Military Studies
From USAFA Folklore
| Military Studies | |
|---|---|
| Division: | Humanities |
| Office symbol: | DFMI |
| Formerly known as: | Professional Military Studies Military Art and Science Military Strategic Studies |
| Established: | |
Cadets are required to take classes in Military Studies while at the Academy. These classes cover topics in officership, leadership, and both basic military and air power-focused theory and doctrine. There has always been a core curriculum military studies requirement, and more recently, cadets have been allowed to major in Military Studies.
[edit] History
In 1980-81, Military Studies, which had previously been under the purview of the Commandant's shop, moved to the Dean's faculty and became Professional Military Studies (PMS) with a common focus on the profession of arms. In 1992-1993, the department became Military Art and Science (MAS), with "military art" referring to the creation and exploitation of advantages in war that enable military power to achieve political objectives and "military science" representing a discipline concerned with the nature of war and methods of conducting war.
The 34th Education Group was activated in November 1994, consisting of the 34th Education Squadron (formerly Military Art and Science), the 34th Training Squadron (Military Training), the 50th Training Squadron (50th Airmanship Training Squadron), and the Instructional Technology and Assessment Division.
In academic year 1995-96, approval was sought for an MAS academic minor, and exploration started for establishing a major. The Academy Board approved the multidisciplinary major of Military Doctrine, Operations, and Strategy (MDOS) the following year. In 1999, the MAS curriculum was refocused as a systematic field of study. After a major curriculum review, the field of study and disciplinary major of Military Strategic Studies were approved. In August 2005 , the Air Force inactivated the 34th Educational Group and transferred the Military Strategic Studies curriculum from the 34th Training Wing to the Dean of Faculty as the Department of Military Strategic Studies.
