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Fall 2022 Special Operations Center for Medical Integration and Development

Tuesday, November 29th, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen executed the Fall 2022 Special Operations Center for Medical Integration and Development culminating field training exercise in Birmingham, Alabama, Nov. 17, 2022.

Training provided the pararescuemen various controlled scenarios to enhance medical readiness, whether in day-to-day operations or in austere, resource-limited locations.

The culminating FTX was the capstone to a two-week-long certification course where students applied skills learned in civilian hospital care to tactical scenarios.

SOCMID is embedded with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. Their vision is to establish the premier trauma skills, sustainment and recertification platform for pararescuemen and Special Operations Independent Duty Medical Technicians.

The partnership with UAB Hospital is beneficial to students as it is a level one trauma center, allowing them to conduct clinical rotations in operating and emergency rooms.

“The civilian-military partnerships are important to our sustainment program,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Clayton Rabens, 24th Special Operations Wing command surgeon. “Some of these skills are perishable, so having partnerships like we do with UAB allows us to replicate scenarios and solve problems hands-on, then apply them to tactical scenarios for students to practice.”

Some of the other training was completed with virtual reality headsets. Specific VR training helps students refine cognitive skills in approaching medical problem sets.

Additionally, prolonged casualty care scenarios allowed pararescue teams to work through casualty care with new skillsets learned while attending SOCMID real-time with wounded mannequins.

“We want to ensure they’re prepared to meet real-world missions,” added Rabens. “The high stress environment they encounter during the FTX ensures we are able to meet that goal.”

By 1st Lt Victor Reyes, 24 SOW Public Affairs

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Guest Post, Medical, Training | Comments Off on Fall 2022 Special Operations Center for Medical Integration and Development

USSOCOM’s Armed Overwatch Aircraft Designated OA-1K

Monday, November 28th, 2022

Earlier this year the United States Special Operations Command selected the L3 Harris AT-802U Sky Warden as their new Armed Overwatch aircraft. It has now been designated as the OA-1K. Aircraft officianados will recognize the OA designation which identifies the combined Observation Attack role.

The decision to reuse model 1 is an odd choice considering 7 is the next number in line for Observation aircraft and 14 is next up for Attack aircraft. It seems that they are attempting to assert some sort of SOF aviation heritage on this completely new airframe by reusing the model 1 designation shared with the Skyraider and assigning variant K to the Sky Warden.

Thousands of Douglas A-1E, A-1H and A-1J Skyraiders were operated by the US from 1946-1973 with significant service in AFSOC’s forebears, the Air Commandos, during the Vietnam War.

The Armed Overwatch program provides SOF with dedicated Close Air Support, precision strike, and airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) from austere locations in a permissive environment.

USSOCOM plans to procure 75 OA-1Ks and form then into four operational squadrons of 15 aircraft each and an additional 15 for use in training. Special Operations Squadrons operating U-28 Drago and MC-12W Liberty will replace their aircraft with OA-1Ks. However, AFSOC plans to keep some Dragos in service.

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, SOF | 5 Comments »

“Force Plate Vertical Jump Scans are Not a Valid Proxy for Physical Fitness in US Special Warfare Trainees”

Sunday, November 27th, 2022

Members of the Air Force Special Warfare Human Performance Support Group’s Research Flight recently published an article in a peer-reviewed journal, “Force plate vertical jump scans are not a valid proxy for physical fitness in US special warfare trainees.”

The Research Flight is the only embedded research team in the DoD, tasked with supporting the Special Warfare Training Wing with data driven decisions to identify trends, maximize the effectiveness and reduce injuries within the pipeline.

Read the full article here.

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Guest Post, Medical | 2 Comments »

Airmen Innovate, Ensure HH-60W’s First Deployment

Friday, November 25th, 2022

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) —

In preparation for the Air Force’s newest rescue platform’s first deployment, Airmen from the 41st Rescue and Rescue Generation Squadrons conducted extensive training to learn the intricacies of the new HH-60W Jolly Green II.

As a result of the increase in training, the 41st RQS expended more of the aircraft’s hoist cables than anticipated, lending to a potential shortfall. A team of 41st RGS maintenance Airmen, however, quickly recognized the need to replace these cables and jumped at the chance to accelerate change and make an Air Force-wide impact.

“Our maintenance Airmen have a won’t-fail mentality and are constantly working to make things better not only for the 23rd Maintenance Group but for the entire Air Force,” said Col. Jason Purdy, 23rd MXG commander.

These hoists are critical to the success of combat search and rescue operations. They are used in high-stakes scenarios to rescue individuals in dangerous or remote areas that aren’t accessible by ground transportation, or if the victim is trapped by fire or water.

Recognizing the need to adapt, the Airmen came together and discovered they could circumvent the supply shortage by using the HH-60G Pave Hawk cables in the HH-60W with only slight modifications.

“We used our subject matter expertise to troubleshoot the issue,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Cellini, 41st RGS flying crew chief. “We improvised and adapted to overcome the supply shortage, by using a cable that we know is reliable and the Air Force has plenty of.”

Cellini and his counterparts went to the field training detachment hoist trainer to test and write the operating procedures for converting the HH-60G cables for use in the HH-60W. The process ensured the safe use of the hoist cables by synchronizing the speed in which they extend at the appropriate points of the cable.

The 41st RGS submitted an engineer request and engineers from Warner Robins Air Force Base came to Moody AFB to provide safety checks and approve the process.

With the process approved and implemented, the rescue Airmen ensured the HH-60W was fully mission-capable and ready to deploy by Air Combat Command’s initial operational capability deadline.

“Finding and testing this information and realizing it can work for us is going to make a huge difference knowing there will never be a shortage of cables,” said Master Sgt. Jonathan Holford, 41st RGS production superintendent.

Discovering innovative solutions for unpredictable circumstances is a testament to the Airmen who feel empowered to do so. The Airmen with the 41st RGS said they feel confident in providing creative solutions to these shortfalls thanks to their leadership.

“People say aircraft maintenance is pretty black and white, but some of it’s not,” Cellini said. “Our leadership is open to ideas; as long as it’s safe and we can effectively and efficiently accomplish it, our whole chain of command will back us.”

Holford attributed the success of the organization to this leadership philosophy and the teamwork mentality fostered within the unit.

“We encourage Airmen to solve problems,” Holford said. “We always want to afford them the opportunity to fail, but we fail together; we learn from it and continue to grow on what we learned.”

The mission relies on Airmen’s ingenuity and initiative to succeed, and Moody AFB Airmen have exemplified these traits throughout the transition to the HH-60W.

“I’m very proud of our maintainers for leading the way on the HH-60W fleet,” Purdy said. “Whether it’s been a hoist, a gun system, or a lapse in technical data, our Airmen developed ways to make the entire program better.”

Story Airman 1st Class Deanna Muir, 23rd Wing Public Affairs

Photos by Staff Sergeant Devin Boyer

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post, MRO | Comments Off on Airmen Innovate, Ensure HH-60W’s First Deployment

AFSOC Spark Tank Finalists to Compete at Air Force-Level

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Since the inception of Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Commandos have been pathfinders, breaking new ground and laying the foundation for others to find innovative ways to solve problems, some not yet considered.

Spark Tank, an annual, Air Force-wide program that solicits solutions to operational problems, allows Air Commandos to use their innovative and pathfinding spirit to get after Air Force and AFSOC-wide problems. The program is focused on empowering Airmen at all levels by providing a platform to pitch innovative solutions.

Of AFSOC’s 31 submissions, six semi-finalists were selected to compete at the major command level.

The six finalists presented their ideas to a panel of AFSOC senior leaders who selected two to compete at the Air Force level.

“The innovative spirit of our Air Commandos is part of what makes AFSOC so unique, so it’s no surprise to see such a large turnout of great ideas,” said Mr. Donald Plater, AFSOC executive director. “This competition is about recognizing our Airmen and making the Air Force better, so let’s give them our full attention.”

The Advanced Maintenance and Troubleshooting Suite (A-MATS), submitted by Master Sgt. Aaron Cordroch, wing avionics manager for the 1st Special Operations Maintenance Group, and Project OREGON TRAIL created by Staff Sgt. Michael Sturtevant, air transportation and aerial delivery supervisor for the 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron, were the two finalists.

Cordroch’s A-MATS proposes the development of an information database which will provide access to aircraft data using cyber security monitoring tools. These tools currently provide access to previously unavailable data. This data can be used to significantly reduce maintenance costs associated with replacing parts that are still serviceable and predicting future potential maintenance issues.

“A-MATS will offer more accurate fail data to maintenance technicians, saving thousands of hours in aircraft downtime currently being used to troubleshoot maintenance problems,” said Cordroch. “It will offer more detailed and accurate aircraft historical data, while also providing current system health statuses to allow for enhanced maintenance scheduling and forecasting.”

Sturtevant’s Project OREGON TRAIL aims to create a quick and space-reducing solution for moving pallets and equipment in austere environments in lieu of a forklift.

“Fork-lifts can take 95-man hours to disassemble and reassemble and can also take up five pallet positions plus a pallet needed for fuel,” said Sturtevant.

“The goal is to deliver more mission critical equipment for those down-range who are getting the mission done and to also ensure their safety. If a forklift is down and a mission must go, our people must carry that heavy equipment themselves, and this eliminates that problem.”

“Without our Airmen, we are nothing and this is a stark reminder of how important it is to invest in our human capital,” said Plater. “I appreciate all who submitted their ideas and am truly impressed with the bright and innovative Airmen we have in this command.”

From here, the two finalists will go on to compete at the Air Force level, where a board of innovation and functional experts from Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Management, and AFWERX, a Technology Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), will select the best submissions and compile a slate of Semi-Finalists for presentation to the Semi-Finals board.

If selected, the Semi-Finals board, co-chaired by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and consisting of Vice Chief of Space and Department of the Air Force Executive subject-matter experts, will select up to six to be pitched at the Spark Tank Finals, which are planned to be held in conjunction with the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colo., in March.

By Capt Alicia Premo, Air Force Special Operations Command

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, SOF | Comments Off on AFSOC Spark Tank Finalists to Compete at Air Force-Level

AFSOC Hosts Mission Command Summit

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Air Force Special Operations Command hosted leaders from the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, the Army Mission Command Center of Excellence, Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, the Barnes Center, and Squadron Officer School at a Mission Command Summit last week to better understand the Air Force’s concept of Mission Command and how it applies to AFSOC.

The summit was co-hosted by Col. Stewart Parker, 492d Special Operations Wing vice commander, AFSOC’s lead wing for education and training, and Col. Eries Mentzer, director of AFSOC Force Development. Lt Gen Jim Slife, AFSOC commander, kicked off the summit explaining why understanding mission command is so critical at this time.

“To deliver the Air Force Special Operations Command we need in today’s increasingly complex and uncertain environments, we must decentralize and empower Special Operations Task Units (SOTU) and Special Operations Task Groups (SOTG) with mission command,” said Slife.

Today’s challenges demand multi-capable Airmen deployed through a sustainable Force Generation model, empowered to take on current and emerging threats. Integrating the culture of mission command makes that model possible.

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., discussed mission command as one of the Air Force’s five cultural focus areas at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyberspace Conference in September 2022. Brown identified mission command, force generation, agile combat employment, multi-capable Airmen, and the wing A-staff construct as key cultural shifts essential to deliver the Air Force we need in today’s dynamic operating environment.

The Mission Command Summit hosted at the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, reviewed the definition of mission command to ensure a shared understanding and discussed ways to promote mission command throughout AFSOC. Attendees also discussed barriers the command may face including culture, key behaviors and value systems that must evolve. Additionally, attendees discussed resources needed to deliver a mission command culture aligned with AFSOC’s warfighting functions and competencies, both in garrison and deployed.

Recommendations from the three-day summit were briefed to Maj. Gen. Wolfe Davidson, deputy commander of AFSOC, to deliver at the upcoming Force Development Council hosted by Headquarters Air Force.

“To be survivable in the fight and adaptive in garrison, we must execute mission command’ said Davidson, “To make this possible, AFSOC is committed to delivering the necessary resources. We need command teams at every level to deliver this command culture.”

Col. Mentzer and Col. Parker will reconvene the Mission Command Summit in Spring 2023 to receive feedback from the first Airmen to deploy under the newly fielded SOTG and SOTU Command Teams and review progress on shifting AFSOC’s culture to support and facilitate mission command.

“Pride is the fuel of human accomplishment,” said Slife. “We want to give our Airmen missions—and not simply tasks or functions—for which they can be accountable and proud of succeeding in accomplishing.”

By TSgt Jonathan McCallum, 492d Special Operations Wing

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, SOF | 2 Comments »

Airmen Compete in Joint Global Radio Contest Noble Skywave

Sunday, November 20th, 2022

U.S. ARMY GARRISON BAUMHOLDER, Germany (AFNS) —

Military units from around the world recently participated in Noble Skywave, a global cyber contest, at U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder.

Noble Skywave is a multi-national high-frequency radio contest hosted by the Canadian Armed Forces.

This year’s competition brought together 429 military units from across 13 nations competing to determine who can most efficiently utilize high-frequency radio technology.

Each team was placed into one of three categories based on the amount of transmitting power their radio station has.

During the contest, teams set up a fully functioning radio station and utilized their skills to connect with other radio stations, some being thousands of miles away.

“There is a set number of stations playing in this contest, and our objective is to contact as many of them as possible,” said Airman 1st Class Matthew Recchia, 1st Combat Communication Squadron cyber infrastructure technician. “Whoever contacts the most stations, wins.”

High-frequency radio technology and its operators are crucial to the U.S. military, allies and partners as it is not reliant on conventional ways of communications technology, such as satellites or cell phone towers which are vulnerable to weather conditions or an attack from an adversary.

If conventional ways of communication were to ever go down or become inoperable, that is where high-frequency radio comes in. The technology works by bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere, a layer in the atmosphere that is electrically charged by the sun, allowing communication between people that are a vast distance apart.

“Last year, our farthest link was 11,700 kilometers away,” said Senior Airman Kelley Jay, 1st CBCS radio frequency transmission systems technician. “We communicated with a radio station in Peru from Germany by using this radio technology.”

In this year’s competition, the longest connection the 1st CBCS made was with New Zealand, at approximately 18,000 kilometers away.

Most importantly, by using high-frequency technology, one can send documents, emails, orders or anything else needed to ensure mission success.

Though it is a contest, Noble Skywave provides the opportunity for military partners to come together to enhance their skills for a common goal of defending the NATO alliance.

“The purpose of the contest is to keep our high-frequency radio skills sharp,” Jay said. “But it also ensures the international communications community is interoperable and ready to respond effectively if the need arises.”

U.S. forces in Europe live, train and operate with allies and partners from strategic locations across the continent to ensure a timely and coordinated response during peacetime and crisis.

Within their category, 1st CBCS came in third place with a total of 200 connections made with other radio stations around the world using high-frequency radio.

By Airman 1st Class Jared Lovett, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Comms, Guest Post | 2 Comments »

The Saint and Ten Sinners

Friday, November 18th, 2022

ZAGAN, Poland — Capt. Robert Stanley, the brigade assistant intelligence officer assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division always had an interest in history, and after learning of his great-uncle’s involvement in WWII, he was inspired to research it more.

“I love history, for me, all the sacrifices made by servicemembers put me in a position that I’m in,” said Capt. Stanley. “If I’m going to appreciate those things, I must investigate it.”

Capt. Stanley went on to say that this is a way to put a face to a story that he’s attached to. He encourages everyone to look into their family history because you may be impressed with what you find.

The Stanley family’s service to the United States armed forces date back as far as the Civil War. Although many people were drafted into the United States Army when the Nazis began their conquest of the world, Sgt. Everett W. Stanley continued his family’s legacy by enlisting into the U.S. Army Air Corps as a ball turret gunner with the 401st bomb group, 613th squadron.

“My great uncle volunteered after the beginning of WWII,” said Capt. Stanley.

At the beginning of WWII, there wasn’t an organic Air Force. It was part of the U.S. Army as the Air Corps, which was originally formed in 1917 during WWI. After enlisting, Sgt. Stanley was stationed at Deenethorpe Airfield in England where he flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

While stationed at Deenethorpe Airfield, Sgt. Stanley met his crew consisting of 2nd Lt. Donald E. Butterfoss, pilot, 2nd Lt. Robert L. Westfall, co-pilot, Bernard J. Boyle, flight navigator, 2nd Lt. Robert C. Kerpen, bombardier, Sgt. Roger R. McCauley, radio operator, Sgt. Alfred J. Truskowski, engineer & top turret gunner, Sgt. William H. Lee, tail gunner, Sgt. William E. Watkins, left waist gunner and Sgt. John W. Reeves, right waist gunner. During their WWII deployment, they were known as “The Saint and Ten Sinners”.

Sgt. Stanley and his crew conducted several missions out of Deenthorpe, their most significant being the largest bombing run during WWII during that specific timeframe.

“It was the largest daylight bombing mission of WWII up to that point,” said Capt. Stanley.

During their last bombing mission, Sgt. Stanley and crew were hit by Flak from a German 88mm anti-aircraft and both port engines caught fire. The crew noticed German fighters coming toward them, so they took cover in the clouds and decided to head home with the engines they had left.

As the crew flew over Arnhem, Holland, they received enemy fire which caused severe damage to the plane and the crew had no choice but to bail. After being shot down during mission, Sgt. Stanley was taken into captivity as a prisoner of war (POW) where he spent the next 11 months.

“There were thousands of POWs, that’s thousands of stories and thousands of experiences,” said Capt. Stanley.

Although Sgt. Stanley was a POW, he was allowed to send letters home to his family with the help of the American Red Cross. This made his family aware of the immense sacrifice he made for our great nation.

“If I have a rough day, I think to myself, my great uncle was a prisoner of war,” said Capt. Stanley. “If he can get through that, I can deal with whatever I have going on.”

During his time in Poland, Capt. Stanley took the opportunity to visit some of the historic sites in the area. He went to Berlin and Stalag Luft III, one of the locations it is believed his great uncle spent time as a POW.

“My great uncle served through the Korean War and Vietnam War,” said Capt. Stanley. “After retiring, he stayed with the Air Force as a Department of Defense civilian.”

Sgt. Stanley received a POW medal, European campaign medal and a WWII service medal among others before retiring after more than 20 years of faithful service to the nation.

“To understand Veterans’ Day, you have to know that those aren’t just names on a board, it’s an entire life that has been lived up to this point,” said Capt. Stanley.

As Capt. Stanley begins to transition from active duty service to National Guard, thinking back on his family’s sacrifice much like his ancestors before him, he looks to the future. Sitting on a ranch remembering those that came before him and starting a new tradition for the Stanley clan.

Capt. Stanley stated that all vets, even those who haven’t seen combat, have made great sacrifices. There’s a lot more to military service than just combat.

“My call to serve has been a part of what members of my family have done,” said Capt. Stanley. “Many people before me have died for something worth fighting for.”

As you go about your day conducting normal business during Veteran’s Day, take a moment to remember why we as Americans are provided with the freedoms we enjoy every day. Remember those that came before you and their sacrifices; remember “A Saint and Ten Sinners.”

By SGT Timothy Brokhoff and SFC Theresa Gualdarama

Posted in Air Force, Army, Guest Post, History | 1 Comment »