JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-CHAPMAN TRAINING ANNEX, Texas -- Members of the Special Warfare Training Wing (SWTW) hosted, Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Space Force Chief of Space Operations, and Chief Master Sgt. Roger A. Towberman, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, and showcased how human performance technology and techniques have reshaped the way Special Warfare Airmen are trained and evaluated at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on Mar. 3, 2021.
The purpose of this visit was to analyze the successes and lessons learned from the Special Warfare human performance program in order to optimize training for the Guardians of the Space Force.
“To mitigate injuries, instill empowering habit patterns and optimize the performance of Air Force Special Warfare candidates, we leverage the expertise of human performance specialists, operational medicine experts and technological advances,” said Col. George Buse, Special Warfare Human Performance Support Group (SWHPSG) commander. “The holistic, multidisciplinary approach that we use for Special Warfare Airmen can likewise be tailored to address the needs of the Space Force.”
The SWHPSG added numerous experts, such as performance dieticians, strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists, operational psychologists and other medical staff, as well as technology, to include float tanks, wearable sensors and real-time data tracking tools to create more agile training that increases the success rate for candidates during their career field’s training pipeline and mitigates injuries many Special Warfare Airmen face later in their careers.
“The Space Force is postured to develop their own specific human performance approach to the welfare and performance of Guardians,” said Buse. “By addressing issues preemptively and instilling empowering habits, human performance teams can bolster Guardians’ physical, mental, social and spiritual facets. In turn, this promotes readiness, retention and the advancement of the United States’ space power capabilities.”
Another key piece discussed during the visit was the ability to repurpose existing infrastructure to accommodate human performance technology. Repurposing infrastructure allowed members of SWTW to incorporate human performance technology and practices at a faster rate with less cost.
“We are building our Space Force from the ground up, and benchmarks and best practices are everywhere,” said Towberman. “Our most important weapon system deserves our most deliberate investment. Nothing is too bold, too innovative, or too unconventional if it maximizes our Guardians' potential.”
The newness of the Space Force allows it more leeway in building its’ training program and structure to best suit the needs of its members.
“Space Force Guardians have been called to protect American interests in the space domain – to ensure our nation, the Joint force, our allies and billions of people around the world never experience a day without space capabilities,” Raymond said. “It is a 24/7, global mission. And just as we are leveraging innovation to build and integrate this new Service, we are exploring new ways to optimize training and workplace environments to enhance the capacity of our people so they can be at their best to deliver advantage for our nation.”