Advanced Training for Commanders: A Competency-Based Approach to Training Requirements Definition for the JFACC

The Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) is the commander of air assets and answers directly to the Joint Force Commander (JFC). The Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) is the weapon system which enables the JFACC to accomplish these command and control (C2) responsibilities. Currently, JFACCs receive little preparatory training for the complex AOC environment. General John P. Jumper, CSAF, said of Kosovo: “LGen Michael Short, JFACC of Operation Allied Force, trained himself in the operational level of warfare… [Most of us in Air Force leadership] trained ourselves, because our system did not.” (AF Magazine, April 2000). Unfortunately, this is still the case. The Air Force recognizes that the AOC’s weapon system designation necessitates a comprehensive training program. The AF Research Laboratory, Mesa Research Site, has begun an effort to define JFACC training needs in terms of requisite competencies, knowledge and skills critical to the JFACC responsibilities. JFACC competency definitions will provide a foundation for the development of advanced training and competency assessment tools. Ultimately, this will provide the means to design critical events into a scenario targeted at training JFACC-specific objectives. This vital link between competencies and scenario-based training is the key to future development of specialized training for senior C2 personnel. The initial participants for this effort were former JFACCs in the Air Force. Results will be validated via interviews with recent JFACCs, as well as other senior AOC leadership, including AOC Directors and Division Chiefs. In this paper we will discuss the initial results of our work with the former JFACCs. Additionally, we will analyze the findings of this effort against results of other ongoing competency definition efforts aimed at the lower level operators within the AOC. Finally, we will discuss potential approaches to training senior-level personnel in scenario-based training environments.