United States Air Force Professional Military Education Badge
Criteria: The Professional Military Education Badge is used to recognize Air Force personnel currently studying under the professional military education at Air University with Basic Developmental Education (BDE), Primary Developmental Education (PDE), Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE), and Senior Developmental Education (SDE). In the Air Force, Basic is the Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC), Primary is Squadron Officer School (SOS), Intermediate is Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), and Senior is Air War College (AWC). Typically 2nd Lieutenants take ASBC, Captains take SOS, Majors attend ACSC, and Lt Colonels or Colonels take Air War College. All officers are expected to complete their appropriate PME commensurate with their rank either by correspondence, or, if selected, in residence at Maxwell Air Force Base. Both in-residence Air Command and Staff College and Air War College are regionally accredited Masters programs (M.A.) and take slightly less than 1 year to complete.