Synopsis
Over the past several years, operational requirements for rated officers (operators) have outpaced the Air Force’s legacy operator development construct. Originally, the operator construct was based solely on pilots. Over time, this shifted to a rated construct. More recently, the rated construct has evolved to the term aircrew. This gradual shift in terminology and construct—coupled with a shift in operations, a reduction of force, continued shortages of rated staff and experience, reductions in rated/aircrew production, and emerging career fields (remotely piloted aircraft and cyberspace)—have created significant force development challenges in the Air Force. Furthermore, Air Force operators and other Airmen must understand Air Force capabilities as presented to the joint force commander, civilian leadership (Office of the Secretary of Defense and interagency), and the American public. Present and future force presentation options include more than just the single air domain, for the presentation of Air Force operations now includes the air, space, and cyberspace domains. At the request of Gen Stephen R. Lorenz, Air Education and Training Command commander, the Air Force Research Institute hosted a “Future Operator Symposium” at Maxwell Air Force Base from 2 to 23 July 2009. The goal was to bring people together from throughout the Air Force to discuss what our operators should look like in the future by exploring developmental, training, and educational issues the Air Force may face in the next 7– 0 years. Specifically, General Lorenz asked participants to assess how the Air Force will grow operators who are technically proficient in their own weapon systems and capable to effectively operate in a cross-domain environment (air, space, and cyberspace). Accordingly, the mission of the “Future Operator Symposium” sought to define the term operator, determine future operator competencies, and specify operator developmental, educational, and training recommendations to the commander, Air Education and Training Command. Overarching these elements was a requirement to simultaneously support Air Force cultural acceptance and recognition of the emerging operator career fields. The cross-domain operator should have the ability to plan and integrate Air Force capabilities, systems, forces, and operations in and through air, space, and cyberspace to deliver the desired effects (kinetic or non-kinetic) across the full range of military operations at the operational level. Advances in technology, continued reduction in forces, and persistent irregular warfare operations have resulted in the need to redefine an operator. In the past, an operator was considered a pilot or navigator. Eventually, this concept evolved to include space operators and air battle managers. Currently, operators are not limited to remotely piloted aircraft and cyberspace operators. While all operators can be classified as Airmen, not all Airmen are operators. However, the distinction between the two terms continues to blur at an ever-increasing rate.
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