552nd Air Control Networks Squadron creates first qualification training for Mission Defense Teams

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua Carter
  • 552nd Air Control Wing

In October 2019, the 552nd Air Control Networks Squadron graduated nine students from the Air Force’s first Mission Qualification Training course for Mission Defense Teams, qualifying these students to be operators on the Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter Weapon System.

“These nine Airmen are the 552nd Air Control Wing’s vanguard in cyberspace.” said Colonel John Bartoli, the 552nd Air Control Group commander. “While we train and maintain our readiness stateside in case of war, these nine Airmen are already fighting from home base. Because of the nature of cyberspace and the threats in that domain, their war has already begun.”

The CVA/H Weapon System consists of laptops, sensors, and servers that allow Airmen to find, fix, track, target, engage and assess cyber threats. The team uses the system to defend the 552nd ACWs two major weapon systems, the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System fleet and the Control and Reporting Centers.

Prior to creating this course, members of the 552nd ACNS MDT relied on ad-hoc training and hands-on experience. The creation of this course formalized the training pipeline for MDT cyber operators defending the AWACS and CRC systems.

Since its inception as a pathfinder MDT in 2017, the 552nd ACNS MDT has led the way across the Air Force as the first MDT to connect their CVA/H to an aircraft. The squadron declared initial operating capability for its MDT in 2018 and deployed to the Red Flag training exercise in the summer of 2019.

Air Combat Command has recognized the 552nd ACNS MDT as a “Lead MDT,” setting benchmarks and laying the foundation for other MDTs to learn from across the Command and the Air Force as a whole.