The eligibility criteria for the Global College of PME's IDE/ACSC DL program are found in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2670, Total Force Development.

• Military: The program is offered to O-4 selects and above. Applicants may be active duty USAF/USSF, Air Force Reserves (AFRES), or Air National Guard (ANG); sister service active duty, Guard or Reserve or Civil Air Patrol. 
  • ANG and AFRES members have the opportunity to enhance their ACSC experience through annual Air Reserve Component Seminars (ARCS).
  • Note for US Army Applicants: Officers will not enroll in other than Army schools without written approval of the DCS, G-3/5/7 (Director of Training) per Army Regulation (AR) 350-1.

• Civilians: Department of the Air Force civilian employees in the grade of GS-11 thru GS-13 (or equivalent) with a bachelor’s degree and supervisor endorsement may also enroll. NH-II Civilians must contact Air Force HQ/A1 for an eligibility determination of before applying.  As per the supervisor endorsement letter, Member must have a minimum of 2 years federal civil service.
• International Officers: Requests for international students must be forwarded to the Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron through the applicable country Security Cooperation Organization or country embassy. The request must identify an existing source of funding (for example, FMS training case) or request preparation of a new training case; provide the name, address, email, and phone number for the U.S. military officer or U.S. civilian employee who will sponsor the student; and include written verification by the U.S. sponsor that the student meets the rank prerequisite for the desired program and is proficient in the English language to complete the program successfully.

The Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) distance learning intermediate developmental education (IDE) curriculum is designed to produce a more effective field-grade officer serving in operational-level command or staff positions. The ACSC distance learning program emphasizes the application of air and space power in joint campaign planning and the operational art of war. Students explore national security issues, strategy and war theory, airpower and spacepower history and theory, expeditionary Air Force force employment concepts, and the capabilities and limitations of air forces and space forces, and its sister services contributions to joint force commanders.

All curriculum is web based and accessed through an online learning management system. In addition to readings, the program includes a variety of computer-based interactive learning activities and exercises and leverages social media tools to enable peer-to-peer interaction and learning. Self-paced study is enhanced by a national security paper and three multiweek, collaborative, online-facilitated seminars.

The program’s student-centered approach for learning is focused on measuring a student’s ability to think critically, analyze, and apply knowledge, often to real-world situations. During the facilitated online seminars, students have the opportunity to engage with peers and instructors and discuss and debate the ideas presented in the curriculum and develop overall mastery of the course and higher-order thinking.

All ACSC distance learning graduates receive Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) phase I credit. Phase I emphasizes the fundamentals needed for a sound basis in joint operations and provides a foundation for follow-on study for Phase II education. Students interested in earning a Master’s degree, in addition to ACSC and JPME Phase I credit, should examine the Online Master’s Program (OLMP) curriculum page.

Student Handbook

Transition Instructions