Basic Officer Training, Academy of Military Sciences graduate together
More than 100 new active duty and guard officers were commissioned and began officer careers Dec. 16 after graduating in the first combined Basic Officer Training and Academy of Military Sciences graduation ceremony and parade, which reflects a joint team, joint fight concept, according to 1st Lt. Karl Wiest, flight commander, 24th Training Squadron. Basic Officer Training trains and commissions second lieutenants to fulfill Air Force active-duty and Air Force Reserve requirements in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Academy and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. The program consists of 12 weeks of military instruction and leadership development for college graduates leading to a commission as a second lieutenant. The Academy of Military Science, a detachment of the Air National Guard Readiness Center, is a six-week program designed to train and commission second lieutenants to fulfill Air National Guard requirements. AMS was established in 1971 and has commissioned more than 14,500 officers. Originally located at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, Tenn., AMS relocated to Maxwell in 2009. To commission as officers, all OTS trainees complete a demanding accessions program. In addition, they also volunteered hundreds of hours of local community service, including participating in blood drives, supporting the Montgomery Veterans Day parade and helping build houses in support of Habitat for Humanity. (Air Force Photo/Bud Hancock)