Qualified captains sought for Inter-American SOS program

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --  Active-duty captains proficient in Spanish may be eligible to attend the Inter-American Squadron Officer School at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland here, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

"The ISOS program is designed to develop dynamic Airmen ready to lead air, space, and cyberspace power in an expeditionary war-fighting environment," said 2nd Lt. Kyle Seifert, the AFPC Force Development Support Branch chief. "Students practice leadership and managerial skills, using lessons on leadership, military ethics, Air Force core values, and human rights."

Commander endorsed applications are due July 26, and interested Airmen are advised to start their applications early.

"The course requires specific language proficiency levels and fitness standards, so interested captains should begin preparing now to make sure they have time to complete all the required documents and coordinate the application for their commanders' endorsements," Seifert said.

ISOS mirrors the SOS in-residence course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., but with additional objectives developing inter-American awareness and developing a cadre of potential Latin American regional affairs specialists, Seifert explained. Program graduates will earn primary developmental education credit through Air University.

Captains from any Air Force specialty code are eligible if they have between 4-7 years of total active federal commissioned service as of course start date, have the required Spanish language proficiency levels, and meet physical fitness standards. SOS completion by distance learning is also recommended.

AFPC and IAAFA will host a webinar June 21, 9 a.m., to provide more information about the program. To access the webinar, visit https://connect.dco.dod.mil/r13749722.

Primary and alternate selectees will be notified of their selection in late August for classes scheduled to begin Oct. 10, 2013, and Feb. 18 and June 2, 2014.

For more information about ISOS, including complete eligibility requirements and application procedures, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil and enter "PSDM 13-50" in the search window.