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Kardax Solutions Installs Range for 351st Special Warfare Training Squadron

Thursday, December 23rd, 2021

Kardax Solutions, working in coordination with Improve Group, is pleased to announce the completion of Phase I of the ACTION (Advanced Combat Training InnovatiON) Range for the 351ST Special Warfare Training Squadron at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico. The success of Phase I is notable in several ways, and we look forward to the next phases of the program. The focus for this innovative range is to improve the lethality, survivability, and combat readiness of the PJ and CRO students. The specific goals of Phase I were:

• Improve the efficiency of the overall training program

• Improve the effectiveness and realism of the training program

• Provide meaningful, repeatable metrics to enable evaluation of training methods and increased capabilities of students.

Each of these goals were addressed using various methods to provide a significant upgrade to the total training capability of the range. Because of the flexibility of the design of the facility, usage can be easily adapted to the requirements of other US Air Force combat teams, other special warfare personnel, and other branches of the DoDs training requirements. The modular design will allow the foundation technology to be scaled to larger or smaller footprints and other locations.

The first of the three-phase program for the 351st SWTS provided two innovative ranges:

The first range is a 37-lane, 50m flat shooting range for qualification, marksmanship and fundamental movement and tactics with automated, hit sensing, auto-scoring targets. The auto-scoring targets have three distinct zones that provide real-time results for each student. Each lane also has an integrated live camera feed that makes zeroing rifles more efficient. The camera system allows a “pinch-to-zoom” interface to show hit location for every shot, eliminating the need to call a range cold to check shot location. The range has an integrated camera system providing multi-angle video on six lanes with recording features that broadcast to the instructional coaching booths, allowing on-site, instant instructional feedback to increase training effectiveness and skill retention. The Range Extractor Database enables the managements of students, real-time leaderboards, flexible reporting, and facilitates analysis of performance at the class or individual level. The data can also be evaluated over the length of the class training to show historical trends and improvement for individuals, teams, and the class as a whole. The 50m range is a fully illuminated range with low level lighting for the targets as well.

The second range is a Shoot-Move-Communicate (SMC) range that consists of three separate lanes of action including 30 targets, each with progressively more challenging terrain for long range skill building, combat marksmanship and advance/retreat tactical movements for small teams. This is the first live-fire SMC range approved and owned by the US Air Force. This training facility significantly increases the real-world scenario simulation for students, increasing student competency for fire and movement training. All firing positions teach students use of cover and concealment and all targets in the system are programmable, hit sensing, and controllable from the RSO Tower.

During the initial phase of the program, Kardax Solutions also provided the MVP HEKTR (Humanoid Engageable Kinetic Training Robot). HEKTR is a remote control, fully armored, all-terrain, responsive, live-fire target that emulates the realism of a moving threat. HEKTR brings an entirely new level of dynamic engagement to the range with humanoid movement, multiple target zones, geofencing, motion restraints and fully programmable features in terms of time, hits, and responses. The HEKTR provides enhanced training scenarios to both ranges to develop the combat mindset of students.

The metrics from this complex training environment will not only drive improvements in weapons training methodologies and student performance but also provide a foundation for mapping Human Performance data and enhancing sound tactical decision-making processes.

Phase II and III of the range hold tremendous potential for further expansion and advancement of training capabilities with ranges such as a live-fire vehicle track, high angle shooting with immediate shot detection feedback and disabled vehicle rescue. In additional, the infrastructure is now in place to expand realistic training scenario ranges.

For further information regarding the prototype range and for additional contracting opportunities using the OTA contract, please contact Lance McGlocklin at Kardax Solutions (lance@kardaxsolutions.com).

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Press Release, Training | 1 Comment »

Photo Of The USAF’s Maintainer Duty Uniform

Thursday, December 23rd, 2021

We finally got ahold of photos of the new Maintainer Duty Uniform. You may recall that it was mentioned in the recent update to AFI 36-2903.

Maintenance Duty Uniform (MDU). Commanders of Airmen in these AFSCs, 2A, 2F, 2G, 2M, 2P, 2S, 2T, 2W, 3E, 3D, and 1P may authorize Airmen to wear the sage MDU. The sage color MDU will be unit funded as organizational clothing and equipment. MDU will be worn with nametape, service tape and rank along with the higher headquarters patch on the left sleeve and a subdued U.S. flag and organizational patch on the right sleeve. Note: Duty identifiers, as applicable may be worn on the left sleeve. The coyote brown t-shirt, OCP patrol or tactical cap, coyote brown or green socks, and coyote brown boots, are worn with the uniform. The MDU will not be utilized for office work environments, non-industrial or non- labor tasking. The MDU is authorized for wear when transiting from home to duty location, off base short convenience stops, eating at restaurants where people wear comparable civilian attire and all locations on installations. It must be worn in serviceable condition. Do not wear off base to eat in restaurants where most diners wear business attire or at establishments that operate primarily to serve alcohol. Local coverall variants are still authorized but only in work centers and on the flight line.

We’re guessing the choice of Sage Green was to control costs as solid color fabric is less expensive than a print and to help blend in a bit better with Ops’ flights suits.

At any rate, word on the street is that maintainers would prefer something nicer, like the two-piece work uniforms worn by MX for flight demonstration teams.

Posted in Air Force, Clothing | 14 Comments »

505th Command and Control Wing: Accelerating and Advancing Command and Control

Thursday, December 23rd, 2021

The 505th CCW held a wing-wide workgroup to provide updates on upcoming major changes to 505th exercises and syllabi. The workgroup was advised by several U.S. Air Force senior mentors, including Lt. Gen. (ret) Russell Handy and Lt. Gen. (ret) Jeffrey Lofgren, who provided critical insights into how the wing can accelerate change.

Col. Frederick Coleman, 505th CCW commander, told his squadron and group commanders, “There are a lot of things in the operational C2 enterprise that we don’t control. But we own training, and if we want to enable the air component commanders to fight and win our nations wars, we have to get training right.”

Col. Coleman directed changes to the Air Operations Center initial qualification syllabus to ensure training includes academics on new and emerging systems; he directed the consolidation of AOC and Air Force Forces courses into a single air component course; and he gave guidance on changes to the 505th’s BLUE FLAG and VIRTUAL FLAG exercises to ensure they were more customer-focused and geared towards Agile Combat, or ACE, and resiliency requirements.

Coleman continued, “The 505th CCW has the Air Force’s largest pool of operational C2 subject matter experts. We have to leverage the knowledge and expertise in this wing to enable our warfighters.”

By Deb Henley

505th Command and Control Wing

Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post | Comments Off on 505th Command and Control Wing: Accelerating and Advancing Command and Control

137th SOW Hosts CANSOFCOM Aircrew for MC-12W Training

Saturday, December 18th, 2021

Members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) participated in the first-ever Manned Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Fundamentals Course held by the 137th Special Operations Group (SOG), Aug. 2-Oct. 25, 2021, at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City.

The Canadian aircrew and American instructors collaborated to develop tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) for operations with the MC-12W that the CANSOFCOM aircrew could use to further develop a training syllabus for their aircraft.

“The training gained here will be invaluable to developing TTPs and bringing our new aircraft into the service,” said Canadian LCol François Lavertu, Commanding Officer of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron. “We are grateful for U.S. Special Operations Command, Air Force Special Operations Command and the 137th Special Operations Wing’s support and training provided to our troops.”

The program covered both air and ground training, incorporating tactical air control party experience with the Canadian aircrew’s exposure to ground tactics, bringing squadrons from around the base together, including: the 185th Special Operations Squadron, the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, the 137th Special Operations Support Squadron, the 285th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron and the 189th Intelligence Squadron.

“One of the unique aspects of the courses offered by the 137th SOG is the focused integration of MISR with close air support (CAS) through our MISR management course,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Karl Hurdle, security cooperation director with the 137th Special Operations Group. “This exposes aircrew to the ground perspective of operating in a two-dimensional battlespace.”

For the aircrew, this perspective helps them understand the platform and how it integrates into a bigger picture.

“This is my first exposure to helping bring a major capability online, and we worked as a team to learn new skillsets and apply them to future roles,” said a CANSOFCOM training participant.

This collaboration is part of the Canadian aircrew’s initial operational training, bringing two years of planning to fruition.

“The 137th Special Operations Wing is uniquely postured to aid in training having stood up our own program under AFSOC less than five years ago,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Korey Larson, operations officer for the 137th SOG, Detachment 1. “With a two-week academic phase and three flying phases, our expert instructors in both the ground and air provided these aviators with perspective on the mission that other wings are not able to do without outsourcing the training. To my knowledge, the 137th Special Operations Wing is one of the only ones that has both a MISR squadron and an air support operations squadron assigned and collocated, making for much more effective operators with this enhanced integration.”

With six NATO partner nations participating in various training programs hosted by 137th Special Operations Wing units this year, the training marked a new addition to the already extensive training catalogue. Squadrons from around Will Rogers ANGB worked in concert to create a multi-functional and international battlespace to develop effective training for these aviators.

“The CANSOFCOM aviators had backgrounds in multiple fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, which allowed for great feedback to our instructor cadre on the course, and we will implement many of the recommendations that they provided for any future training with foreign partners,” said Larson. “Sharing our unique program and honing training with this iteration will allow the wing to have lasting effects on both partner force and United States Combined Operations throughout the world.”

Story by TSgt Brigette Waltermire

137th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

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

Rapid Dragon’s First Live Fire Test of a Palletized Weapon System Deployed from a Cargo Aircraft Destroys Target

Friday, December 17th, 2021

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA (AFRL) – The Air Force Rapid Dragon Program, a fast-paced experimentation campaign led by the Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) office, successfully completed its final flight test December 16 at the Eglin AFB Overwater Test Range.

The flight test capstoned a 2-year series and culminated in a live fire of a current inventory cruise missile armed with a live warhead. Rapid Dragon demonstrates the ability to employ weapons using standard airdrop procedures from cargo aircraft using the Rapid Dragon Palletized Weapon System.

The program name is derived from a thousand-year-old Chinese military designed crossbow catapult that launched multiple crossbow bolts with the pull of a single trigger, raining destruction down on armies from tremendous ranges. These lethal devices were called Ji Long Che—Rapid Dragon Carts. Today, the Rapid Dragon concept is changing the game again, this time as an airborne delivery system for U.S. Air Force weapons. And like its namesake, these palletized munitions promise to unleash mighty salvos en masse on distant adversaries.

During the December test, an MC-130J flown by an Air Force Special Operations Command operational flight crew, received new targeting data while in flight which was then routed to the cruise missile flight test vehicle (FTV). The aircraft agnostic Battle Management System’s inflight receipt and upload of the new targeting data into the FTV was a first-time achievement with a live cruise missile.

Once inside the drop zone over the Gulf of Mexico, the MC-130J aircrew airdropped a four-cell Rapid Dragon deployment system containing the FTV and three mass simulants, which were sequentially released from the palletized deployment box while under parachute. Safe separation from the deployment box and weapon deconfliction was demonstrated using an unconventional deployment method (nose-down vertical orientation). Immediately after the vertical release, the FTV deployed its wings and tail, achieved aerodynamic control, ignited its engine, performed a powered pull-up maneuver, and proceeded toward its newly assigned target. The cruise missile successfully destroyed its target upon impact.

The next step for the Rapid Dragon Program will be a live-fire test with a cruise missile from a C-17 in Spring 2022, demonstrating the aircraft agnostic capabilities of the Palletized Weapon System. Of note, the new retargeting methodology developed by the Rapid Dragon team is designed to be transferrable to other strike and cargo platforms, potentially increasing the lethality of those aircraft. Lastly, a follow-on program will look at expanding the Rapid Dragon carriage portfolio to include additional weapon systems and multiple effects capabilities, as well as continuing the maturation of the system, taking it from a developmental prototype to an operational prototype over the next two years.

“This type of experimentation campaign, that address capability gaps and demonstrates transformative efforts, helps us shape future requirements and reduces timeline to fielding,” said Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, Air Force Research Laboratory commander, adding “This approach ultimately enables a rapid fielding alternative to traditional lengthy acquisition timelines.”

In addition to SDPE and AFSOC, demonstration participants included the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren; Standoff Munitions Application Center; Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control; Systima Technologies; Safran Electronics & Defense, Parachutes USA, and R4 Integration, Inc.

Agility and collaboration enabled this government/industry team to go from a design to a system level flight test in 10 months, followed by a live fire five months later. During those last five months, Rapid Dragon has conducted five system level flight tests using three different aircraft (MC-130J, EC-130SJ, and C-17A).

“Rapid Dragon is a prime example of a government/industry partnership that embraces this acceleration mindset, building a community of subject matter experts and executing an aggressive, but well-thought-out, experimentation campaign,” said Dr. Dean Evans, SDPE’s Rapid Dragon Program Manager. This sentiment was echoed by Aaron Klosterman, SDPE’s Experimentation & Prototyping Division Chief when he said, “This accomplishment is a testament to what an agile U.S. Air Force and industry team can do when it is empowered to do business differently.”

The successful Rapid Dragon experiments pave the way for U.S. and allied mobility platforms to dramatically increase fires available for a combatant commander to place more adversary targets at risk.

“Rapid Dragon was able to accelerate development by building a broad and strong team. We were committed to a ’test often/learn-fast’ culture, dedicated to experimenting frequently and taking calculated risks. In addition to the MAJCOMs and Air Staff, the Rapid Dragon team included the Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT) communities, the aircraft and weapons Program Offices, and the mission planners. This collaboration from the onset streamlined the process and accelerated development, involving groups from the program inception that are not normally included at the very early stages, and that has made all the difference,” Evans added.

By Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post, SOF, weapons | 7 Comments »

USAF WAPS Adjusts for 22E6, 22E5 Testing Cycles

Thursday, December 16th, 2021

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —

Starting with the 22E6 and E5 promotion testing cycles, the Air Force will begin using Situational Judgment Test questions as part of the Promotion Fitness Examination (PFE). This change is an integral part of the overall talent management transformation effort to better align the enlisted promotion system with the Air Force’s foundational competencies and the new Airman Leadership Qualities, as well as provide an agile approach to measuring the diverse knowledge, skills, and experience of Airmen.

“This is another critical step in our talent management transformation, moving us away from using strictly knowledge-based questions while providing more agility in the way we measure the competency level and leadership abilities of our Airmen,” said Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services.

The change decreases PFE knowledge questions from 100 to 60, and adds 20 Situational Judgment Test questions that were derived from a diverse group of behavioral scientists and Senior Enlisted Leaders from across the Air Force. The overall points for the PFE will not change and will still make up 100 points of an Airman’s total score.

For each SJT question on the PFE, examinees will read the description of a situation relevant to their potential rank and duties, examine four possible responses to the situation, and then select the most effective and the least effective response.

Although there are no study references available for the SJT questions, Airmen should continue to familiarize themselves with the Airman Leadership Qualities, foundational competencies, and associated behaviors which will provide a general framework to consider when responding to these types of questions.

“We are constantly looking at ways to better develop and assess Airmen’s skills and abilities,” said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. “This is another step in the right direction, with more to come.”

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | 4 Comments »

US Army and Air Force Fire Support Specialists Form a ‘COLT’ at Combined Resolve XVI

Wednesday, December 15th, 2021

HOHENFELS, Germany — A two-person team of Airmen is dropped off by a Bradley Fighting Vehicle at the forward line of troops. They move down the line of cavalry scouts until they meet another small team, this one made up of U.S. Army artillerymen, who are dismounted from their own Bradley and are outfitting their rucksacks for an extended patrol. They are preparing to scout enemy positions, checking their radios and packing binoculars for a long patrol behind enemy lines.

The teams are part of the force-on-force exercise portion of Combined Resolve XVI, which includes approximately 4,600 armed forces service members from Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States. The operations are being conducted by integrated battalions with multinational units operating under a unified command and control element, allowing the U.S., its allies and partners to experience invaluable training alongside each other.

“Today we are going out as a COLT (Combat Observation Lasing Team),” said Senior Airmen Fernando Marquez, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller with 4th Air Support Operations Group. “A COLT team is basically the eyes on the ground when our sensor assets, which typically allows us to see far, cannot do the job. We have to push behind enemy lines, or in as far as possible with the enemy, so we can provide real targeting data for the brigade and division fires assets.”

The goal of COLT teams is to identify enemy targets, and, if possible, the teams will use laser targeting systems to mark targets for precision guided munitions. Joint teams of Fire Support Teams, known as FiSTers, and JTACs are best suited for providing COLT support to an Army brigade deployed in a combat scenario.

“Our mission is a list of high-value enemy targets,” said Sgt. Devon Eaker, a Joint Fire Support Specialist with 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment “Hamilton’s Own,” 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “I think I’m lucky to have the six guys total that we have right here. I’ve worked with these two JTACs before, and I’ve worked with the other three FiSTers a lot, and I can’t think of a better group of dudes to send forward to do this.”

FiSTers are the 1-5FA Headquarters and Headquarters Battery fire support officers, noncommissioned officers and enlisted joint fire support specialists responsible for identifying indirect fire, or fires, missions on the Combined Resolve XVI notional battlefield. FiST teams are attached to all of the multinational maneuver units operating during CBR XVI. This is an opportunity for these multinational units to experience the capability of the U.S. to provide close air support in joint operations.

“My fire support NCOs are organic to the field artillery battalion but are tasked out to each maneuver element,” said 1st Sgt. Michael York of HHB. “They are combat multipliers, and they enable the maneuver units to perform their mission by providing them with fires. So, if there is ever artillery, mortars or attack aviation getting called in, there is a fire supporter attached to that asset.”

Air Force JTACs direct the actions of aircraft while engaged in close air support. They can call in close air support from F-22s, A-10s, F-35s, or anything that the U.S. Air Force can provide air-to-ground operations.

“We’re fighting this new fight,” Marquez said. “We’re getting out of the COIN [counterinsurgency] mentality and moving into this new LSCO [large scale combat operations] fight. So, we are trying to shape the way we fight this new battle.”

Despite the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles in combat operations, both the Army and the Air Force continue to train and develop ground-force fire support teams. The force-on-force exercise held during Combined Resolve XVI at the Joint Multinational Training Center in Germany provides an excellent training opportunity for COLT.

“We’re essentially deep strike and reconnaissance,” Eaker said. “We get out there, forward of the FLOT, as close to the enemy as we can, see what’s coming and pitch it backwards. And if we can, we’ll kill what’s out there. We have access to aircraft via JTACs, fixed and rotary wing. We are in range of all artillery that the brigade has now through 1-5FA. With those combined, there’s not much out there that we can’t kill.”

The modern battlefield is shaped by UAVs directing cameras toward the enemy to gather intelligence. As the fight turns from terrorism to an enemy with more sophisticated electronic equipment and air defense, the potential disruption of UAV imaging is a very real threat. Well trained COLT teams ensure that U.S. Forces maintain the ability to penetrate enemy formations, identify threats and deliver fires munitions onto those threats, helping to maintain overwhelming firepower which is critical to victory on the LSCO battlefield.

To learn more about exercise Combined Resolve, follow: www.dvidshub.net/feature/CombinedResolve

By SSG George Davis

Posted in Air Force, Army, Guest Post | 5 Comments »

Air Force to Field New Bladder Relief Device, Works Toward ‘Suite of Options’

Saturday, December 11th, 2021

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

The Air Force is scheduled to receive the first shipment of the Omni Gen. 3 Skydrate, an improved in-flight bladder relief device, in early December.

The Air Force recognized that current devices were not optimized for long-duration sorties, and as a result, aircrew were routinely dehydrating themselves to delay the need for bladder relief. Dehydration can lead to reduced endurance and G-force tolerance while in the aircraft, as well as other negative health issues.

Air Combat Command was the lead command in determining the new bladder relief device requirements for pilots across the Air Force.

“Gen. (Mark) Kelly is focused on reducing predictable barriers to readiness for Airmen,” said Scott Cota, aircrew flight equipment program analyst, ACC Plans, Programs and Requirements directorate, Joint Base Langley-Eustis. “This is just one of the programs we are working on here that will make it easier for Airmen to train and execute their missions.”

ACC worked closely with Air Force Materiel Command and other Air Force units to develop and test Skydrate within a year. Thirty female aircrew were on site at the Omni facility to conduct multi-hour wear tests; nine pilots, at three installations, participated in the flight testing.

“This is a good example of using a ‘fly, fix, fly’ model to prioritize female aircrew feedback and speed up the testing process to field the device quicker,” said Sharon Rogers, lead test engineer, 46th Test Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Skydrate is available for men and women, but there was an emphasis on engineering solutions for female aircrew. Improvements include a larger collection bag, improved flow rate, multiple hose lengths, one-hand operation for on/off functionality, and more interface, or pad, sizes to account for anatomical differences in the wearer.

For Maj. Nikki Yogi, an F-35A Lightning II pilot who participated in the Omni device tests, readiness is at the heart of the issue. Yogi is assigned to the 356th Fighter Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska, under Pacific Air Forces Command. Pilots responding to threats in that region must be prepared for long sorties. A routine flight to Guam is approximately 10 hours.

“A pilot should be focused on taking the fight to the enemy, not on whether their bladder relief device is going to work or be comfortable to use,” she said.

Yogi had a poor experience with her device while deployed as an A-10C Thunderbolt II pilot in 2017. As a junior pilot, she did not immediately raise the issue – something she wants to spare future female pilots. She has volunteered for a variety of equipment tests since returning from that deployment.

“It’s important to provide feedback because it’s that feedback that drives change,” she said.

Aircrew will have access to Skydrate by Spring of 2022. The Human Systems Program Office, a subdivision of the Agile Combat Support Directorate, at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is currently reviewing proposals from multiple companies for alternative bladder relief devices with new pumps and innovative human interfaces, which are expected to field within the next year to users. A suite of bladder relief devices will give Airmen the opportunity to choose the most comfortable human interface option while allowing them to focus on executing the mission.

By Jennifer Kennemer, Air Combat Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post | Comments Off on Air Force to Field New Bladder Relief Device, Works Toward ‘Suite of Options’