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Education and Training Course Announcement (ETCA)—Contains specific MAJCOM
procedures, fund cite instructions, reporting instructions, and listings for those formal courses
conducted or managed by the MAJCOMs or FOA. The education and training course
announcement contains courses conducted or administered by the DAF and reserve forces and
serves as a reference for the AF, DoD, other military services, government agencies, and security
assistance programs.
Exportable Training—Additional training via computer assisted, paper text, interactive video, or
other necessary means to supplement training.
Extension Course Program—Provides career-broadening courses throughout the Department of
Defense to include civil service employees in all federal agencies.
External Evaluation—Acquisition and analysis of data from outside the training environment to
evaluate the training product in the operating environment.
Field Training—Technical, operator, and other training either a training detachment or field
training team conducts at operational locations on specific systems and associated direct-support
equipment for maintenance and aircrew personnel.
Foundational Competencies—A set of accepted and valued competencies (e.g., Airman’s
Foundational Competencies), which enable success across a wide-array of Department of the Air
Force missions, roles, functions, and duties.
Functional Area Manager—The individual accountable for the management and oversight of all
personnel and equipment within a specific functional area to support the operational planning and
execution. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, developing, and reviewing policy;
developing, managing, and maintaining UTCs; developing criteria for and monitoring readiness
reporting; force posturing; and analysis. At each level of responsibility (HAF, MAJCOM, Air
Component, FOA, DRU, and Unit), the FAM should be the most highly knowledgeable and
experienced person within the functional area and have the widest range of visibility over the
functional area readiness and capability issues.
Functional Manager—Senior leaders, designated by the appropriate functional authorities, who
provide day-to-day management responsibility over specific functional communities. While they
should maintain an institutional focus regarding resource development and distribution, functional
managers are responsible for ensuring their specialties are equipped, developed, and sustained to
provide Department of the Air Force capabilities.
Initial Evaluation—An evaluation to review an individual’s training qualifications. Supervisors
conduct an initial training evaluation to determine if the individual requires additional training to
meet duty position requirements.
Initial Skills Training—A formal school course that results in an AFSC 3-skill level award for
enlisted or mandatory training for upgrade to qualified officers.
Knowledge Training—Training used to provide a base of knowledge for task performance. It
may also be used in lieu of task performance when the training capability does not exist. Learning
gained through knowledge rather than hands-on experience.
Major Command—Usage of this term refers to all major commands (MAJCOM), Field
Operating Agencies (FOA), Direct Reporting Units (DRU), Air National Guard (ANG), and Air