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How to Apply

For ANG officers, those desiring to enroll must provide a signed memorandum from their Wing/CC or equivalent that states the Wing will fund the required TDYs for course completion. This memorandum, as well as a memorandum requesting enrollment in the AWC ARCS program, must be emailed to the AWC ARCS Advisor (see contact info below).

For Air Force Reserve officers, specific application instructions for the ARCS program will be included in the Fall Reserve School Selection Board (RSSB) announcement.
 

Requirements

Students selected for the AWC ARCS program must complete two courses BEFORE attending the program at Maxwell AFB.

  • GSS-700S Orientation (or ORN-701S Orientation, depending on enrollment date)
  • One of the WAR-700 series electives listed below
    • WAR-701S Coercive Airpower
    • WAR-702S COIN & SSTR (Closed to new applicants as of 1 April 2018)
    • WAR-703S ISR for the Warfighter (Closed to new applicants as of 1 April 2018)
    • WAR-704S Cross-Cultural Communications
    • WAR-705S Negotiations in the Military Environment
    • WAR-706S Space/Cyber Operations (Closed to new applicants as of 1 April 2018)
    • WAR-707S Joint Concepts and Planning

Failure to complete these pre-requisites will result in disenrollment from the program.  Candidates are strongly encouraged to begin working on their pre-requisites BEFORE official ARCS selection notification.
 

Two-Week Resident TDY

During the resident TDY portion of AWC ARCS, students will complete three courses in the classroom environment:

  • ISS-700S International Security Studies
  • AIR-700S Airpower and National Strategy

After completion of the resident TDY,  students are expected to complete the remainder of the ACSC distance learning curriculum requirements at home station.  Upon completion of all requirements, distance learning IDE credit will be reflected in a student's personnel records.
 

Additional Information

Funding

For ANG and full-time Reservists, the ARCS TDYs are unit-funded. For IMAs, TRs, and ART Reservists, ARCS attendance is centrally-funded by AFRC.

To Learn More

Contact the ARCS Program Advisors:

  • AIR NATIONAL GUARD ADVISOR:  DSN 493-3060 Comm (334) 953-3060
  • AIR FORCE RESERVE ADVISOR:  DSN 493-7113 Comm (334) 953-7113

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Critical Thinking

Why Critical Thinking? (~41 min)

The ability to think critically about any information you take in is essential to doing well in this course, but much more importantly, to being an effective senior leader and frankly just a plain good citizen. Occasionally, we have PME students who complain to us about some of the different perspectives here in the curriculum. One individual actually complained that we didn't simply provide the Air Force answer. If you are in this course to simply be fed an "Air Force answer" then you will likely be disappointed. We strive here to present both sides of every argument. This might mean some of the readings could make you angry, but our hope is for you to expand your viewpoint and understand different perspectives so that you can better understand where you yourself stand on an issue, and how you might deal with it if (and when) you are running things.
Problem Solving

Problem Solving (2 pages)

The Air Force uses a basic 8-step problem solving model which provides good guidelines for critical thinking. Too often, practical problem-solving methodologies such as these are separated from the theoretical types of problems you'll encounter here in the readings. Specifically, the methodology for Root Cause Analysis (step 4) can give you some new perspectives for looking at any problem. This 2-page excerpt from the AFSO21 Playbook provides an overview of the 8-step model

The Flight Commander's Edge

 

 

eSchool of Graduate PME
51 East Maxwell Boulevard
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112

 

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