As part of its Force Development movement, the Air Force has been expanding opportunities for its civilians to attend traditionally blue-suit-only training, such as professional military education courses. The goal, say officials, is to groom civilians for higher leadership positions, many of which have always been filled by officers. (Read our latest article on Force Development.) Civilians in general schedule grades nine through 12 attending in-resident PME courses like Squadron Officer School learn about officership, leadership tools, and air and space power basics and participate in physical training, just like their junior officer counterparts. Officials also note that some of this training may apply toward graduate education credits. You can get in-residence PME information here and nonresident details here (click on catalogs).
Pentagon Task Force, FAA to Test Counter-Drone Laser
March 7, 2026
The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force announced it would conduct a high-energy laser test with the Federal Aviation Administration less than a month after the use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border prompted the FAA to shut down the airspace over El Paso, Texas.