Welcome to the United States Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (SNCOA). The SNCOA is the third level of Air Force enlisted professional military education. The Academy is the single in-resident school for Airmanship 800, SNCOA, and Airmanship 900, Chief Leadership Academy, located at Kisling Hall on Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Alabama. Our facility is dedicated to the third Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Richard D. Kisling, who was a driving force and staunch advocate of enlisted professional military education. 

Over 25 academic days, A800’s curricula is designed to prepare our active duty, Air Reserve component, sister service and allied/partner nation senior noncommissioned officers in the ranks of E7/E8 to lead the force in the employment of air and space power in support of U.S. national security objectives and interests. We do this by focusing on senior enlisted leader organizational leadership environments; national, military and air power strategy; and integrated deterrence and strategic competition. 

Chief Master Sergeant Joshua R. Tidwell
Commandant

The Airmanship 800 (A800) course is an intermediate and senior level in-resident force development opportunity and is required for promotion to SMSgt (see DAFI36-2502, Enlisted Airman Promotion and Demotion Programs).  SMSgts must attend A800 before 1 year time-in-grade. Note: Senior noncommissioned officers who complete a resident sister service equivalent course or Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy will receive enlisted professional military education credit for completing resident Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy. Graduates of sister service and joint equivalent courses may opt, based on their priority level and on a space-available basis, to attend Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

AFPC/EPME selects regular Air Force Airmen for resident enlisted professional military education attendance based on grade, date of rank, priority, and eligibility.

Priority 1: SMSgts by seniority (based on date of rank, total active federal military service date, pay date and date of birth).

Priority 2: MSgts selected for promotion to SMSgt (based on date of rank, total active federal military service date, pay date and date of birth).

Priority 3: MSgts (non-selects to SMSgt) based on promotion board score (highest to lowest).

Priority 4: Eligible Air Force and Department of Defense and other civilians, sister service and international students on a space available basis.

The A800 schoolhouse plays no part in student selection. Reference DAFI36-2670, Total Force Development, for more detailed selection and attendance information.

Sister service, ANG and AFRC members interested in attending should contact their specific service Point of Contact:

US Army:  MSG Jeremiah Rogers, MLC Facilitator (jeremiah.c.rogers.mil@army.mil) 

US Marine Corps:  GySgt Ramon Espinosa, Marine Corps University, Senior Enlisted Advisor (ramon.espinosa@usmcu.edu)

US Navy:  CPO Helana Ross, Detailer, Navy Senior Enlisted Leadership (helana.d.ross.mil@us.navy.mil) 

US Space Force:  CMSgt Abifarin Scott, S1D POC (abifarin.scott@spaceforce.mil)

US Coast Guard:  SCPO Joe Hoff; USCG EPD Program Manager(joseph.r.hoff@uscg.mil)

Air National Guard: Contact your Base Education Training Manager

Air Reserve Component: Contact your Base Education Training Manager

Students selected for the course may email sncoa.studentadmin@us.af.mil or call (334) 416-1651/1521 for any questions not already addressed on the Reporting Instructions page.

If a student is unable to fully participate in the class, the student needs to work with their chain of command and Base/Formal Training Office to defer to a future class; the schoolhouse cannot assist in this process. 

The schoolhouse CANNOT provide information related to DTS (Lines of Accounting, Cross Orgs, etc...) as we do not have that information. Please contact the local Base Formal Training Office for assistance. 

Members with a physical fitness exemption must submit their AF Form 422, Notification of Air Force Member's Qualification Status, and AF Form 469, Duty Limiting Condition Report, NLT 35 calendar days prior to the class start date; profiles must be pre-coordinated with the AFSNCOA Student Admin office.  The commandant will approve temporary medical waivers on a case by case basis IAW DAFI36-2685, Total Force Enlisted Developmental Education, para 2.15.3 & 3.10.3. If you arrive on DOE 1 without an AFSNCOA Commandant approved waiver for attendance, you may be returned to your home unit. A deferment will be required for temporary profiles not approved by the commandant. Refer questions to the Student Admin office at email org box: sncoa.studentadmin@us.af.mil, DSN: 596-1521/596-1651. 

Arrival Assistance:
Students are responsible for arranging travel from the airport to lodging. Rental vehicles are not authorized or required; however, they can be procured at the student’s unit expense. Listed are three taxi companies that have base access and are open 24/7. They can be scheduled prior to leaving home station.

• GROOME Transportation Shuttle - 334-821-3399 (Reservations are required for direct route from Atlanta Airport to/from Maxwell-Gunter)
• Checker-Deluxe Cab Company - 334-538-8178
• On Time Taxi - 334-505-1189

If using an Uber or Lyft, confirm the driver has base access. The front gate is approximately one mile from lodging. 

If driving, put the following into your GPS, Waze, or Apple Maps.  After arriving at the main gate, follow signs to lodging.  Please note the Maxwell-Gunter Annex back gate (Dalraida Gate) is CLOSED until further notice.
- 550 McDonald Street Montgomery, AL 36114 OR Montgomery Humane Society (the main gate is across the street)

Pre-Class Preparations:
Information contained within this section is designed to assist students with preparation for attendance to the A800 course.

- Students do NOT need to call the University Inn for lodging reservations. Rooms will be blocked off for A800 students so disregard any Non-Availability that DTS tries to provide.
  - In DTS: skip the lodging booking and select:
    - A: Reason - Code 7 - Military Lodging
    - B: Selection - Skip Lodging Booking
    - C: Add Comments - Lodging Already Booked
 All students will check-in at the University Inn lodging front desk for room assignment. 

Day of Education (DOE) 1:
Class begins at 0730 in Building 1143 Kisling Hall (next to lodging), it is recommended to arrive 15 mins early.
 - A student flight roster will be available at the lodging check-in desk for students to confirm their flight placement, in addition, A800 Cadre will be available to assist the morning of DOE 1.

Uniform Requirements

Report on DOE 1 to Building 1143 (Kisling Hall). Uniform of the day for DOE 1 will be service specific, full-service dress uniform as outlined below.  Additionally, students are required to wear the service dress uniform (or service Class A equivalent) for graduation and a minimum of one additional academic day. Students can expect to wear the short or long sleeve blues (service class B equivalent uniform) during the course and are reminded to bring those items that meet dress and appearance requirements (badges/devices/ribbons required by regulation or those additionally mandated by their current command or duty position). Commandants have the authority to grant exceptions or modifications based on specific mission concerns or unforeseen circumstances. We highly recommend students bring 2x sets of business casual attire to assist in presenting a professional appearance for offsite and experiential lessons.

Physical Fitness uniforms will be required for Mock PT assessments and weekly PT events.

***NOTE*** Effective 1 Jan 25, the mock PT assessment is mandatory for all attending sister-service students.  Sister service students who fail the Air Force EPME readiness assessment will be released from the course.  Refer to DAFI 36-2685, Total Force Enlisted Developmental Education, para 3.14.2.1.2/3 & 3.14.3.

- Leadership Contact Information:
Bring chain of command contact information, i.e...Commander, First Sergeant, and SEL (name, duty phone number, email address) with you.

A800 Pricing:

NOTES:  The above items are sold in the Flight Room and may not be claimed on travel vouchers, prices are subject to change.

IT Requirements

Students must bring a CAC enabled laptop or tablet, either personal or government issue. Course materials will be provided via our online Learning Management System (LMS).  The LMS will be accessible to students on the first day of class.  Instructors will provide guidance on requirements and how to navigate the system. 

Computer Security (COMPUSEC) Policies & Procedures

Individual accountability is the most effective means of protecting computer resources.  The Local Area Network (LAN) and personal computers located in Building 1143 are accredited to the UNCLASSIFIED SENSITIVE level.  Information classified at any higher level will not be processed.  Should you detect the transfer of any information above UNCLASSIFIED, secure the computer equipment involved, eliminate further transmissions, and notify your assigned instructor or Section Chief immediately.  Students are required to protect PII and sensitive information when using Cloud storage.

Do we need to bring blues/service dress and official PT gear?

Yes. Service dress will be worn for DOE 1 and graduation, long sleeve, or short sleeve variation, will be worn at least one other day during the course. Fitness uniforms are required for the readiness assessment and weekly organized fitness sessions.

Fitness Readiness Assessment and Profiles.

A fitness readiness assessment will be conducted during the first 5 days of class IAW Barnes Center guidance. Alternative components are available. 422/469s should be sent to student administration as well as hand carried to the course. 

U.S. military students with unsatisfactory readiness assessment results or non-compliance with dress and appearance standards will be released, without prejudice back to their duty station.

NOTE: Effective 1 Jan 25, the readiness assessment is mandatory for all attending sister-service students. Sister service students who fail the Air Force EPME readiness assessment will be released from the course. 

Will we have holidays off?

Yes, A800 observes all federal holidays and AETC family days.

Are there facilities for laundry in lodging?

Yes, there is a laundry room in each building.  The machines are free, but students will need to bring/purchase detergent and dryer sheets.

What will the flights look like?

Flights typically consist of 12-14 students from various AFSCs, ANG, AFRC, sister services and international partners.

Is there a DFAC and what type of payments do they take?

Yes, the Aviation Inn is next to lodging. They accept both cash and card.

Are we allowed to travel on the weekends? How far?

Yes, students are allowed to travel on the weekends. There are no travel limitations but the student will be held responsible if not present for duty after the weekend.

I’m flying and my unit won’t authorize a rental car. Will I be able to walk to where I need to go?

University Inn and the DFAC are next to the AFSNCOA, while all other services on Gunter Annex (gym, shoppette, commissary, bowling alley) are less than 1 mile from lodging.

I’m working DTS but I have not received my LOA. Can you help?

No, A800 does not issue LOAs. That is an AETC TDY-to-school function. They can be reached at (210) 652-2971 or tdy.school@us.af.mil.  LOAs should be cross-org'd within a few days after the completed training RIP has been submitted.

Do we book lodging through DTS?

No, A800 reserves ALL student rooms. Because of this, students who attempt to book their own lodging are notified there is no availability. Any non-availability letter issued by DTS or front desk should be ignored.