Missions planned, coordinated through special unit Published Dec. 8, 2006 By Jamie Haig 1st SOW Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- There are 13 Hurlburt Field Airmen from 1st Special Operations Group Weapons and Tactics responsible for planning missions and exercises such as the operational readiness exercises and inspections at Hurlburt. The purpose behind the weapons and tactics group is to give information to the group and wing commanders to better the fleet and to improve, integrate and employ the best tactics available. "To improve, we look at tactics and provide improvement proposals based on world contingencies," said Maj. John Buchanan, Chief, 1st SOG chief of group tactics. "We go through a process of writing it up and sending it to the command for input. We learn from after-action reports along with other Air Force theories and put them into practice on how we can improvise." The reports are also used by U.S. Special Operations Command to figure funding and future plans for Air Force Special Operations Command. The group also improves the tactics of Hurlburt Field's assets by putting together a modification proposal showing what it takes for the 1st Special Operations Wing and AFSOC to support ground troops and other aircraft. Each Airman selected for this group must be the most highly qualified in their crew position and have had at least six months experience at squadron level. In addition, several tacticians have attended the 14th Weapons School course on base. During the six-month course, they learn to develop special operations forces weapons and tactics, how to coordinate them with the wing's assets and how to integrate it with the rest of the Air Force. The coordination is done with the assistance of ground, weapons, chemical, medical and operations personnel. The group then develops and executes the assets in the best possible scenario. "We all have experiences from working in our squadrons and with our aircraft," Major Buchanan said. "Between the weapons school and this job, we learn to step out of our lane and think about all of the equipment and personnel involved. Everyone in this group has many years of experience." The information derived from cross training on different aircraft and attending the weapons school can be used for either training or real-world purposes. Next week, chosen members from various Hurlburt Field squadrons will meet at the group to participate in the special operations planning exercises. The chosen Airmen will be given a fictitious tactical scenario and asked to come up with a complete and concise proposal of how to handle the situation. The scenarios sometimes mirror real-world conflicts to make it more interesting. "We give them a tactical problem and three days to figure it out and explain how they will execute it," Major Buchanan said. "We ask the group to come up with at least five proposals during that time frame." The SOPE is performed once a quarter in the weapons and tactics group and gives the Airmen a better sense of battlefield management and experience in something other than the job they're hired to do on the aircraft. The 1st SOG/OGK works closely with the 14th WPS on base. When the group has a question about certain Air Force weapons or tactics, they consult with the staff at the school. "We're tight with them; we do training sorties, plan and execute them, then discuss what was good and bad," Major Buchanan said. "It helps the command be more efficient with fewer injuries." The group works long days and nights but their work is evident during inspection exercises, training and during Red Flag, a joint operations exercise held every year. "We can do anything in the world," Major Buchanan said. "It's the education of every asset available that allows us to accomplish this."