“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Overview
• AFSOF Education - Mission, Vision, Goals
• AFSOC Professional Development Cycle
• USAFSOS Capabilities
• Initiatives, Challenges, Way Ahead
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
USAFSOS Mission & Vision
Mission: Deliver responsive and relevant education IOT enable Air Commando excellence
in complex and ambiguous operational environments worldwide
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Vision: To be the elite institution providing air-centric, SOF-focused education to
USSOCOM, USAF, and US Government personnel
Train for Certainty…Educate for Uncertainty!
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Primary Audience
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
AFSOC Transformation
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos” 6
AFSOC Core Missions
Precision Aerospace FiresSpecialized Air Mobility
Battlefield Air OperationsIntelligence, Surveillance, and Recon
Aviation Foreign Internal DefenseAgile Combat SupportCommand and ControlSpecialized Refueling
Information OperationsPsychological Operations
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
A Decade in Review
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Secondary Audience
Air MobilityAir Refueling
Aerial DeliveryPrecision Fires (CAS/SEAD)
Intelligence, Surveillance, and ReconCommunications
FP and Base DefenseMunitions & EODCombat Support
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
AFSOC Professional Development
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Spiral of Expertise
• Senior-level education • Enables synthesis/evaluation of solutions to complex problems
• Tailored Seminars & Events• GO Predeployment Course• Building Partner Aviation Capacity Course
• Intermediate-level education• Deepens understanding beyond tactical & leadership prep
• Contemporary Insurgent Warfare Course• Regional Courses• Mission Commander’s Course
• Introductory-level education • Initial baseline education
• Introduction to Special Operations Course• Dynamics of International Terrorism Course• Intercultural Competence Course
• Infused throughout…• Operational case studies and oral histories• Commander and senior leader forums, perspectives• Maximum student participation
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
The SOF Educational Requirement• Dynamic, persistent nature of SOF global operations requires…
– SOF to execute optimally in irregular, asymmetric environments that involve dynamic political, social, & economic relationships
– Creation of effective, enduring international partners & USG-wide collaboration – Advanced cognitive skills & ability to execute in fluid tactical situations
• USSOCOM 2012-15 Commander’s Training & Education Guidance… – Develop leaders– Demonstrate mastery of SOF activities– Enhance language skills– Enhance regional expertise– Be culturally attuned– Be capable of serving as the primary integrator and bridge between both
conventional & interagency capabilities
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Theater Engagement Division – Cultural & Regional SkillsIrregular Warfare Division -- IW & Force Protection
Operations Division -- Operations & EmploymentLanguage Division -- Initial Acquisition & Maintenance Skills
USSOCOM Commander’s Focus 2011
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Acquisition Agility
Improve Global SynchronizationStress Operational Context/ Regional understanding
Fully Capable/ Scalable SOJTF
Mission
Increase SOF Language,Regional Expertise, and Cultural (LREC) Capabilities
Address Pressures on our People and Families
Encourage Resourceful Spirit
People
Increase Tooth-to-Tail ratio Streamline systems/ eliminate redundancies
Equipment
Internal SOF Jointness
Adapt to Fiscal Constraints
SOF Doctrine
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
OME Goals
• Provide the best operational education in the most responsive & entertaining manner possible
• Building block approach (w.r.t. career OME goals and operational req’ts)
• Synergized with MDS, AFSC, and predeployment req’ts• Tailored to the individual’s needs to max extent• Leveraging SMEs and unique enablers• Collaboration!• Networking!
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Operational Course Development
• Guidance
• Current Implementation
• Maturation & Way Ahead
• Collaboration
• Networking
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
LREC Course Development
• Guidance
• Current Implementation
• Maturation & Way Ahead
• Collaboration
• Networking
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
USAFSOS Repertoire
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IRREGULAR WARFARE DIVISION
Counter Insurgency Warfare Course/ Seminar (CIWC/S)Dynamics of International Terrorism (DIT)Insurgency & Foreign Internal Defense (IFID)Responsible Officer Course (ROC)
LANGUAGE DIVISION
Initial Skills InstructionContinuation InstructionPre‐deployment InstructionAFSOC AFPAK Hands Mutual SupportAFSOC MAVNI Mutual Support
OTHER & EMERGING PROGRAMS
MEEs (formal courses and tailored programs) General Officer Predeployment InstructionMAVNI Operational Support* Expeditionary & BPC* ISR for SOF Course* AFSOC Heritage Series * Support to AFSOC Sq/CC’s Course* ARSOAC AvFID Program Support
THEATER ENGAGEMENT DIVISION
AFRICOM Theater for SOF (ATSOF)CENTCOM Theater for SOF (CTSOF)EUCOM Theater for SOF (ETSOF)PACOM Theater for SOF (PTSOF)SOUTHCOM Theater for SOF (STSOF)Building Partner Aviation Capacity (BPACC)Interagency for SOF (IASOF) Intercultural Competence for SOF (ICSOF)
SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION
Introduction to Special Operations Course (ISOC)Combat Aviation Advisor Mission Qual‐Phase 1 (CAA)SOF Air Command & Control Course / Seminar (SOFAC2C/S)Mission Commander's Course (MCC)
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Faculty Credentials
Leadership = career SOF aviators
Dean = PhD in Ed Technologies & Leadership
Military faculty
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Civilian & contract faculty
Language Center
AFPAK Hands & MAVNI teams
Language & cultural expertise (Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, French, Pashto, Korean, Indonesian, Hindi, Tamil, Uzbek, Berber, Dari, Polish)
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Unique Capes – AFPAK Hands
• Regional & Cultural Expertise
• Language Skills
• Battlefield Perspective
• Access to Key Players
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Unique Capes – MAVNIs
• Cultural & Language Skills…for starters
• Relevance, Strategic Context & Perspective (@ tactical level)
• Highly Specialized Force Multipliers
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…Not your typical Airman…
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Instructional Methodology
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Course Director
AssignedSMES
GuestSMES
AFPAKMAVNI
AFSOFLeadership
“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Educational Initiatives
• Enterprise Collaboration
• Distance Learning
• BPC Initiatives
• MAVNI & AFPAK Integration
• Expanded Repertoire
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Challenges
• Core customer availability
• Staff availability / capacity / capes
• Operational access
• Distance Learning integration
• Resource optimization
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Way Ahead
• Support Current Warfighter & HHQ Priorities– Focus = info fusion, faculty responsiveness, outstation connectivity
• Help Shape the Future Force– Focus = deliberate OME strategy, ldrship advocacy/participation
• Focused Education– Focus = reqt’s-based ops, entertaining, optimize feedback & LL
• Foster Strategic Partnerships– Focus = collaboration, networking, faculty mentoring
• Maximize Organizational Efficiency– Focus = faculty capes, technology, collaboration w/ops
• Continue to Evolve USAFSOS– Focus = DL infusion, course & faculty improvements, BPC ops
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“Turning Airmen Into Air Commandos”
Questions?
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Colonel Bob BrucknerUSAFSOS CommandantDSN 579‐5896 / Comm 850‐884‐[email protected]@afsoc.af.smil.mil
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