Air Force Officers’ Advanced School
To train, educate and develop professional Air Force and SAF officers to hold intermediate command and staff appointments.
Last updated 7 July 2025
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Mission
To train, educate and develop professional Air Force and SAF officers to hold intermediate command and staff appointments.
About AFAS history
The Air Force Officers’ Advanced School (AFAS) conducts and manages the Air Force Advance Course (AFAC), Joint Warfighter Course (JWC) and Joint Foundation Course (JFC).
The school evolved from the Interim Air Wing (IAW) – Air Training Department (ATD) and was established in Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) in 1991. AFAS was subsequent designated as a unit and was raised as part of SAFTI MI in 1995. Since inception, AFAS continues to conduct the RSAF Advanced Officers’ Course (1991 – 2011), subsequently renamed and revamped as Air Force Advanced Course (AFAC) in 2012 with enhancement to its curriculum in the areas of leadership development, command effectiveness and common task competencies.
The school also took on the responsibility in conducting the Tri-Service Staff Course (TSC) from October 1998 which was subsequently revamped and renamed the Tri-Service Warfighter Course (TSWC) in 2006. The staff work education in TSC was separated and placed under SAF Staff Officers’ Course (SSOC) managed by MINDEF Centre for Management Development (MCMD).
To better develop our junior officers and Military Experts to be competent, confident and committed military professionals, the school also took on the responsibility of conducting the Tri-Service Foundation Course (TSFC) established in Jul 2019.
With the inaugration of The Digital and Intelligence Service, Tri-Service Warfighter Course (TSWC) and Tri-Service Foundation Course (TSFC) have been renamed to Joint Warfighter Course (JWC) and Joint Foundation Course (JFC) respectively in Nov 2022.
AFAS courses
Air Force Advanced Course (AFAC)
The Air Force Advanced Course (AFAC) aims to equip RSAF mid-level officers with the necessary professional military knowledge, management and leadership skills in preparation for Flight Commander and Major-grade appointments. Specifically, the course curriculum consists of 3 main modules, namely Leadership and RSAF Core Value Module (LRM), Common Task Competency Module (CTM) and Officer Commanding Module (OCM).
Course objective
To equip RSAF mid-level officers with the necessary professional military knowledge, management and leadership skill in preparation for Flight Commander Appointment and Major-grade Appointment.
AFAS administers and conducts three Air Force Advanced Course (AFAC) for each work year, with a course capacity of 30 officers.
Joint Warfighter Course (JWC)
The JWC serves as a middle-level integration platform for SAF Officers to understand SAF Joint Operations with emphasis on Operations-Other-Than-War (OOTW). The course includes Modules of Security Studies, MINDEF and SAF Operations, Military Technology and Leadership and Values.
Course objective
Provide an understanding of the context of SAF Operations through Military and Security Studies.
Introduce the missions and capabilities of the Services linking to SAF concept of operations.
Understand the use of Military Technology in support of Joint-Integrated and Network-centric operations.
Understanding of SAF Operations in the context of Operations-Other-Than-War (OOTW) using Joint-Integrated framework.
Develop Leadership competencies and skills of a 3rd Generation SAF Officer operating in a dynamic, complex and uncertain environment.
Promote Networking amongst the Officers from different Services.
The Joint Warfighter Course is conducted four times yearly with each course conducted over four weeks with a capacity of 78 learners.
Joint Foundation Course (JFC)
The Joint Foundation Course was created in Jul 2019 as the foundational leadership development and professional military studies course for junior Officers/MEs. The JFC comprises four main modules to provide foundational competencies and knowledge: (1) Military Leadership; (2) Military Studies; (3) Military Technology & Digital Education; and (4) Functional Professional Military Knowledge Domains. There are also dialogues and sharing on contemporary issues and leadership in the SAF by relevant agencies.
Course objective
Provide a sound educational foundation for junior officers and MEs in topical military fields for their career development.
Provide an important socialisation platform to forge stronger cohesion within the Officer’s and ME’s cohorts.
Engender stronger commitment and affinity to the SAF at the formative years of our officers and MEs.
SAF Advanced Schools (SAS) conducts four course runs a year of 132 students per course. It is a three-week course administrated and managed by Air Force Officers’ Advanced School.