New Army, Air Force lieutenants
will be getting more training
By B.R. Sargent, Seoul
bureau
| Length
of service school courses |
| |
Officer
Candidate Schools / Officer Training School |
Leadership
course |
| Marines |
10 weeks |
6 months |
| Army |
14 weeks |
7 weeks |
| Air Force |
12 weeks |
4 weeks (20 academic
days) |
Navy
information not available.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Army and Air Force Web sites. |
Becoming an Army or Air Force officer used to require four to six weeks of training
before being sent to career field schools.
Now, officials from both services are following the Marine Corps’ 110-year
example, adding an additional four to seven weeks of leadership training for new
lieutenants.
Education officials from both services say their new programs focus on leader
development and warrior philosophy. In a welcome letter to new Aerospace Basic Course
students, Air Force Col. Dale Shoupe, course commandant, explains that warrior philosophy
is learned in warfare.
"The distinguishing characteristic of a professional military officer is that
he/she is learned in warfare," writes Shoupe.
The Army’s Basic Officer Leadership Course "will teach many common core tasks
that all officers need," said Army Col. Steve Sifers, 11th Infantry Regiment
commander. "Every aspect is designed to develop leadership, [including] how to
conduct operations in a field environment."
Sifers said 74 percent of the course occurs in the field.
"This intense training, combined with in-depth evaluations and constant feedback,
will produce leaders who know their strengths and weaknesses, are self-aware, adaptable,
physically fit and mentally tough," he said.
The Army course is seven weeks long and takes place at Fort Benning, Ga. It is still in
the testing phase.
"The Army has not yet made a final decision regarding a permanent training
site," said Sifers.
Instructors at Air University, the Air Force’s center for professional military
education, teach Aerospace Basic Course training on the Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,
campus. The four-week course was first tested during the summer of 1998 and was approved
the following fall.
"The Chief of Staff of the Air Force has directed that 100 percent of line
officers will attend ABC starting fiscal year 2002," said Air Force 2nd Lt. Joel
Harper, Air University public affairs officer.
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