Officer Development System

From USAFA Folklore

Jump to: navigation, search

The Officer Development System (ODS) was a training methodology implemented after the sexual assault scandal of 2003. Its premise was to make academy training more like the "real life" active duty Air Force by eliminating many tradition aspects of military training.

Specifically, ODS:

  • Eliminated shouting at or insulting trainees. "You wouldn't yell at the airman fixing your plane, why would you yell at a trainee?"
  • Eliminated the cadet disciplanary system, using UCMJ discipline instead

ODS was widely criticised by graduates. Although academy officials defended the "culture change" graduates remained unconvinced. Many who endured tough situations (pilot training, combat missions) and extremely tough situations (enemy capture) pointed to their fourth class year as an event that directly prepared them. Under ODS, they felt, the toughness of the fourth class year was taken away, and so was its usefulness.

ODS was discontinued after the departure of General Weida.

Retrieved from "http://www.usafatoday.org/wiki/index.php/Officer_Development_System"