Squadron Officer School forges future for CGOs Published May 11, 2010 MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Squadron Officer School celebrates its 60th anniversary with an array of events this weekend, culminating with an address by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz. General Schwartz is scheduled to be keynote speaker at Saturday's military ball. The school provides company grade officers in their fourth to seventh years of commissioned service the opportunity to attend one of seven classes each year. To date, more than 172,000 CGOs have graduated SOS. Air University Commander Lt. Gen. Allen Peck talked about the importance of SOS's professional military education for CGOs. "Squadron Officer School forges an indelible, positive impact on Air Force captains who are a critical part of military leadership and, arguably, the future of our nation's ability to effectively engage in future conflicts," he said. In five short weeks of training and education, the school's instructors play a pivotal role in shaping the future ability of each captain to lead in a dynamic military environment. As the Air Force has evolved, SOS has taken its place alongside other premier military education institutions, introducing new learning techniques and technology. Most recently using AFSO 21 process-improvement techniques, SOS curriculum incorporated with a "coach/mentor" style of instruction which uses guided discussions. Experiential activities were reworked to focus on the developmental needs of modern CGOs, and SOS partnered with Air Force Institute of Technology to develop a new, scientifically-based distinguished-graduate program. Future advances in curriculum include incorporating cutting-edge education technology, such as the Blackboard Learning Management System, which allows curriculum access anywhere an Internet connection is available and encourages interaction between students outside the classroom using personally owned technology. Though it has stood alongside the Alabama River for quite some time, SOS has not always been at Maxwell Air Force Base. The program traces its roots to May 1946 and the Air Tactical School at Tyndall Field, Fla. The first SOS Commandant, Colonel Russell V. Ritchey, called the early period of the school the "Years of the Tiger." When hostilities broke out in Korea in June 1950, the Air Force drastically reduced the enrollment of officers attending Air University's professional military education programs, resulting in the closure of the Air Tactical School. The fledgling company-grade officer program was formally activated as the Squadron Officer Course, an arm of Air Command and Staff School, in September 1950. The Squadron Officer Course was renamed Squadron Officer School in 1954 and became an independent school of the Air University in 1959. Affectionately known as "Red Pants" because of the color of their field leadership uniforms, SOS instructors continue to shape the Air Force long after their tour is complete. Twenty-seven former Red Pants attained Flag rank, and two former Red Pants, William R. Lawley Jr. and James P. Fleming, received the Medal of Honor. The 60th Anniversary Celebration doubles as a "Red Pants Reunion." Throughout SOS's 60-year history, world events and resource constraints shaped the length and student attendance rates. Initially an eight-week course, SOS grew to 14 weeks in 1954 and remained so for 19 years. In 1973, it was reduced to 11 weeks in order to support a throughput increase to 85 percent and then was shortened even further to seven weeks in 1989 to allow all eligible line officers to attend. In 2000, concurrent with the standup of the Air and Space Basic Course, the course was reduced to its current five-week format. Today, 80 percent of line officers from all commissioning sources get the opportunity to attend one of the seven SOS classes held each year. Article courtesy of Squadron Officer School