Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas -- The 19th Air Force is streamlining pilot training through competency mapping, a data-driven approach to optimize the pilot training pipeline.
Mapping knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) across flying training in the T-6 Texan II, T-38 Talon, and F-35 Lightning II enables the Air Force to address the limitations of traditional syllabus management by tracing training outcomes from the desired end state - operationally - all the way back to the beginning - initial pilot training (IPT).
"The transition to competency mapping unlocks student-centered learning and enables us to train our pilots faster and more effectively," said Maj. Gen. Gregory Kreuder, 19th AF commander. "By aligning our syllabi to competencies, we can recognize when a student is ahead of the curve and push them to more advanced objectives earlier — accelerating their development and enhancing readiness."
This is the first time pilot training syllabi has been mapped to specific competencies, laying the groundwork for the transition to adaptive, individualized learning across Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
“Traditional pilot training programs have followed a standardized approach — identical academics, simulator sessions and flight hours for every student, regardless of prior knowledge, skill, or aptitude,” said Lt. Col. Robert Buckley, Chief of Instructional Systems Design, 19th AF Flying Training Center of Excellence. “The competency-based model supports two key lines of effort: enabling adaptive learning and aligning operational competencies with training from end to end. Individually, competency-based training enables students to learn at their own pace — using machine learning, the system will identify when a student is ready to advance, replacing the traditional one-size-fits-all structure with a flexible progression based on mastery.”
At the enterprise level, competency mapping supports a backwards-planning approach — from operational needs down through Formal Training Units (FTUs), Fighter/Bomber Fundamentals (FBF), Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), and IPT. The goal: right-size competencies and training levels at every stage to maximize efficiency and combat capability.
According to Buckley, competency mapping benefits include:
Impact on T-6 Syllabus: In coordination with AETC/A5, the FTCOE reduced T-6 training days by 31% and program hours were reduced by 36% (academics, sims, and flights) allowing the integration of FAA-certified IPT flying hours. This was achieved by tracing FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) to T-6 requirements, eliminating redundant training (e.g., reducing 38 KSAs to seven for certain lessons) while maintaining competency coverage. This reduction in training time translates to a 20% increase in pilot production without increasing resources, enhancing overall readiness.
Pipeline Optimization: The approach enables a "target-backward" view, ensuring training aligns with operational needs (e.g., fighter, bomber, or mobility pilot competencies). It supports resource allocation decisions, such as balancing T-6 hours versus F-16 training, and prepares for future platforms like the T-7A Redhawk, which could one day replace both the T-6 and T-38.
Scalability and Future Goals: Mapping is expanding to programs like FBF (T-38/IFF), FTUs (e.g. F-35, F-16, C-17 Globemaster III, and KC-46 Pegasus) and Combat Systems Officer (CSO) training, with a goal to map 15 programs by September 2026. By 2028, the aim is a fully mapped pipeline, enabling adaptive learning, precise resourcing, and risk assessment for scenarios like wartime pilot surges.
Cultural and Practical Benefits: The initiative shifts from task or event-based qualitative syllabus changes to precise, data-backed adjustments, likened to using a "scalpel" instead of a "hatchet." Working together, competency mapping, IPT, and the new T-6 syllabus standardize IP training and build cultural acceptance, ensuring the Air Force has the high quality and quantity of pilots it needs.
Purpose and Process: Competency mapping connects disparate "data islands" (e.g., syllabi, performance metrics, course standards) to create a comprehensive, quantitative framework that allows for better decision making.
Previously, the lack of connection between these data sources made it difficult to identify inefficiencies in the training pipeline and ensure that training aligned with operational needs. For the T-6 program, 333 events were mapped, linking 4,000 KSAs and generating 2.5 million data assertions to track training impacts.".
Implementation: The 19th AF FTCOE uses software to facilitate data integration and traceability. The first T-6 class under the new syllabus began in March 2025, with performance data expected by August 2025 to refine assumptions.
“What excites me most is that we’re just two years away from mapping the full pilot training pipeline—from IPT to operational units—with aligned KSAs, competencies, and performance levels,” Buckley said. “With the new software systems in place, leaders will be able to trace mission-essential competencies back to Day 1 of training, enabling smarter program design, better resource alignment, and a fully connected, performance-driven pipeline.”
Competency mapping consolidates the data into a single, connected framework. Each training event is tagged with standardized data fields, such as media type, title, training time, learning objectives, tasks, KSAs, and sub-competency coverage.
Now, every event is connected to a centralized system, allowing for consolidated, comprehensive oversight and faster, more deliberate updates — replacing the previous model that needed to be revised every two years.
“Competency mapping is a scalable model for modern, data-driven training. As we refine more flying training syllabi through this competency mapping approach, we anticipate measurable gains in both production efficiency and training quality,” Kreuder said. “Ultimately, this initiative ensures every pilot enters the fight mission-ready — equipped with the right competencies, at the right level, precisely when needed.”
Once competency mapping is complete throughout 19th Air Force’s pilot training pipeline, the aim is to expand the approach across all other USAF aircraft training pipelines.