Officer Training School celebrates 50th anniversary Published Feb. 8, 2010 By Carl Bergquist Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) -- Air University Holm Center's Officer Training School officials at Maxwell-Gunter AFB celebrated the 50th anniversary of the school's opening Feb. 5. The school invited former OTS students, staff and their guests to attend 50th anniversary events held through Feb. 7. "We will commemorate 50 years of excellence and the graduation of the class 60A, which was the first class to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School," said Capt. Steve Masternak, the OTS flight commander and one of the project officers for the event. "We wanted former OTS graduates to have the opportunity to return to OTS to see how things have changed since they were officer trainees." The anniversary highlights include a retreat ceremony, 5K run, OTS facilities tours, golf tournament and a formal dinner Feb. 6. The Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz, was the key note speaker at the dinner. Retired Lt. Gen. Norman Wood of class 61A was the first OTS graduate to attain flag officer rank also attended. "The retreat ceremony will be pretty emotional for both the officer trainees and former OTS graduates because we will announce the names of all OTS graduates who have been killed in action," said Capt. Casey Pombert, the OTS student commander. "That will make an impression on cadets and bring back memories for OTS graduates, as they may remember some of the names from their classes." Officer Training School began at Lackland AFB, Texas, in 1959 with 89 trainees in the class of 60A. The school was a 90-day program of physical, academic and military training designed to transform active duty, Reserve and National Guard enlisted members into quality commissioned officers. In September 1993, OTS moved to Maxwell-Gunter AFB as part of the Air Force chief of staff's vision to align all officer education at Air University. OTS merged with the Air Force ROTC in 1997 under the new Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools, and in 2008 AFOATS was re-designated the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development. In August 2009, the Air National Guard's Academy of Military Science relocated to OTS from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn., to solidify OTS as the total force training location. For more information about this weekend's 50th anniversary event, visit the OTS anniversary Web site at: www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/50aniv.asp.