COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

The major goal of the Turkish Air Force Academy (TUAFA) is to educate and train young cadets as officers with excellent personality traits who are to be the future leaders and commanders of the Turkish Air Force. Our training and education concept endeavors to develop the following essential competencies:

-          Core values essential for all officers,

-          Comprehension and problem solving ability in conformity with analytic and scientific approaches and Atatürk’s reforms and principles,

-          Officership, leadership and commandership skills with the art of teaching and instructing,

-          Physical, mental and spiritual excellencies,

-          Social and scientific awareness with the necessary military and general culture,

-          Academic achievements in the required majors with Bachelor of Science degrees.

TUAFA is also responsible for the graduate level programs, both at masters and doctoral levels, which build on the major undergraduate programs of the academy. 

The cadets go through the process of training being subjected to the Officer Development System during their four-year education. The Officer Development System is based upon; Academic Education, Military/Leadership Training, Combat and Physical Training and Core Values. The essence of the Officer Development System is to develop characters and values that support the officer throughout their life.

In the process of development for being officers of character, the core values and strong commitment to them becomes essential. We consider the core values as the cornerstone of the Officer Development System.

Core Values;

            The Air Cadets are the leaders and the commanders of the Air Force for the future and they develop their characters while adopting the Core Values that are outlined in the military oath, the cadet code of honor and the air cadet core values. As the first step, the military oath outlines the profound physical and spiritual commitments as an issue of honor:

            * Serving the country and the republic with integrity and love,

            * Absolute obedience to laws, regulations and superiors,

            * If needed sacrificing oneself for the country, the republic and the service,

            The second step of the core values is the code of honor for the young cadets of TUAFA.  “Serving for the Country, the Republic, the Military and the Aviation with integrity, courage, and honor” is written into the hearts of the cadets during their education. Emphasizing “Integrity, Courage and Honor” displays the respected virtue of each cadet by his character and poise. “Serving for Country, Republic, and Aviation” displays the meritorious conduct that should be followed throughout their life.

The third step of the core values of the Air Force Cadets consists of the basic values which are based on the qualifications required for an Air Force Cadet as stated in the Inner-service regulations. The values in question are; Service to Nation, Kemalism, Integrity, Self-sacrifice, Self-reliance, Excellency, Obedience/Discipline, Sense of Duty and Integrity, Determination, Adaptability, Courage and Agility, Airmanship.

Airmanship;

The most important distinctive value of the Air Force Cadets in the path of being a modern Air Force officer is the Airmanship. It is not only based upon flying, but it is a vision, a life style, a privilege, with its pilots and ground staff that stretches to wide horizons and space as well.  The Air Force Officer candidates are given instructions about the inevitable facts of aviation and also they develop an aviation oriented character which is full of friendship, selflessness, morality, dedication. 

The first concrete step forward for developing an aviation oriented character is the delicate election process of the candidates.

Military and Leadership Training System

The Military Training which constitutes the beginning of the professional military and aviation life, aims to train cadets as devotees, obedient and having discipline by heart first and then to train them as professional leaders who train followers.

Military training has a wide content with successive training programs, ranging from followers and leaders. The process begins with the basic military training, and is reinforced with advanced military and leadership trainings within the academic year. The summer camp program (as explained in related chapters of this booklet) offers unique opportunities to develop military maturity and leadership qualities. The training is supported with wide military academic programs and flying activities throughout the year.

At the beginning, all Air Force Cadets take their superiors as a role model, but gradually they become models themselves and they become leaders and set the pattern of being an officer.

Athletic Training;

It is the physical complementary part of our officer development system. The main endeavor for each cadet is to make the proper athletic progress to the level that aviation commands. It is not sufficient to reach the minimum individual qualifications. The athletic training program enables all cadets to participate in team sports and to acquire skills on team based sports. In the athletic training section of this booklet you will see how our young pilot candidates are equipped with the required physical qualifications for combat on land, at sea and in the air.

Academics;

The academic curriculum aims to educate the future officers of the Air Force with knowledge, skill and the analytical minds.  The Air Force Academy offers Bachelor degrees in the fields of four engineering majors; Aeronautics, Electronics, Computer and Industrial Engineering.

      You will find the details of the academic education program of the Air Force Academy on the following pages of this document. The academic curriculum is designed for the requirements of the modern world and it is continuously updated as science and engineering develops.

The academic staff of Air Force Academy is composed of highly experienced Air Force Officers who have masters and PhD degrees in their branches. Additionally, through the strong collaboration that exists between TUAFA and the distinguished universities of Istanbul, a considerable number of professors and assistant professors are performing active duty in our academy. Conversely, our academic staff is instructing at different universities of Istanbul.

For our cadets, there is the opportunity of enhancing the academic knowledge by various activities and projects. These are displayed in the science fair held annually and other similar events. Furthermore, there exists opportunities for development projects, feasibility studies and thesis work that accommodate the future needs of the Air Force through experimental laboratory studies and use of educational aids, with the collaboration of the Air Force Academy and the universities and the instructor-cadet cooperation. 

In conclusion; Air Force Academy is the right address for the male and female youngsters who aim high. The Turkish pilots who are well known with their aviation skills all over the world and are also the distinguished leaders and commanders of the Air Force have all been educated and trained in this eagle nest, and they will still be.