Air and Space Basic Course celebrates 10 years

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jennifer Lovett
  • Air and Space Basic Course flight commander
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  Air University's Air and Space Basic Course here marks its 10-year anniversary in August as course and local officials are celebrating.

In a surprise announcement Aug. 19, Montgomery, Ala., Mayor Bobby Bright proclaimed that Aug. 23 would be known as Air and Space Basic Course Day in Montgomery.

"We are thrilled that the city of Montgomery recognizes the achievements of our school," said Col. Mark Simon, the school's commandant. "The great partnership that we have with the surrounding communities enables us to provide a dynamic academic environment that affects every new officer in the U.S. Air Force."

ASBC began as an idea of former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, and it tested its first class in August 1998, graduating 282 new officers.

"The course was created to give new officers a common background in airpower doctrine and operations," General Fogleman said.

The course has undergone several iterations through the years to ensure the curriculum is as up-to-date and relevant as possible, officials said.

It is currently undergoing its largest overhaul to date, adding two full weeks of expeditionary skills training to prepare Airmen for deployment.

"We're enhancing the education of our new officers through field condition deployment training to enable a common bond experience," said Capt. Stephen Arnott of the ASBC retool office. "This new ASBC will build better officers and our anvil is focused on skills that are relevant in today's dynamic expeditionary environment."

The school continues its celebration through the end of the calendar year.

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