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On Learning: The Future of Air Force Education and Training
Air Education and Training Command leaders released a vision for an Air Force learning transformation Jan. 31 when they unveiled "On Learning: The Future of Air Force Education and Training."
The 29-page white paper details how the Air Force can transform its training and education system of today into a continuous learning culture to meet the Air Force missions of tomorrow. The transformation will take place between 2008 and 2030.
AETC produced the forward-looking study with two purposes in mind, said Gen. William R. Looney III, AETC commander. The first was to generate a body of thought on the future of education and training. The second was to focus on impending issues for the Air Force.
One of those issues is the ability to continue to recruit tech-savvy Americans to become Airmen, the general said.
"The young men and women who will lead our Air Force in the future have been living in a digital world their entire lives and are better prepared than any other generation to operate in this environment," General Looney said. "It is imperative that we understand their needs and expectations, and develop an enterprise-wide system that fosters learning and captures their most critical asset -- knowledge."
The white paper introduces concepts that support the Air Force, its leaders and Airmen in their development and lifelong learning needs. At the heart of the vision is a learning organization called "Air Force 2.0." Air Force 2.0 is defined by three areas: knowledge management that discusses how the Air Force operates; continuous learning that covers how the Air Force develops people; and precision learning that explains how the Air Force delivers learning.
At the cornerstone of the new learning organization is a virtual delivery platform known as "MyBase." MyBase will provide an environment for lifelong learning, from educating the general public, to entry into the service, and throughout Airmen's careers and post-career years.
The white paper includes three attached vignettes that show how an Airman could experience the enhanced learning environment of MyBase from public, training and operational perspectives. In one scenario, a captain uses MyBase to complete Squadron Officer School courses while collaborating with sister service and civilian academic institutions and interacting with virtual characters, or avatars, who guide him through lectures and hands-on field experiences.
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Michael W. Wynne
Secretary of the Air Force
"Developing people to lead the world's best air, space and cyberspace force takes the personal commitment of all Airmen -- a commitment to focus on developing ourselves and encouraging our fellow airmen -- to learn as much as possible about the complexities of our profession of arms. I am committed to supporting you as you take on these new challenges."
General T. Michael Moseley
Air Force Chief of Staff
"The inscription on the Eagle and Fledglings statue at our U.S. Air Force Academy reminds us that 'Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge.' I believe knowledge isn't a final destination -- something we 'get' and hold on to forever -- but is instead a never-ending pursuit. ... Developing Airmen is one of my highest priorities and I consider the pursuit of knowledge a central part of any Airman's development."
General William R. Looney III
Commander of Air Education and Training Command
"The young men and women who will lead our Air Force in the future have been living in a digital world their entire lives and are better prepared than any other generation to operate in this environment. It is imperative that we understand their needs and expectations, and develop an enterprise-wide system that fosters learning and captures their most critical asset -- knowledge."
"Airmen must have systems in place that allow them to share their gained knowledge with others, to collaborate and to successfully operate and dominate in the world of air, space and cyberspace. If the Air Force of 2030 is to be an agile, adaptive, learning organization, it must embrace change, accept risk, cope with reverses and learn to reinvent itself -- constantly."
Maj. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel III
AETC Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments
"MyBase provides a virtual, exploratory and interactive environment in support of continuous lifelong learning, from educating the general public, to entry into the service, and throughout our Airmen's careers and post-career years." |
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AETC White Paper 