Abstract : The father of modern military strategy, Carl Von Clausewitz, believed that an appropriate investment in the education of an officer would yield dividends on the battlefield. This belief holds true today. A 2010 House Armed Services Committee report stated, *In-residence PME (professional military education) is a critical investment in the most important element of our military -- people. Maintaining our position as the world's greatest Air Force depends upon maintaining the world's finest, best-educated officer corps. Conversely, the demands of the current fiscal climate require us to seek out cost-effective methods of delivering PME. When Colonel Russell Ritchey conceptualized what would become Squadron Officer School (SOS), he intended to create a program that encompassed the whole man concept. This course would emphasize group discussion, reduce lectures, enhance esprit de corps, and offer experiential leadership opportunities unique to the military. Since Colonel Ritchey's inception, technological advances have given rise to innumerable comprehensive and respected distance-learning programs. Though these programs are effective in many instances, we must consider their effectiveness within the profession of arms. This study intentionally limited its scope to address the Basic Developmental Education (BDE) portion of PME. At present, the SOS residence program is designed to do the following: (1) Produce graduates who are able to lead at the tactical level; (2) Exercise leadership that reflects the Air Force's core values and employs concepts of accountability, diversity, and coaching/mentoring to facilitate effective mission execution; (3) Employ problem-solving, decision-making, and process improvement tools to meet mission challenges at the tactical level; (4) Explain the broad capabilities and roles that air power plays in joint and coalition operations; and (5) Forge professional relationships to facilitate teamwork at the tactical level.
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