Squadron Officer School

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Squadron Officer School
USAF - Squadron Officer School.png
Squadron Officer School emblem
Active 1 Nov 1954 to present
Country United States of America
Branch Air Force
Type Professional Military Education
Size 3,000 students annually
Part of Squadron Officer College, Air University, Air Education and Training Command
Colors blue and gold
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (4), Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (10)
Website http://www.au.af.mil/au/soc/sos.asp

Squadron Officer School (SOS), is an eight-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 (PDE).[1] SOS is based at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and the in-residence version of the course is taught there. SOS is part of the Squadron Officer College, an element of Air University.[2]

History[edit source | edit]

The school traces its roots to the Air Corps Tactical School founded in 1946. SOS became an arm of Air Command and Staff College in 1950 when the Tactical School closed. Colonel Russell V. Ritchey, founder and first commandant, opened the Squadron Officer Course at Maxwell that same year. In 1959, SOS became a separate Air University school reporting directly to the Air University commander.

Since its activation, the program has received the following awards and recognition:[3]

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (four times)

  • 1 Jan 1969 - 31 Dec 1970
  • 1 Jan 1973 - 31 Dec 1974
  • 1 May 1980 - 30 Apr 1982
  • 1 Jan 1983 - 31 Dec 1984

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (ten times)

  • 1 Jan 1985 - 31 May 1986
  • 1 Jul 1993 - 30 Jun 1995
  • 1 Jul 1997 - 30 Jun 1998
  • 1 Jul 1998 - 7 Feb 2000
  • 8 Feb 2000 - 30 Jun 2001
  • 1 Jul 2002 - 30 Jun 2003
  • 1 Jul 2003 - 30 Jun 2004
  • 1 Jul 2005 - 30 Jun 2006
  • 1 Jul 2006 - 30 Jun 2007
  • 1 Jul 2007 - 30 Jun 2008

Transfer Credit[edit source | edit]

Some colleges and universities recognize Squadron Officer School graduates with graduate-level transfer credits. Some of these programs include:

References[edit source | edit]

External links[edit source | edit]