Air and Space Basic Course
Encyclopedia
Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC) is a Professional Military Education
(PME) course taught by the Squadron Officer College, Air University, at Maxwell AFB
, AL. It is the first level of PME for U.S. Air Force
second lieutenant
s and is required regardless of commissioning source. Together with the Squadron Officer School, ASBC completes the Air Force basic developmental education (BDE) program. Each ASBC class has approximately 12 students and is taught by an Air Force Captain.
Newly commissioned officers and Department of Defense
(DoD) civilians GS-7 or NSPS Pay Band 2 or above who have completed a baccalaureate degree are eligible to attend. Air Force guidance is for 100 percent of line, active-duty Air Force officers to attend ASBC. Typical classes include representatives from all major commands and job specialties in the Air Force, and include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
members, as well as DoD civilians.
. On 8 February 2000 it joined with the Squadron Officer School
to form the Squadron Officer College. Since its activation, the program has been awarded the Organizational Excellence Award
seven times
ASBC will close after the final group of lieutenants graduates from the course in the summer of 2011. The course will then merge to become part of the curriculum in the Squadron Officer School. The new eight-week SOS course is scheduled to open in early 2012.
The program is dedicated to inculcate "a warrior ethos in the Air Force’s youngest officers through a rigorous experiential and academic program aimed at imparting critical warfighting skills while simultaneously introducing students to the full range of Air Force operations, organizational constructs, and doctrinal concepts." A component of the airpower doctrine instruction takes place through classroom "wargames
" that simulate theater-level combat operations. Recently the course has added a "combatives" element that applies the classroom instruction to the expeditionary combat culture of the modern Air Force.
Professional Military Education
Professional Military Education refers to the professional training, development, and schooling of service members in the United States Armed Forces...
(PME) course taught by the Squadron Officer College, Air University, at Maxwell AFB
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, AL. It is the first level of PME for U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
s and is required regardless of commissioning source. Together with the Squadron Officer School, ASBC completes the Air Force basic developmental education (BDE) program. Each ASBC class has approximately 12 students and is taught by an Air Force Captain.
Newly commissioned officers and Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD) civilians GS-7 or NSPS Pay Band 2 or above who have completed a baccalaureate degree are eligible to attend. Air Force guidance is for 100 percent of line, active-duty Air Force officers to attend ASBC. Typical classes include representatives from all major commands and job specialties in the Air Force, and include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
members, as well as DoD civilians.
History
ASBC was activated on 12 September 1997 as part of the Air Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
. On 8 February 2000 it joined with the Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School , is a five-week long Professional Military Education course for U.S. Air Force Captains. It fulfills the U.S. Air Force's requirement for primary developmental education . SOS is based at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and the in-residence version of the course is taught there...
to form the Squadron Officer College. Since its activation, the program has been awarded the Organizational Excellence Award
Organizational Excellence Award
The Air Force Organizational Excellence Award is an award of the United States Air Force and is the lowest ranking unit award. The award was first created in 1969 and is presented to Air Force internal organizations that are entities within larger organizations...
seven times
ASBC will close after the final group of lieutenants graduates from the course in the summer of 2011. The course will then merge to become part of the curriculum in the Squadron Officer School. The new eight-week SOS course is scheduled to open in early 2012.
Curriculum
ASBC is a six week in-resident course, with approximately ten start dates a year. One week of the course runs concurrently with a combined program at the Senior NCO Academy at Maxwell-Gunter Annex.The program is dedicated to inculcate "a warrior ethos in the Air Force’s youngest officers through a rigorous experiential and academic program aimed at imparting critical warfighting skills while simultaneously introducing students to the full range of Air Force operations, organizational constructs, and doctrinal concepts." A component of the airpower doctrine instruction takes place through classroom "wargames
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
" that simulate theater-level combat operations. Recently the course has added a "combatives" element that applies the classroom instruction to the expeditionary combat culture of the modern Air Force.