Training Advocate

Interview with
Major General Douglas L. Raaberg U.S. Air Force Director of Air and Space Operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC)

Identifying and Advocating Combat Air Force Requirements for Training ProgramMajor General Douglas L. Raaberg is director of Air and Space Operations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. He is responsible to the ACC Commander on all matters pertaining to the direct operational planning, training, command and controlling functions to deploy and employ active, Guard and Reserve component combat air forces, including more than 1,900 aircraft, in support of U.S. security objectives.Raaberg is a 1978 honor graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. His operational and training commands include the 9th Bomb Squadron and 7th Operations Group at Dyess AFB, Texas; the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance AFB, Okla.; and the 509th Bomb Wing, Mo., home of the B-2 stealth bomber. General Raaberg’s assignments have been a mix of operational, joint and major command duties. He commanded the 7th Operations Group when the B-1B was employed in combat for the first time in Iraq. Additionally, during Operation Iraqi Freedom he commanded the B-2’s extensive combat operations. This included the first overseas forward-deployment of the B-2 leading to simultaneous employment from two locations. The Air Force subsequently declared the B-2 fully operational capable as a result of its proven global, combat capability.He most recently served as the deputy director for operations in Central Command responsible for the joint employment of forces and combat operations in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. He deployed extensively throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility supporting combat operations to include forward operational oversight of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the 2005 earthquake victims in Pakistan. Raaberg is a command pilot with more than 4,100 flying hours, primarily in bomber aircraft. He is the recipient of the Air Force’s General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award and the MacKay Trophy.Q: Briefly describe the ACC A3 Training responsibilities as they specifically relate to training.A: My directorate has three primary training responsibilities. We provide the strategic vision, operational policy and resource priority to deliver effective airpower to the combatant commander; we develop, articulate and integrate tactics, techniques, and procedures to support assigned and attached expeditionary forces; and we identify and advocate Combat Air Force [CAF] requirements for training programs, infrastructure and readiness.Q: Discuss ACC’s plans to have its flight simulators become more distributed mission operations [DMO] capable.A: The policy direction on DMO can be gleaned from the CAF DMO Vision: “Provide the CAF a persistent virtual training environment to increase operational effectiveness by integrating DMO as a complement to live fly training.”DMO and high-fidelity simulation are a relatively inexpensive way to provide realistic and complex training environments for team training, but are one part of a pilot’s training continuum. We seek to train the right events in the right environment in flight, on the ground and in our world-class simulators. ACC’s investment decisions have reallocated significant flying hour dollars to reduce live fly training, and produce high-fidelity simulators and DMO capability.Numerous operational and programming decisions were based on the “promise” of achieving the vision. DMO is an essential element of next-generation weapon systems to allow training across the spectrum of capabilities. The Air Force is investing in DMO to maintain the competitive edge on training even as we modernize our aircraft.We are making significant progress in achieving our DMO vision. The service is fielding new high-fidelity flight simulators for the F-15C, F-15E and F-16C, and new [command and control] mission simulators for AWACS, joint tactical air controllers, and control and reporting centers. We are modernizing “legacy” flight and mission simulators for A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, F-22A, Rivet Joint and JSTARS.The Air Force is enhancing operational training by using “stand-alone” simulation and DMO events for [ready aircrew program] credit and conducting daily distributed training events. We are building on the success of our Virtual Flag success to support Air Expeditionary Force [AEF] preparation.Those are impressive successes, but challenges remain. Along with shrinking training resources we still have gaps in training. One area of concern is the flying training-offset into simulators is at risk due to underfunded contracts and no replacement exists for that lost training. And the nature of warfighting is changing. The service’s training capabilities must adapt and evolve to allow us to continue to maintain airspace dominance.Q: Describe how you see Air Force distributed mission interaction and interoperability expanding with coalition partners.A: Future training will benefit both and all training sides and be large scale in nature. One viable opportunity to expand coalition training would be through coalition Virtual Flags. These exercises would replicate the rigor and scope of coalition Red Flags and be conducted annually. As we examine opportunities for expanded training in the virtual and constructive environments, we must build realistic expectations, early-on, with respect to our ability to support joint as well as coalition exercises.Q: Describe several U.S. aviation training shortfalls from either Operations Enduring or Iraqi Freedom that your directorate is helping to correct.A: Four ACC efforts come to mind.The prime asset for CAF in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom is the advanced targeting pod [ATP]. The ATP allows precise targeting of enemy forces while minimizing collateral damage of non-combatant structures and fratricide against civilians and Coalition forces. That ATP requirement is filled by the LITENING AT [Prime Contractor- Northrop Grumman] and Sniper XR [Prime Contractor- Lockheed Martin]. While the ATP inventory increases to meet Combatant Commander [CCDR] requirements, it demands close control to ensure that our forces can be fully ATP trained and then deployed and equipped in the area of responsibility. ACC/A3 is responsible for the allocation of ATP’s to deployed units, units in training, and to test organizations charged with integrating the ATP on specific airframes. This is accomplished by the daily monitoring of current ATP requirements, ATP production status, and developing CCDR requirements. A quarterly ATP Allocation Group forum is chaired by a single point of contact in ACC/A3, thereby assuring continuity of ATP allocation strategy. Other members of the Allocation Group are ACC/A8S, Air National Guard [ANG], Air Force Reserve Command [AFRC], U.S. Air Forces Central [CENTAF]/A3, and the Precision Attack System Program Office. The current ACC goal for ATP AEF is to have ATPs available not later than 120 days prior to deployment. The ATP training availability timeframe is in the process of being extended to 220 days prior to deployment as inventory increases. Our end state goal is for ATP’s to be available for CAF units to ensure ATP proficiency is maintained 24/7.The U. S. Air Warfare Center is constantly building density into the UOC [unit operations center] for better Urban CAS [close air support]. The center took inputs and further developed the initial high-technology test and training complex product into a more realistic and integrated venue for conducting CAS on an urban battlefield. The center’s public outreach program is allowing USAF Weapons School students the opportunity to conduct training over local populated areas.The command has provided approximately 40 IED [improvised explosive device] detection targets on our range. Mainly through inputs from the Unmanned Aircraft Systems community, we’ve built realistic-looking IED simulators and emplaced them on our range in accordance with enemy tactics techniques and procedures. And in response to a CENTCOM/CENTAF urgent operational needs request for improved tactics to engage fast moving [up to 70 miles/hour] vehicles from the air, the 422 Test and Evaluation Squadron and 98 Range Wing cooperated in a high speed moving target test that allowed fighter aircraft to experiment with tracking and engaging remote-controlled vehicles with different sensors and weapons. The short-notice test effort developed the vehicle targets, instrumentation and control systems, and high-speed track in just four months and successfully demonstrated capabilities to destroy these fast-moving vehicles.Q: Your directorate has oversight of space operations. Briefly discuss training opportunities and challenges for the warfighter in this domain.A: ACC, through the USAF Warfare Center, has been chartered to provide advanced training in air, space and cyberspace to worldwide combat air forces. Space training is accomplished through tactical and operational level schools, and integrated exercises. First, the USAF Weapons School, with the 328th Space Weapons Squadron, teaches graduate-level instructor courses that provide the world’s most advanced training on air and space integration. Second, space aggressors are integrated in Flag exercises to enhance readiness and effectiveness of Air Force, joint and allied forces through the world’s most robust and professional, full red–spectrum force [air, ground, space and information operations]. We are closely coordinating these efforts with the Air Force’s Space and Cyber Commands to develop tactics, techniques and procedures to meet future challenges.Q: Discuss the status of your directorate’s efforts to deploy the F/A-22’s training systems.A: Currently Tyndall AFB and Langley AFB have received their full complement of F-22 full mission trainers [FMTs] and Weapons Task Trainers [WTTs]. Elmendorf AFB received both of its WTTs last year and Holloman AFB will receive its first WTT this year. The goal is for each operational location to have one 4-ship configuration of FMTs per wing and one WTT per squadron. F-22 pilot training devices will begin a system-wide upgrade this fall that will enhance tactical training and provide distributed mission operations capability. Langley AFB devices will begin retrofit this fall and will be ready for training this spring. Delivery of new devices will begin in July 2009 and continue through April 2012 to support pilot training at Langley AFB, Nellis AFB, Elmendorf AFB, Holloman AFB, and Hickam AFB.Q: Describe the status of standing up your service’s F-35 training program.A: AETC [Air Education & Training Command] has primary oversight of F-35 training. A draft concept of operations for International Joint Strike Fighter/F-35 Training at Eglin AFB was released in February 2008 to identify requirements and provide guidance for all major stakeholders involved in building a fully integrated program. ACC 5th Generation Fighter Division [A8F] remains engaged in the development of the Eglin Academic Facility. The suite of training devices and overall training system standup timeline are on track to meet a scheduled Sep 2013 initial operational capability. F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin is developing FTU [flight training unit] syllabi and training task lists to support pilot training through FTU. ACC/A3 will soon add a 5th Generation Fighter Realistic Training position to normalize ongoing CAF training requirements.Q: What’s different in the F/A-22 and F-35 training systems compared to those supporting your service’s legacy fleet of fighters?A: The capabilities of our newest fighter aircraft—F-22A and F-35—have challenged the capacity of ACC’s training infrastructure, as the current patchwork of restricted areas, ranges and threat emitters was designed to support late-20th century systems and tactics. Today, ACC is forced to seek more innovative solutions than simply asking for larger swaths of airspace and buying updated electronic warfare emulators. We will incorporate high fidelity simulators and DMO much more than in the past to push our training to the level required to defeat a modern adversary.Q: What do you see are your top three training challenges that the U.S. training and simulation industry needs to help solve?A: There are three industry opportunities that come to mind. First, we need the ability to have high fidelity representation of weapons effects displayed in databases. Next, my operators need the ability to have more realistic atmospheric effects on onboard sensors. And last, we need common database architectures and standards that allow different contractors’ simulators to operate seamlessly with one another—to provide threats, active targets, EA [electronic attack] environments, that challenge aircraft in DMO training.Q: Discuss your service’s progress in providing higher-fidelity range instrumentation equipment and adequate live-training ranges for future weapons-platform and weapons-system training.A: The requirements for live-training ranges are changing significantly as we continue to field new weapons and aircraft with enhanced mission effectiveness through highly integrated avionics, sensor fusion, stealth and maneuverability. We see the volume of airspace required as increasing and needing higher altitudes, and realistic training will increasingly require supersonic airspace. At the same time we may actually see our time demand decrease as our force structure decreases and virtual simulation is able to fill more of our training requirements. We are emphasizing the development of comprehensive range planning, which includes Major Command [MAJCOM] roadmaps and individual comprehensive range plans, based upon ten key investment areas. Our ranges will support the classic and enduring skills of air warfare and selective ranges will enable the complete scope of joint warfighter capabilities. Specifically, ACC is advancing our air combat maneuvering instrumentation system capabilities by ensuring the operational requirements incorporate all MAJCOM, ANG, and AFRC issues. The P5 Combat Training System replaces 13 different legacy systems fielded throughout the CAF, providing one rangeless system, with real-time kill notification, and electronic warfare capability. At three of our ranges ACC fielded a command and control weapons system for use as a correlation and data fusion engine that merges track, tactical data link, and sensor information from multiple sources to precisely construct and display a single integrated picture.Editor’s Note: General Raaberg has been selected for reassignment as deputy Combined Forces Air Component commander, U.S. Central Command; deputy commander, Air Force Forces; and vice commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, Southwest Asia.