MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Senior noncommissioned officers participated in a tactical relay July 31 as part of the Foundations Course 700 here, honing leadership skills and team cohesion to prepare for expanded roles in joint and operational environments.
The weeklong course, which emphasizes leadership development, team building and warfighting competencies, marks a key step in the Air Force’s Enlisted Airmanship Continuum. It replaces the base-level Senior Noncommissioned Officer Professional Enhancement Seminar and will serve as a prerequisite for the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy.
"Foundations Course 700 equips students with essential skills to develop, advise and lead teams effectively,” according to course materials from the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education. "It facilitates the transition from first-line supervisors to strategic leaders, focusing on influence tactics, building social relationships and proactive organizational advancement.”
The course introduces strategic leadership at the 9-skill level, providing tools to change viewpoints, behaviors and maximize informal power within units.
As part of the broader Enlisted Force Development Model, the Enlisted Airmanship Continuum connects institutional, functional and base-level education, training and experiences. It begins at basic military training, reinforces foundational competencies through each Air Force Specialty Code’s career field education and training plan, and extends throughout an Airman’s career.
Foundations courses, including levels 300, 500 and 700, began replacing base-level professional enhancement seminars in October 2023. They are the official prerequisites for Enlisted Professional Military Education since October 2024. Each course lasts five days, with four days of standardized content developed by the Barnes Center and one day tailored to major command or wing-specific needs.
Base development advisors administer the courses, supported by local noncommissioned officers, senior noncommissioned officers and subject matter experts. The Barnes Center ensures content remains current and relevant to sustain the Air Force’s competitive edge.
The Foundations curriculum reached full operational capability July 19, following nine months of testing and training. It was developed collaboratively by the Barnes Center, development advisors, major command functional managers and Headquarters Air Force Force Development.
This initiative addresses gaps between legacy schools like Airman Leadership School and the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, enhancing professional military education for total force enlisted Airmen.