SOS Course Dates:

The SOS Resident Program produces leaders who are able to:

Leading Through Adversity: Apply leadership skills as a member of a team i support of a tasked mission. 

Decision-Making: Apply the AFPP in a variety of scenarios to solve complex problems and make decisions.

Mission Coordination: Demonstrate effective communication skills across diverse audiences in diverse settings. 

Warfighting:  Demonstrate understanding and integration of DAF and Joint capabilities.

Please refer to ETP Checklist and ETP AFFMS Example Slide.

BLUF: Deadline for Exception to Policy (ETP) packages are due by 1200 CST and the waiver deadline dates for SOS Classes are on the SOS Student Experience Page under "Dates and Deadlines Info" tab. 

IAW the SOS Exception to Policy Checklist, Exception to Policy (ETP) packages shall be submitted to SOS A3/4 Org Mailbox, sos.od.studentservices@us.af.mil.  Refer to the "Dates and Deadlines Info" tab for waiver deadline dates; all packages must be submitted by 1200 CST on the applicable date.  Any packages submitted after this deadline but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis but may be rejected.

Direct all ETP questions to SOS Student Services at DSN 312-493-3231 or email at sos.od.studentservices@us.af.mil. 

Students attending SOS need to understand that compliance with the below eligibility requirements is mandatory and is the primary responsibility of the member.  Training managers should assist in the process, but each student must ensure that they have followed all the reporting instructions and that they have an approved Exception to Policy (ETP) as necessary.  

Training Managers should review current SOS Enrollment Policy and current SOS Reporting Guide.  Timelines under the policy are mandatory.  When an ETP is granted, the member will receive an e-mail confirmation that they have approval to proceed to SOS.  The member should not proceed without this confirmation.  Anyone who arrives without being approved will be sent back at the unit's expense and their commander will be notified of the failure to follow proper procedures. 

• ​​Military: must be a Captain and CANNOT pin on Major while attending SOS. 


• ​Students who pin on Major while at SOS will be sent home.


• ​Captains must have at least 4 but no more than 7 years total active federal commissioned service at class start. Note: ANG, AFR, Line of the Air Force – Judge Advocate General (LAF-J), Chaplain Corps, Medical Services Corps, Biomedical Science Corps, Nurse Corps as well as Medical Corps and Dental Corps Captains are excluded from the 4-year minimum.


• ​Civilians: must be GS-9 through GS-12.


• See DAFI 36-2686 for more info.

Unit Commanders must ensure their member is physically fit enough to attend and complete SOS.

-     USAF (AD, ANG, & AFRC) students must have a current and passing Physical Fitness Assessments through the graduation date.

-     For USSF students, unit commanders must ensure their members' physical fitness is commensurate with their Air Force counterparts.  USSF Students enrolled into the monitoring program MUST come with their wearable device OR a printed copy of a current and passing Physical Fitness Assessment.

-     Civilian students are required to complete and pass all physical components of the USAF physical components of the Physical Fitness Assessment, as outlined in DAFMAN 36-2905, within 30 days of their class start date.

ALL (USAF, USSF, Civilian, & Int'l Officer) students are expected to complete a weekly 5K run, a 10K at the end of the course, and other strenuous activities including climbing, lifting, and hoisting one's body weight, in the central Alabama weather conditions.

• We understand that due to COVID most students haven’t been able to PT test for the last two years. If that’s the case, bring your last PT test with no exemptions even if it isn’t the most recent PT test. 

• You MUST have a current/passing PT Test WITHOUT EXEMPTIONS on file in Myfitness that lasts through your graduation date.

• If you have one or more EXEMPTIONS on your Myfitness printout, you must retest with NO EXEMPTIONS prior to attending SOS or get an approved Exception to Policy (ETP) to attend SOS, even if the profile that led to the exemption expired.

• You will be REQUIRED to provide a hardcopy printout from Myfitness showing your current score and expiration date on Day 1.

• Additionally, if you are on a medical profile, even if it will expire during the class, you cannot attend SOS without an approved ETP.

• ​If you have any questions about the PT test policy, please contact Student Services at DSN 312-493-3231, or email at sos.od.studentservices@us.af.mil. 

Exceptions are further clarified in the ETP AFFMS Example Slide.

****Expiration Fitness Assessment Due to Deployment of 90+ days**** Students with an expired PT Test who will attend SOS within 42 days after returning from a deployment of over 90 days MUST request an ETP waiver and receive written approval to use the expired score. 

***Completed Waivers Form MUST be submitted to SOS Student Services NO LATER THAN 1200 CST on the applicable deadline dates (see the "Dates and Welcome Info" tab for class start dates/ETP due dates).

***  Any submission received after the cutoff date will be disapproved.

***All ETP Waivers MUST Be Signed By Your Home Station Wing Commander (or equivalent)***
    ETP are required for PT test exemptions, profiles, and waivers.   See chart below:

• If you are on ANY medical waivers that limit physical activity, you must submit an ETP.
• Students attending SOS with exemption on ANY component of their current PT Test, MUST request an ETP waiver (Fitness Waiver) and receive written approval.
• ETP requests for students with PT exemptions that will limit their full participation at SOS are typically denied if the student will have additional opportunities to attend SOS after the issue is resolved.
• Pregnant Students:
  • Maxwell AFB 42 MDG does not have the capability to provide routine OB/GYN care.
  • If you are cleared for the class, you MUST provide a 469 clearing you to attend SOS without routine OB/GYN care.
  • If you will require OB/GYN care while attending the course, you MUST coordinate from your home station PCM or OB/GYN to determine whether or not you will require routine OB/GYN care and can perform physical activities they are comfortable performing.

• You are NOT required to submit a TAFCSD waiver to SOS before attending the course.

• All TAFCSD waivers should be routed through your MAJCOM/A1 office. -- Note: Some MAJCOMS have delegated the approval authority for TAFCSD waivers to individual Wing Commanders. Consult your MAJCOM A1.

• SOS does not need to see your TAFCSD waiver. 

ANG and AFRC students should consult the SOS Reporting Guide as well as the lodging and finance information on the SOS website Lodging and Finance Information on the SOS FAQ and Additional Info tab. 

If you have any questions, please contact the AU Reserve Advisor at DSN 312-493-3290 or Commercial, 334-953-3290.

For questions regarding the Guard officer PME, please contact DSN 312-493-3060 or Commercial, 334-953-3060.   

For questions regarding orders, you may contact 908 FSS/FSO: DSN 312-493-9185 or Commercial 334-953-9185.

Per Department of the Airforce Instruction 36-2686, if a TDY student reports for a course and is found to be ineligible due to failure to meet ANY eligibility requirements without an ETP, the student will be returned to his or her unit at the parent unit's expense.

                                                                                            Per Diem MFR

                                                                        SOS Student Lodging and Finance Information

                                                                        Accompanied Spouses Guide

                                                                                            Frequently Asked Questions

If you are a Guard, Reservist, or Civilian interesting in attending SOS, please CLICK HERE.

If you completed SOS and need to request a transcript, CLICK HERE.