Compared to armies and navies, which have existed as professional
fighting services for centuries, the technology that makes air forces
possible is much newer. As a result, these services have had to quickly
develop methods of preparing aviators to operate in conditions ranging
from peace or routine security to full-scale war. The first book to
address the history and scope of air power professionalization through
learning programs, Educating Air Forces offers valuable new insight
into strategy and tactics worldwide.
Here, a group of international experts examine the philosophies,
policies, and practices of air service educational efforts in the United
States, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Canada, and the UK. The
contributors discuss the founding, successes, and failures of European
air force learning programs between the Great War and World War II and
explore how the tense Cold War political climate influenced the
creation, curriculum, and results of various programs. They also
consider how educational programs are adapting to soldiers' needs and
the demands of modern warfare.
Featuring contributions from eminent scholars in the field, this volume
surveys the learning approaches globally employed by air forces in the
past century and evaluates their effectiveness. Educating Air Forces
reveals how experiential learning and formal education are not only
inextricably intertwined, but also necessary to cope with advances in
modern warfare.
