Squadron Officer College staff offers new distance learning courses Published Nov. 20, 2009 By Carl Bergquist Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) -- Squadron Officer College instructors here will be offering four new distance learning courses, based on selected competencies from the Air Force Competency List, to company grade officers beginning in 2010. Basing the courses on Air Force competencies is important, said Dr. Norm Wagner, a Squadron Officer College faculty member and Company Grade Officer Leadership Development Program coordinator. "That makes these course relevant to these officers," he said. "Although targeting Air Force company grade officers, all courses will eventually be open to Air Force active-duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard officers as well as officers from other services." Doctor Wagner said Leadership Development Program personnel hope to have the courses under way by the end of January, and the first classes will be small in number. "We will be developing new processes in the first course, but once that is done and we find the mistakes and fix them, we will be able to open the courses up to everyone," he said. The doctor said the four courses are titled Foundations of Officership, Flight Commander, Expeditionary Leadership and Organizational Leadership. They are self-paced, and students have up to six months to complete them. He said most students will probably take the courses that fit the needs of their career field. The new program is important for the continuing education of company grade officers, said Lt. Col. Robert Hamilton, the Squadron Officer College Academic Affairs vice dean. "(Courses) provide an outlet for documented professional continuing education, and also provide knowledge applicable to the day-to-day job of CGOs," he said. "Since Air Force officers are CGOs for an extended period of time, this provides an opportunity to stay in the educational mindset between their regular professional military education." Capt. Peter Axt, the Squadron Officer College director of operations for the Distance Learning Program, said as a young captain he would have enthusiastically taken an opportunity like this to receive additional education. He said information concerning the program will be available on the Squadron Officer College Web site at www.au.af.mil/au/soc/cgolp.html. "We will have a registration site within the regular SOC site," he said. "Watch the SOC Web site for the exact starting dates for the program. We will post that information by the first of the year." Doctor Wagner said distance learning courses "fill the same square" in an officer's record as in-residence courses. The study is online, but students will have to go to the base education office to take examinations. The number of exams will vary from two to four depending on the course taken. "These courses will help CGOs further develop the skills needed to excel in today's world of rapidly accelerating technology and limitless access to information," he said. "They will also prepare them to adapt to unforeseeable challenges and future risks."