Professional Military Education for Air Force Officers : Comments and Criticisms

By Richard L. Davis; Frank P. Donnini

Book Id: WPLBN0002170322
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 6.53 MB
Reproduction Date: 10/12/2012

Title:	Professional Military Education for Air Force Officers : Comments and Criticisms
Author:	Richard L. Davis; Frank P. Donnini
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Bibliography, Air Force
Collections:	Authors Community, Education
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Air University Press

Member Page:	Air University Press
Citation APA MLA Chicago L. Davi, B. R., & Donnini, F. P. (n.d.). Professional Military Education for Air Force Officers : Comments and Criticisms. Retrieved from http://self.gutenberg.org/

Description
Caustic as well as complimentary valuations are presented here in the belief that they are ultimately beneficial to PME. If the aim of Air Force professional education is to produce capable officers, then it should be flexible enough to accommodate changes which pursue that goal. Readers of this book will discover that PME continues to serve the best interests of the Air Force because of-rather than in spite of-the steady gaze of critical eyes.

Table of Contents
1 CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . 1 Inception Phase, 1946-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Trans-and Post-Korean War Phase, 1950-57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Post-Sputnik Phase, 1958-65 . . . . . . . . . . .5 Vietnam War Phase, 1965-74 . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Post-Vietnam War Phase, 1974-79 . . . . . . . .8 Defense Resurgence Phase, 1980-87 . . . . . 9 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2 EVOLUTION OF PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION DOCTRINE FOR AIR FORCE OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Purpose of Air Force Professional Military Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Original Intent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Stated Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Broad versus Specialized Education . . . . . . .21 Air University's Professional Military Education Charter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Original Charter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Informal Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Changes in Air University Regulations . . . . .30 Defining Air University's Goals for Professional Military Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 School Curricula and Mission Statements . . .35 Air War College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Air Command and Staff College . . . . . . . . .38 Squadron Officer School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 3 COMMENTARY ONAIR UNIVERSITY, 1946-87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Commentary, 1946-67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Faculty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .51 Curriculum, Educational Philosophy, and Teaching Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Student Selection Procedures . . . . . . . . . . .57 Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Commentary, 1968-87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Faculty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Curricula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Nonresident Professional Military Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Teaching Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Criticism of Criticisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Board of Visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Air Force Educational Requirements Board Task Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Self-Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 4 REFLECTIONS ONPROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION FOR AIRFORCE OFFICERS . . . . 95 Professional Military Education and Its Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Professional Military Education's Foundation: Defining the Officer Corps . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Professional Military Education Successes and Failures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119