10th Air Force plans for combat Published June 22, 2016 By Capt. Candice Allen 301st Fighter Wing NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas -- Tenth Air Force’s subject matter experts gathered here May 17-20 to plan … for combat. The Combat Planning Council’s purpose is to address training and equipment requirement issues across all weapons systems. From the B-52 to the HH-60 to the F-16, system experts broke into working group to address emerging issues. These issues can lead to requirements. Then those requirements can lead to Congressional funding to help address Air Force Reserve issues. This funding comes from the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account, otherwise known as NGREA, which allows Citizen Airmen to receive the modernization upgrades to deliver a viable war-fighting capability across the globe. “NGREA is critical to the Air Force Reserve,” said Maj. Mark Reed, deputy requirements branch of Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. “The requirements that come from the CPC bridges the gap to keep our aircraft relevant.” Many upgrades that have proven combat capability arose from a requirement during the CPC. “We have numerous upgrades that we’ve accomplished as a result of the CPC process,” said Col Jones, 10th AF Director of Air, Space, Information Operations, Requirements and Assessments. “LITENING Gen 4 targeting pods, Helmet Mounted Integrated Targeting systems and datalink capability for multiple platforms are good examples of upgrades we’ve implemented as a result.” Upgrades increase the Air Force Reserve’s combat capability with an aging fleet. One such beneficiary of the process was the 301st Fighter Wing, who has modernized its aging fleet to maintain air superiority. “Since I’ve participated in the CPC, we’ve submitted numerous requirements to upgrade the F-16 many of which have already been fielded in combat like new suspension equipment to carry laser-guided rockets,” said Col. Kevin Zeller, 301st Operations Group commander, and CPC F-16 working group chair for the past four years. “We are employing these rockets in combat right now enhancing our precision and lethality against hostile forces.” Nevertheless, CPC doesn’t just address modernization concerns with aging fleets. Cyberspace is an emerging area with real threats. Over the past three years, the Air Force Reserve has stood up 10 cyberspace units that fall under the Air Force Reserve’s only cyberspace unit, the 960th Cyberspace Operations Group. “We need to think about how we’re modernizing our fleet that cyber is included,” Reed said. “So that our systems are resilient.” At this year’s CPC, the topic du jour centered on cyberspace. Seventeen cyber experts gathered in the basement of a building to discuss the emerging issues in a relatively new field. “CPC is beneficial because it lets all of the different weapons systems come together, chart ahead a course and develop an effective and efficient way to meet those needs,” said Col. Lloyd Terry, commander of the 960th Cyberspace Operations Group, Joint Base San-Antonio Lackland, Texas, who has participated in CPC for the past three years. “Cyberspace crosses and interfaces with these weapons systems because we function in an operational domain.”Terry continued. “Weapon systems are susceptible to ground-based and airborne cyberattacks and we need to defend them.” Twenty-eight new requirements from the numbered Air Force were delivered to higher headquarters for funding considerations. Last year, the Air Force Reserve submitted 191 requirements with over 80 coming from 10th. However, it’s not all just about getting equipment on a priority list. It’s also about recognizing the best of the best. On May 17, Maj. Gen. Richard W. Scobee announced the top unit in his numbered Air Force. Tenth presented the Power and Vigilance trophy to the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri. This trophy represents a unit that goes beyond to accomplish the mission. Each recipient’s name is fastened to the trophy. The 442nd FW is the seventh unit to be honored since the award’s establishment in 2009.