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AF Competency Modeling Handbook Provides Airmen with Roadmap to Become Future-Ready, Critically Thinking Warfighters

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) —

In line with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s Action Order A (Airmen) effort to find and enhance universal skillsets that are important to all Airmen regardless of their specific Air Force Specialty Code.

The Air Force Competency Modeling Handbook is now available to Airmen after officially being published Feb. 8.

Developed by Headquarters, Air Education and Training Command A3J team, Air Force Handbook 36-2647 includes a validated competency-modeling framework that is scalable, reliable, and repeatable to assist career fields in developing their occupational competency models. It also outlines the service’s 24 foundational competencies, which are a combination of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that manifest in an observable, measurable pattern of behaviors that improve an Airman’s performance.

“Our competencies are the bedrock to developing the Airmen we need, and they provide Airmen with a roadmap to become future-ready, critically-thinking warfighters,” said Brig. Gen. Brenda Cartier, AETC director of operations and communications. “The occupational competency model integrates technical capabilities with the foundational competencies, along with the leadership, combat, joint, social mastery, and all-domain skills needed to be successful in a career.”

In the attachments of AFH 36-2647, Airmen can find detailed definitions for the 24 foundational competencies, which are grouped under four sections: developing self, others, ideas and organizations.

“The foundational competencies are those competencies that are valued by the Air Force and are universally applicable to all Airmen,” said Vincent Villanueva, AETC’s Occupational Competencies branch chief. “These competencies are the core of Airmen development and enable them with tools, pathways, and capabilities to improve their performance in any job, specialty, or situation.”

Competency models support organizational vision, mission, and priorities by identifying the behaviors needed to maintain a competitive advantage and meet strategic objectives.

“The competency model framework enables Airman-centric, mission-focused, competency-based Air Force learning, and as we add career fields, we scale the enterprise-level benefits,” Villanueva said. “It also identifies the competencies needed for key positions and informs decisions for the right person and right job.”

Other features in the handbook include application of competency assessments based on real-world environments and expectations to help Airmen have the right tools and resources in terms of training, education, and experience, Villanueva said.

To access a copy of AFH 36-2647, click here.

By Dan Hawkins, Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | Comments Off on AF Competency Modeling Handbook Provides Airmen with Roadmap to Become Future-Ready, Critically Thinking Warfighters

Air Force Opens Voting for Spark Tank Ideas

Monday, February 28th, 2022

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —

Cast a vote for your favorite entry in the Department of the Air Force Spark Tank 2022 competition. Online polling is open through March 4.

Co-produced by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Management and Deputy Chief Management Officer Rich Lombardi and AFWERX, Spark Tank is an annual competition designed to unleash a total force innovation capacity reflecting leadership’s continued efforts to empower intrapreneurs, celebrate their problem-solving skills and give them a stage to share their ideas with fellow service members, Department of the Air Force senior leaders, and the world. Only the top 3% of ideas submitted to the Spark Tank campaign are selected to compete as finalists.

Finalists will take the stage March 4 in Orlando, Florida, during the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium, to pitch their innovation ideas to Air Force and Space Force senior leadership and industry experts. The audience poll will select the Fan Favorite and be included in the panel’s votes to determine the Spark Tank winner.

Visit the Spark Tank page to view finalist submissions and vote for the best idea.

Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

AFR Capabilities Enable Immediate Ocean Rescue

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022

PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) —

The Air Force Reserve Command’s 920th Rescue Wing conducted a multi-person medical airlift in support of a critically-injured person aboard a cruise ship 600 nautical miles off the coast of Florida, Feb. 15.

The 920th RQW launched two of its HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, and a team of pararescuemen within three hours of notification to rendezvous with the ship and transport a patient and ship’s nurse to a Florida hospital.

“The combined capabilities of our special mission personnel and aircraft permitted us to provide immediate support,” said Col. Brian Diehl, 920th Operations Group commander. “Our constant planning and preparation allowed both operations and maintenance teams to shift rapidly from a normal training day to successful completion of this mission with very little notice.”

In contact with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, the team executed the airlift under Defense Support of Civil Authorities. DSCA is the process by which United States military assets and personnel can be used to assist civil authorities during emergencies and other specific events.

Reaching the ship’s remote location required three aerial refuelings en route, provided by one HC-130J, while the second Combat King II performed double duty as a spare tanker and went directly to the vessel to initiate coordination from the air.

Once at the location, and under the command of the 920th RQW’s 301st Rescue Squadron, the HH-60s took control, examined the ship and conditions to position successfully from the air, insert two pararescuemen who were hoisted down, and immediately began preparing the patient and ship’s nurse for the emergency transport. Once prepared, the PJs, pilots, and special mission aviators worked in concert to hoist them into the helicopter, where the patient was stabilized while en route to a Florida hospital.

The entire extraction took less than four minutes.

“High seas, strong winds, and a ship going 10 knots added a lot of dynamics to this rescue as we worked on getting these people up into the aircraft, but this is what we train for” said a 301st RQS pilot. “When they say that there is a real-world rescue to execute, our focus is on saving lives.”

The 920th Maintenance Group generated six aircraft and ensured they were crew-ready in less than one hour. This feat required inspecting, fueling, and configuring the aircraft for the mission while executing other aircraft maintenance requirements.

“Much like our wing exercises that simulate Indo-Pacific region travel over long distances of water in a short period of time, our training and preparation allow us to ensure aircraft are ready for real-world events at a moment’s notice and shows the importance of getting aircraft back to flight line 100% ready for any contingency at any time,” said Lt. Col. George Cole, 920th Maintenance Group commander.

The rescue mission covered just under 1,100 miles round trip over open ocean and completed in eight hours.

Based at Patrick Space Force Base, the 920th RQW is AFRC’s only combat search and rescue wing. Its primary mission is to plan, lead, and conduct military rescue operations and missions to deny competitors and adversaries’ exploitation of isolated personnel.

By Lt Col Ian Phillips, 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Forces Focus, Guest Post | Comments Off on AFR Capabilities Enable Immediate Ocean Rescue

U.S. Air Force Procures Orolia’s CRPA Testing Solution

Sunday, February 20th, 2022

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 15, 2022 – Orolia Defense & Security, the No. 1 provider of software-defined simulation solutions for navigation warfare, was selected by the U.S. Air Force Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility to deliver a BroadSim Wavefront. BroadSim Wavefront is a pillar of innovation among Orolia’s Skydel-powered advanced GNSS simulators.

The GWEF provides laboratory testing and simulation tools for developing precision-guided weapon technology, including a comprehensive scope of GPS/INS systems and integrated components like sensors, signals of opportunity and Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas. CRPAs are fundamental in many platforms due to their enhanced protection against electronic attacks in NAVWAR environments.

The Broadsim Wavefront simulator will be integrated into a test environment for networked, collaborative and autonomous weapon systems being developed under the Golden Horde program. Golden Horde is one of four Air Force Vanguard programs designed to rapidly advance emerging weapons systems and warfighting concepts through prototype and experimentation.

Of the several capabilities the GWEF required, features such as low-latency hardware-in-the-loop, automated calibration, and the flexibility to quickly integrate future signals and sensors were the most critical and serve as a key reason Orolia’s BroadSim Wavefront was selected. This system will also be capable of testing eight element CRPA systems, eight simultaneous Fixed Radiation Pattern Antenna systems, or a combination of CRPA and FRPA systems.

“When designing BroadSim Wavefront, we re-imagined every aspect for the user,” said Tyler Hohman, director of products for Orolia Defense & Security. “Though the GWEF unit contains eight nodes (corresponding to each antenna element), it can be scaled from four to 16 antenna elements. One of the greatest advancements is our continuous phase monitoring and compensation technique. It automatically monitors, aligns and adjusts the phase of each RF output continuously throughout the duration of a scenario.”

• Watch the Skydel Wavefront calibration tutorial on Orolia Defense & Security’s YouTube channel.

“Gone are the days of re-calibrating each frequency on your system, limiting your scenario duration or re-calibration every time you power cycle your system,” added Hohman. “Simply turn the system on, start the scenario, and your Wavefront system phase aligns and remains aligned for the entirety of the test.”

Leveraging the Skydel Simulation Engine, BroadSim Wavefront also supports high-dynamics, MNSA M-Code, alternative RF navigation, open-source IMU plug-in and 1000Hz iteration update rate.

“Because of the software-defined architecture, many upgrades don’t require additional hardware, which has been a crucial advantage for customers who are already using this solution,” Hohman said.

The next generation of CRPA testing is led by BroadSim Wavefront. For more information, visit www.oroliads.com/broadsim-wavefront.

Ask about Orolia’s wavefront superiority by contacting sales@OroliaDS.com.

Posted in Air Force, Comms, Contracts, Press Release | Comments Off on U.S. Air Force Procures Orolia’s CRPA Testing Solution

In Memoriam – Col Gail S. Halvorsen (USAF, Ret)

Friday, February 18th, 2022

Earlier this week Col Gail S. Halvorsen (USAF, Ret) aka The Berlin Candy Bomber and Uncle Wiggly Wings passed away. His family was at his side at the Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah, where he was admitted following a short illness. Colonel Halvorsen was 101 years old and he is survived by his five children and numerous grand- and great grandchildren.

We received this information from the Airlift/Tanker Association:

Col Halvorsen, a Utah native, began his flying career when he earned his private pilot’s license in 1941 through a Civil Air Patrol program. His passion for aviation led him to join the Army Air Force in 1942 flying transport aircraft. In 1948, peace in Europe was threatened as the Soviet Union blockaded all ground access to war-torn West Berlin. Then, Lt Halvorsen, a member of the newly formed United States Air Force, began flying humanitarian airlift missions to starving West Berliners. During one mission, he paused to share two sticks of gum with nearby German children who were watching the aircraft and busy flightline. Two sticks of gum did not go far and he promised the children he would be back the next day to drop candy from his airplane, telling them, you will know it is me when I “wiggle” my wings. That simple act of kindness and compassion led to “Operation Little Vittles” and, in all, over 23 tons of candy were dropped from Allied aircraft. His impact spread beyond the smiles of German children. He brought visibility to the plight of the German people and put a human face on their suffering—Americans now saw the Germans as humans, not enemies. Strategically, the Allied resolve strengthened, and West Berlin’s freedom was secured without a single shot fired and his act of kindness forged the strong bond between America and Germany that endures today.

After hanging up his uniform Col Halvorsen continued his life of service by inspiring youth and adults around the world to a life of service.

May He Rest In Peace

Posted in Air Force, Cold War, History, Memorial, Veterans | 3 Comments »

ACC’s Agile Combat Employment Just Got More AGILE

Friday, February 18th, 2022

JOINT BASE LANGLEY – EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) —

Air Combat Command has made significant progress on a number of Agile Combat Employment initiatives, including the creation of an agile battle lab.

As the command continues to anticipate changes and adapt to ACE concepts, innovation and integration has never been more important to members of the staff here.

Lt. Col. Adam Chitwood, ACC’s Agile Battle Lab commander, launched his unit into the ideology of accelerating change and influencing the necessity of ACE Airmen. The ABL mission is to accelerate technology, tactics and unit design to further ACE in ACC and around the Air Force.

More than 22 years ago, under Air Education and Training Command, ABL, then called Squadron Next, began with tests and experiments. Now, after transitioning to ACC in 2020, the ABL collaborates with many organizations, including ACC’s A6 communications directorate (cyber) units outside of ACC to find and solve problems, giving organizations effective ways to operate and train Airmen.

An Airman assigned to the 52nd Combat Communications Squadron from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. sets up a satellite in a simulated austere environment in Sunglow City during Exercise Bushwhacker 21-07 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Oct. 4, 2021. Bushwhacker allowed DM to execute and test Agile Combat Employment processes and timelines to pack up, load and re-establish wing facilities and command and control structures at newly established locations. Air Combat Command has made significant progress on several Agile Combat Employment initiatives, including the creation of an agile battle lab. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristine Legate)

“One unit cannot solve all of the problems of the Air Force,” Chitwood said. “That’s why collaborating and adapting is so vital.”

The difference between the ABL and traditional ACC units is its unique mission. ABL’s ultimate goal is to reshape the way Airmen think, work and incorporate processes that elevate the capabilities of the Air Force in preparation for the future fight.

We are not focused on everyday problems. We’re focused on strategic and more operational level issues,” said Master Sgt. Andrea Murray, ABL’s intelligence integration manager. “We’re making changes in 18 to 20 months. Unlike traditional labs and units, we can’t wait 10 years. We need things to change now, and that’s what we’re doing.”

A major part of ACE is the creation of a multi-capable Airmen mindset. MCA is an initiative where a small group of Airmen will be trained to accomplish tasks outside their core Air Force specialty. They will train in a cross-functional team to provide combat support to aviation force elements conducting dispersed and dynamic operations. MCA will recover, refuel, reload, launch and defend mission generation force elements.

As MCA concepts expand across the Air Force, the need for immediate, effective change and improvements grows. According to Chitwood, with ACE being ABL’s primary effort, integrating MCA will become essential to the Air Force as a whole. ABL’s goal is to equip the force with more than capable Airmen.

“We, as Airmen, have to practice like we fight,” said Senior Master Sgt. Reid Beveridge, ABL superintendent. “War is not an additional duty. We need to practice MCA jobs and we need to identify failure gaps before we are called on to use [tactics, techniques and procedures] in combat.”

In December 2021, ABL led an ACE command control and communications operations rehearsal for ACC and joint partners. The success of the rehearsal resulted in a way ahead to plan and identify what future challenges adversaries might present Airmen.

“Developing and testing ACE concepts through the lab and other venues will ultimately give our Airmen decisional advantage in tomorrow’s fight,” Chitwood said.

By SSgt Jaylen Molden

Air Combat Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Comms, Guest Post | Comments Off on ACC’s Agile Combat Employment Just Got More AGILE

Air Force to Phase Out 13O Career Field, Strengthen All Airmen Joint Capabilities

Friday, February 18th, 2022

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —

The Department of the Air Force announced Feb. 17, the Multi-Domain Warfare Officer (13O) career field will be phased out while emphasizing that multi-domain capabilities will become fundamental across the Air Force.

This phase out impacts 136 currently-assigned Total Force Airmen in the active component, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.

“We must be prepared to face future conflicts with our joint and combined partners, and the knowledge Multi-Domain Warfare Officers bring to the fight is too critical to confine to a single career field,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. “To continue outpacing near-peer adversaries, we must reinforce all Air Force members’ multi-domain expertise.”

The Air Force will continue to evolve its professional education and force structure to ensure all Airmen can apply operational concepts and contribute to Joint All-Domain Operations, versus limiting it to one core AFSC.

The transition will begin after eligible officers meet the LAF-X Colonel central selection board March 29 – April 14, 2022. Commanders will guide Multi-Domain Warfare Officers through the reassignment process. Officers trained in multi-domain warfare gained valuable experience in all-domain and joint planning capabilities which will be leveraged at all levels of training and professional military education to strengthen enterprise-wide capabilities.

“We want to utilize the depth of knowledge and experience that our Multi-Domain Warfare Officers bring to the fight and to the maximum extent possible need their help to train and educate Airmen to fight and win against a peer threat in all domains,” said Maj. Gen. Albert G. Miller, director of Training and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

Air Education and Training Command, the lead for Professional Military Education, plans to implement principles of the current Multi-Domain Warfare Initial Skills Training into Air Force-wide developmental education. This will increase the operational knowledge and expertise required to produce joint-capable and credible Airmen.

The Multi-Domain Warfare Officer (13O) career field was established June 25, 2018, as a result of the Multi-Domain Command and Control Implementation Plan to train operational-level C2 personnel specialized in executing command and control of multi-domain operations.

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | 8 Comments »

24 SOW DET 1 Conducts First Readiness Exercise Under AFSOC

Friday, February 11th, 2022

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida. —

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Florida. – Airmen from the 24th Special Operations Wing, Detachment 1, participated in their first joint deployment exercise since transitioning from United States Special Operations Command to Air Force Special Operations Command Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2022, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

The 24th SOW, Det. 1 conducted the exercise to validate their ability to provide short-notice civil engineering, force protection and logistics support toward a wide variety of special operation missions across the globe.

During the exercise, Airmen secured their cargo, prepared it for loading, and ensured it was ready for safety inspection.

“This is our first deployment exercise under AFSOC,” said Tech. Sgt. Ismael Hayes, the noncommissioned officer in charge of Air Transportation for the 24th SOW, Det. 1. “We wanted to get an understanding of some of our new roles and how we would proceed with our missions from here on out.”

Hayes added that although the transition from SOCOM to AFSOC did not entirely change their mission, it would actually help them get it done faster.

“We’re all about time,” said Hayes, “Now that we’re working with AFSOC, we’re able to work seamlessly with other units across the 6th Air Refueling Wing.”

Alongside the 24th SOW, Det. 1, were Airmen from the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, conducting safety inspections and providing cargo loading support throughout the exercise.

“Working with the 24th SOW was definitely interesting,” said Staff Sgt. Nasya Didomenico, a passenger terminal representative with the 6th LRS. “We ensured that all the cargo was prepared for loading, conducted the safety inspections to prevent any hazardous situations, and exchanged feedback with the Airmen conducting the exercise.”

Didomenico added that the 24th SOW Airmen were extremely efficient during the exercise and the 6th LRS is looking forward to a higher operations tempo now that the 24 SOW, Det. 1 is under AFSOC.

“We definitely still have the same mentality when it comes to doing our job,” said Hayes. “However, we’re very much looking forward to what the future has in-store for us being able to work under AFSOC and with the support of the 6th ARW.”

By Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez

6 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Guest Post, SOF | Comments Off on 24 SOW DET 1 Conducts First Readiness Exercise Under AFSOC