705th Combat Training Squadron

The 705th Combat Training Squadron’s (CTS) Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC) located at Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico, reports to the 505th Combat Training Group headquartered at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The DMOC develops, integrates, and delivers a robust multi-domain environment for training, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) development, test, and experimentation supporting U.S. Air Force (USAF), joint, and coalition warfighter readiness.

MISSION

The 705th CTS mission is to provide superior exercise design and execution in distributed virtual warfare. The 705 CTS performs its mission by executing Commander Air Combat Command’s (COMACC) Exercise VIRTUAL FLAG, HQ Air Force’s Coalition VIRTUAL FLAG and multiple other smaller USAF, joint and coalition venues.

The 705 CTS plans and executes a range of exercises from campaign-level,   virtual Major Combat Operations (MCO) focused on exercising the Theater Air Control System while integrating theater area of responsibility operation plans to small vignettes designed to exercise mission-specific focus areas.  The DMOC provides the world’s finest virtual Combat Air Force and command and control (C2) training, test and experimentation environment and facility.  Further, it functions as the lead distributive mission operations integrator for a full spectrum of virtual activities to US Air Force, joint, and coalition partnersThe 705 CTS supports warfighter readiness on multiple fronts such as Air Expeditionary Forces spin-up, preparation for MCO events, familiarity with critical C2 data interchange, and training of TTPs.  Finally, the DMOC supports live, virtual, and constructive range integration efforts through training events such as RED FLAG, U.S. Navy Fleet Synthetic Training, U.S. Army Joint Kill Chain Exercises, and USAF Weapons School syllabus events.

KEY PROGRAMS

VIRTUAL FLAG (VF)/Coalition VIRTUAL FLAG:  VIRTUAL FLAG is a real-time tactical-to-operational level event using air, land, space, cyber, and maritime scenarios integrating live, virtual, and constructive elements to train warfighters.  Simulators from the DMOC and worldwide distributed sites are integrated, providing a training environment to thousands of joint and coalition warfighters annually.

The 705 CTS employs USAF/joint/coalition weapons systems simulators including the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System, E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System control and reporting center,

Distributed Common Ground System, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), Joint Terminal Attack Controller Systems, air support operations center, datalinks, U.S. Navy Cell (Carrier Strike Group, Aegis), U.S. Army Cells (RPAs, Patriot, & air defense artillery fire control officers), environment generators, and white/red force operators.

Warfighter-Focused Events (WFE):  WFEs provide smaller-scale environments and connections between systems to satisfy warfighter requirements ranging from the individual to Component Numbered Air Force (C-NAF) identified challenges. Examples include weapons school syllabus support, air defense artillery fire control officer certification, and U.S. Navy Fleet Synthetic Training support.

PERSONNEL

The 705 CTS has a diverse group of Airmen, civilian, and contract professionals.  Their expertise encompasses a broad set of skills bridging the span of multi-domain operations in air, sea, land, space, and cyber environments.

HISTORY

The squadron traces its mission to 1979 as an Office of the Secretary of Defense Joint test effort to address air defense issues in Central Europe.  The 1990s focused on joint theater missile defense, while the next decade saw significant infrastructure investment leading up to today’s establishment of the full-spectrum DMOC.  The 705th Combat Training Squadron and VIRTUAL FLAG exercise trace their origins to the 705th Exercise Control Squadron activated in March 2004 under the 505th Distributed Warfare Group at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.  The 705th Exercise Control Squadron was redesignated as the 705th Combat Training Squadron in December 2006. 

505TH COMMAND AND CONTROL WING (CCW) PUBLIC AFFAIRS

For more information about the 705th Combat Training Squadron’s mission, contact the 505 CCW Public Affairs Office at 850-884-9476 or 505ccw.pa.publicaffairs@us.af.mil.

(Current as of June 2020)