New Non-Commissioned Officer Academy to open at Sheppard AFB Published May 7, 2010 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Force officials announced today plans to open an Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Academy at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas. The academy is scheduled to open its doors to technical sergeants in early 2011, with an expected graduation rate of about 1,300 annually increasing by several hundred more in the future. An additional AFNCOA is required to provide additional academy training to an increased number of technical sergeants. With the addition of Sheppard's academy, the Air Force will have seven NCO academies in the United States and four overseas, graduating an anticipated combined 11,800 students annually. The academies provide the mid-level enlisted Airmen with the tools and training needed to take on increased leadership roles and responsibilities. The Sheppard NCO academy will be housed in a facility being previously used for enlisted medical training. That training is moving to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The parent organization for the U.S.-based academies is the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education located at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala. The Barnes Center is responsible for the education of future enlisted leaders throughout the Air Force. The Sheppard NCO academy will train active duty Airmen, Reserve and Guard members.