Tactical Tailor

Archive for November, 2021

Air Force Hosts Coalition VIRTUAL FLAG, Premier Coalition Virtual Air Combat Exercise

Tuesday, November 30th, 2021

The 705th Combat Training Squadron, home of Air Combat Command’s Distributed Mission Operations Center, recently hosted one of the DoD’s largest coalition and joint virtual air combat exercises across eight time zones at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, Oct. 24 through Nov. 5.

Coalition VIRTUAL FLAG exercises led by the United States Air Force focus on major combat operations in a realistic theater against a near-peer threat in a dynamic training environment. CVFs are designed to build and maintain joint and coalition partnerships between the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada by focusing on planning, executing, and debriefing a multitude of mission sets in air, space, surface, and cyber domains.

All units operate within a simultaneously live, virtual, and constructive environment which allows warfighters to prepare to wage war, and then practice doing so in a synthetic environment so that they can learn how to be combat effective.

CVF 22-1 trained over 344 participants, 200 joint and 144 coalition warfighters, and accomplished over 6,461 joint training events for 67 units using seven networks and 23 different systems connected at 29 sites across the world.

For the first time ever, the DMOC integrated cyber effects and planning into CVF 22-1’s training scenarios requiring the defense against cyber maneuvers by opposing forces. Groups were broken into blue cyber teams, made up of a British cyber protection team, augmented by Canadian intelligence members, fusing cyber intelligence into the larger operational picture, and red cyber teams, composed of an opposing force of U.S., Canadian, and United Kingdom members executing as a team of enemy cyber operators attempting to disrupt operations.

While the cyber teams were physically located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, they were working in a virtual “range” of computers in the United Kingdom which took a lot of bandwidth to run all the cyber intrusion tools required. The team was able to sort through those problems over the first few days and accomplish valuable cyber training objectives.

The DMOC is building out a complete cyber cell at Kirtland and will continue to refine and include cyber desired learning objectives seamlessly into their simulation environment to integrate with all of the other domains.

“The 705th CTS has built its Distributed Mission Operations capabilities up over decades and integrating a domain like cyber is a challenge the squadron is excited to face,” said U.S. Space Force Capt. Oliver Peery, cyberspace operations flight commander, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

Cyber operator’s roles will continue to grow in future exercises and keep progressing towards true joint all-domain command and control, or JADC2.

“I believe the 705th Combat Training Squadron has something very unique to provide to the cyber warfighter, integrating cyber into a realistic war exercise and forcing not only traditional operators to be more aware of cyber effects on a battlefield environment, but for cyber to see how they can truly support and directly integrate their offensive and defensive capabilities into the operational environment,” said Peery.

The DMOC develops realistic and relevant training environments and scenarios for participants while allowing individual units to add elements so they may complete required training objectives or certifications during CVF.

The U.S. Army used CVF 22-1 to certify three air defense artillery fire control officers; ADAFCOs are the USA’s air defense representative at C2 nodes.

CVF 22-1 presented participants with a contemporary multi-domain threat where exercise participants had to think through complicated problem sets.

“22 Wing provided personnel with the opportunity to exercise within a state-of-the-art command and control training centre, working alongside other members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Army, the United States Air Force, and the United States Marine Corps who made up the Control and Reporting Centre,” said Royal Canadian Air Force Maj. Shaun Hyland, exercise and event management coordinator, Royal Canadian Air Force Aerospace Warfare Centre.

The DMOC’s exercise scenarios allow participating warfighters to discover the friction points in their plans and allow the crews to work through them, whether that is in mission planning or real-time during the vulnerability period.

“Exercise Coalition VIRTUAL FLAG is the world’s premier distributed synthetic training environment where colleagues from many nations are able to practise large-scale operational warfare,” said Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Graham Orme. “Joint planning and execution allow the participants to learn through shared expertise across multiple domains from combat air to space and cyber.”

Orme continued, “The dedicated simulator staff enable bespoke tailored scenarios that push the operators, test their skills, and allow for the development of new techniques and procedures.  As such, the exercise is a prized element of any force’s annual training programme.”

DMOC-Space, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, sent exercise data in real-time to Kirtland during CVF. The transfer of data allowed the DMOC to forego issuing a notional event which further strengthened the C2 of joint and coalition forces during the virtual, large-force exercise.

In addition to missile-warning data, the 392nd CTS, Schriever SFB, Colorado, also provided global positional system data to the DMOC to use their GPS environment generator for the first time in CVF. This allowed pilots using DMOC flight simulators to deploy precision weapons in a simulated GPS-degraded environment.

“CVF provides a unique opportunity to integrate the space domain into the tactical environment using the virtual construct of the DMOC to determine best practices, and ultimately learn how to maximize combat effectiveness,” said USSF Tina Bragdon, 705th CTS space subject matter expert and planner.

Space capabilities bring more to the fight than ever, but we have to ensure we leverage them to our nation’s full advantage.  Relevancy on the battlefield is not derived by independence, but by interdependence and the successful fusion of capabilities.

“This exercise is the culmination of 18 months of training for our QSIC [Qualified Space Instructors Course] students,” said Royal Air Force Squadron Leaders Laura Ridley-Siddall, Air and Space Warfare School officer commanding space training.  “This year, for the first time, we have used the wholly simulated environment as the final evaluation for our students on the QSI Course in the position of Space Duty Officer.”

When planning VIRTUAL FLAG exercises, the DMOC’s objective is to incorporate new capabilities continually providing an environment in which the warfighter may train with the forces they could expect to coordinate with during major combat operations.

“It is particularly poignant when executing our coalition events because there are many assets with which U.S. operators have never had the opportunity to work with until CVF,” said USAF Lt. Col. Michael Butler, 705th CTS director of operations.  “While the DMOC has traditionally included space and cyber domains in our exercises, in CVF 22-1 we focused on integrating coalition space and cyber capabilities to great success.”

Butler continued, “We built a strong foundation in CVF 22-1 and learned many lessons that will allow us to make our scenarios more robust and realistic for future exercises.”

CVF 22-1 provided the unique opportunity for joint forces from the USAF, USSF, USA, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and four partner nations’ forces to train in a complex and integrated live-virtual-constructive training exercise.

“Modern warfare is far more complex and dynamic than ever, and victory demands the highest proficiency in planning and executing operational objectives smarter, faster, and more precisely than your adversary,” said U.S. Space Force Walt Marvin, 392nd CTS exercise planner.  “We must fight together effectively in a joint environment, and most likely as a coalition of nations.”

The 705th CTS reports to the 505th Combat Training Group, Nellis AFB, Nevada, and the 505th Command and Control Wing, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida. 

 “Coalition and joint partners interested in participating in future VF or CVF exercises should contact dmoc.css@us.af.mil to connect with the DMOC,” said USAF Lt. Col. Lindsay Post, 705th CTS commander, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

By by Deb Henley, 505th CCW, Air Combat Command

CobraSleepers Pre-Order from The Brown Buffalo

Monday, November 29th, 2021

The Brown Buffalo has opened pre-orders for their CobraSleepers which are slippers made from X50 Multicam Tropic or Black with non-slip outsole bottom.

Shipping in a couple weeks.

Made in their workshop located in Costa Mesa, CA.

www.thebrownbuffalo.com

HLC Industries – Your Source for Cordura Fabrics

Monday, November 29th, 2021

When we say CORDURA® is durable, we mean it. That’s why militaries around the world trust CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics to perform on every mission. For additional information, contact:  sales@hlcindustries.com – for samples + marketing materials

Radian Weapons Introduces AFTERBURNER + RAMJET – Micro Compensator and Barrel

Monday, November 29th, 2021

The Radian Afterburner™ and Ramjet™ introduce industry-leading recoil reduction while fitting into a conceal carry platform and are compatible with GLOCK® G19 pistols. Welcome to the next evolution of handgun performance.

At just .47″ long, the Radian Afterburner(TM) offers unprecedented performance in a micro-compensator and is more effective than the majority of full-size compensators on the market. Its angled front face aids in holstering.

The INTRA-LOK mounting system uses the taper lock principle; a tapered locking screw interfaces with an angled V-groove on the underside of the barrel. This perfectly times the compensator as it locks down onto the upper barrel profile on the muzzle end of the barrel.

www.radianweapons.com/pistol-products

Triple Aught Design – Overlord Sweater

Monday, November 29th, 2021

Earlier today Triple Aught Design kicked off their annual 12 Days of TAD event which introduces a new product each day for 12 days. The kickoff item is a modern take on the British Commando Sweater called the Overlord.

Traditional design cues are obvious but they’ve been modernized and the materials side is top notch. They’ve combined 100% extra fine Merino Wool in a 2×2 ribbed construction with their nylon amphibious cloth overlays at the shoulders and elbows as well as to fashion a pen slot on the left bicep.

Look for OD Green and Black in sizes XS-2XL.

tripleaughtdesign.com/shop/overlord-sweater

Chase Tactical CYBER Monday WEEK Long Sale

Monday, November 29th, 2021

23% OFF through 12/5

Coupon Code: CYBER23

www.chasetactical.com

For Warfighter & Crimefighter: Lightfighter & Warriors Heart

Monday, November 29th, 2021

It’s no secret what troubles are faced by members of the military & first responder professions, both in the field while on duty, and off duty after the fact, when the job is done. Stress from these professions follows us home in many forms, and it’s in those moments that our brothers and sisters need help the most. Unfortunately, they don’t always know where or how to get it.

Founded in March 2016, “the Warriors Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to provide the men and women who protect us with a unique peer-to-peer healing program for “Warriors Only” just outside San Antonio, Texas. No warrior, whether military, law enforcement, fire fighter, or first responder should ever have to walk through the struggles of addiction and mental health alone. The Warriors Heart Foundation was created out of necessity (separately from the Warriors Heart Treatment Facility) to assist in the funding of warriors who don’t have insurance or need assistance in the costs of treatment (all levels of care).”

Lightfighter is proud to announce its adoption of The Warriors Heart Foundation as its native charity. Going forward, and in conjunction with a preliminary donation, the Warriors Heart Foundation will be featured prominently on the Lightfighter Forum. This, to ensure that our brothers and sisters among us know there’s a place to go for the help they need, and a way to get there.

The Lightfighter community strongly supports Warriors Heart. Some members have received treatment at the facility themselves, which inspired Lightfighter’s adoption of the organization and commendation for all they do for those that stepped forward to serve. 

In their own words:

“There is strong medicine in processing grief or moral injuries. Verbalizing those feelings and emotions with a small group of people of similar backgrounds and experiences, is a critical component of addressing the core underlying issues causing self-medication with drugs or alcohol. Where else can a soldier, cop, or firefighter talk about the horrific things they’ve seen on the job and not be judged?”

— Chuck (SGM, US Army, Ret.)

“Warriors Heart gave me the tools to not only take back control my life, but to start thriving again.”

— William (Staff Sgt, US Army, Ret.)

Lightfighter is honored to enable the Warfighter & Crimefighter by supporting those dedicated to their health and wellness, the cornerstone of capability. We sincerely thank Warriors Heart for this privilege.

For more information on The Warriors Heart Foundation and how you can donate, please visit: 

www.warriorsheartfoundation.org/lightfighter 

SSD’s Top Christmas Gift Picks from 5.11 – Day 7

Monday, November 29th, 2021

How could I create a Christmas list of 5.11 Tactical products without including a choice of pants? After all, the brand is named after a trouser model. But instead of the classic, I’ve selected one of their newer designs, the Apex Pant.

It’s a low profile design that doesn’t scream tactical. The material is 67% Polyester/ 33% Cotton which is both comfortable and hard wearing. It also has a bit of mechanical stretch and is treated with Teflon to resist stains. I always keep a pair of these in my pickup along with a spare shirt in case I need a change for changing a tire or something worse. This graphic depicts the pocket layout.

One of the things I like about 5.11 is that they always offer a wide variety of color and size options. There are too many colors to mention here but what’s important is sizing. They have 28-44 waist in 30, 32, 34 and 36 lengths! They can fit most anyone.

There are loads of other gift ideas at 5.11 Tactical’s Merry Missions site.