each student to behave in a manner that promotes the occupational professionalization of the Profession of Arms. Volume Two, Leadership and Management, covers Human Resources and Organizational Management. These topics provide students with the basic understanding of Human Behavior, Human Relations, and Human Resource Development. Volume Three, Communication Skills, consists of basic communication, writing, and speaking. Civilian eligibility includes the following: GS-6 through GS-9, WG-12, WL-1, WL-6, WS-1 through WS-8 or NSPS equivalent. Civilians who are prior military are not eligible. To enroll in the correspondence course, report to the Education Center. Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy (SNCOA) (correspondence only): The purpose of the Senior NCO Academy program is to prepare students to improve and expand senior enlisted leadership capabilities and reinforce a commitment to the profession of arms. The four areas, Profession of Arms, Communication Skills, Behavior Analysis and Human Resource Development, and Organizational Management, are designed at a level to provide a broad view to understand the larger context of joint operations, hone communication skills to enhance leadership skills, enable leaders to know and understand why people react as they do and provide tools and methods to improve subordinate performance. Civilian eligibility includes the following: GS-6 or NSPS equivalent and be in a management position. To enroll in the correspondence course, report to the Education Center. Aerospace Basic Course (ASBC): The ASBC is the first residence course in officer PME and is for newly commissioned second lieutenants and selected civilians. The four-week class, instructing more than 4,600 students annually, includes modules of study designed for students to comprehend their role as expeditionary Airmen. Civilian eligibility includes the following: Palace Acquire interns, Copper Cap interns in their second or third year of training and base-level interns with at least 6 months of service are eligible to attend. Information/publicity will be distributed for competitive civilian quotas that may become available. Squadron Officer School (SOS): The mission of Squadron Officer School, the second officer PME course, is to develop dynamic leaders rededicated to the Profession of Arms. For captains with four to seven years experience, this five-week course is taught seven times per year, with about 520 students per class. Civilian eligibility is as follows: GS 9-12 or NSPS equivalent. To enroll in the correspondence course, report to the Education Center. Information/publicity will be distributed for competitive civilian quotas that may become available for the in-residence course. Air Command and Staff College (ACSC): ACSC is the Air Force's intermediate officer PME School, preparing field grade officers (primarily majors and majors-select) and civilians to assume positions of higher responsibility within the military and government arenas. Geared toward teaching the skills necessary for command, ACSC focuses on shaping and molding future squadron commanders. Eligibility for civilians includes the following: Permanent GS-12/13 or NSPS equivalent (Pay Band 2), minimum of 2 years AF civil service, bachelor's degree, mobility agreement, Top Secret Special Compartmented Information Clearance (TSSCI) and ASBC or SOS completion preferred. Enrollment process for the correspondence course is completed on-line at the ACSC Web site, http://wwwacsc.au.af.mil/. Information/publicity will be distributed for competitive civilian quotas that may become available for the in-residence course. Air War College (AWC): AWC is the senior school in the Air Force PME system and annually prepares more than 260 participants including officers from all branches of the armed forces, international officers, and civilians of equivalent rank from U.S. government agencies. The 44-week class schedule emphasizes joint operations and the employment of aerospace power in support of national security. Eligibility for civilians includes the following: Permanent GS-14/15 or NSPS equivalent (Pay Band 3), 2 years minimum AF civil service, bachelor's degree, mobility agreement, Top Secret Special Compartmented Information (TSSCI), master's degree and completion of ACSC preferred. Enrollment process for correspondence course is completed on-line at the AWC web site http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc-ns.htm. Information/publicity will be distributed for competitive civilian quotas that may become available for the in-residence course.