Senior mentors advise JEFX leaders Published Nov. 8, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment '06 Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- As Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 tests warfighting capabilities designed to fill capability gaps, three retired officers help senior leaders keep the experiment on track. Retired Lt. Gens. Joe Hurd, Mike Short and Chuck Heflebower are part of the Air Force chief of staff's Operational Command Training Program, also called the Senior Mentor Program. "Nearly six years ago, (then chief of staff) General (Michael E.) Ryan established the OCTP and asked each of us to be part of it," said General Hurd, lead senior mentor. "We're all retired generals who have command experience at the operational level of war." The mission of the program is to "provide peer-level advice, assistance, training and feedback to joint force air component commanders, the commander of the Air Force forces, and warfighting professionals in the joint air operations center and Air Force forces headquarters staff, enhancing their skills at the operational level of war," according to the OCTP Web site. "The program supports the (Air Force chief of staff) and all major commands for training, exercises and academics focusing at the operational level," General Hurd said. Each senior mentor plays a different role at JEFX. Formerly the Pacific Air Forces 7th Air Force commander, General Hurd wears dual hats during JEFX. He role-plays as the joint forces commander in one role, and in the other acts as a technology mentor while interfacing with people running new initiatives. "It's very satisfying to know we're training new leaders at the operational level," he said. "We're providing them leadership experience to carry out the missions assigned to the Air Force." General Short commanded Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and 16th Air Force before retiring. "Being part of the OCTP is like an extension of my last years on active duty," he said. "I was functioning at the operational level then, and I'm focused on it now as a senior mentor. I haven't done much of a career change, so I feel very good and very fortunate to be doing almost the same thing in my second career." At JEFX, General Short mentors Lt. Gen. Kevin Chilton, Combined Forces Air Component commander, while observing the organizations and processes of the air operations center battle rhythm. "I'm impressed with General Chilton and his staff. They have been focused on experimentation as well as training and learning at the operational level," General Short said. "They have exercised all threads (of war) -- from strategy, to targeting, to planning, to assessing, while working with the JFC and other components. They are doing things as if they were real, all while conducting tours and operating in the joint environment, and I've been very impressed." Before retiring, General Heflebower also commanded PACAF's 7th AF, following General Hurd. He is part of the assessment team at JEFX, writing reports for the Air Force chief of staff and assisting the JEFX '06 assessment lead. "I also provide the JFACC perspective (for the report) as the person in General Chilton's place," General Heflebower said. "Where he is busy, I can focus. The senior mentors help do a lot of the things active-duty generals can't do." An Army Senior Mentor Program officer has also been included in this year's experiment. Retired Lt. Gen. Randall Rigby was the chief of artillery and Fort Sill, Okla., commander as well as the deputy commanding general for the U.S. Army's Training and Doctrine Command. Although his duties here differ from the Air Force senior mentors, General Rigby enjoys what he does. "The major difference is they are experienced Air Force warfighters, so they're involved in all day-to-day operations, while I am the advisor to the ground forces and the battlefield coordination detachment," he said. "But this is great. It's a unique perspective to see Air Force experiments and to become familiar with the battle rhythm of the Air Force. I'm also meeting a lot of great people." The Operational Command Training Program also provides subject matter expertise during command and control academic courses such as the Joint Forces Air Component Commander Course, Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course and Command and Control Warrior Advanced Course. Air Force OCTP senior mentors and observer-trainers also instruct periodically at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. "The program allows us to use the experience we've gained to prime and teach new general officers," General Hurd said. "We also provide them feedback which enhances their knowledge, especially at the operational level." Administered by Air Combat Command, the OCTP is based at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and works with the 505th Command and Control Wing, which falls under the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center.
Senior mentors advise JEFX leaders Published Nov. 8, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment '06 Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- As Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 tests warfighting capabilities designed to fill capability gaps, three retired officers help senior leaders keep the experiment on track. Retired Lt. Gens. Joe Hurd, Mike Short and Chuck Heflebower are part of the Air Force chief of staff's Operational Command Training Program, also called the Senior Mentor Program. "Nearly six years ago, (then chief of staff) General (Michael E.) Ryan established the OCTP and asked each of us to be part of it," said General Hurd, lead senior mentor. "We're all retired generals who have command experience at the operational level of war." The mission of the program is to "provide peer-level advice, assistance, training and feedback to joint force air component commanders, the commander of the Air Force forces, and warfighting professionals in the joint air operations center and Air Force forces headquarters staff, enhancing their skills at the operational level of war," according to the OCTP Web site. "The program supports the (Air Force chief of staff) and all major commands for training, exercises and academics focusing at the operational level," General Hurd said. Each senior mentor plays a different role at JEFX. Formerly the Pacific Air Forces 7th Air Force commander, General Hurd wears dual hats during JEFX. He role-plays as the joint forces commander in one role, and in the other acts as a technology mentor while interfacing with people running new initiatives. "It's very satisfying to know we're training new leaders at the operational level," he said. "We're providing them leadership experience to carry out the missions assigned to the Air Force." General Short commanded Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and 16th Air Force before retiring. "Being part of the OCTP is like an extension of my last years on active duty," he said. "I was functioning at the operational level then, and I'm focused on it now as a senior mentor. I haven't done much of a career change, so I feel very good and very fortunate to be doing almost the same thing in my second career." At JEFX, General Short mentors Lt. Gen. Kevin Chilton, Combined Forces Air Component commander, while observing the organizations and processes of the air operations center battle rhythm. "I'm impressed with General Chilton and his staff. They have been focused on experimentation as well as training and learning at the operational level," General Short said. "They have exercised all threads (of war) -- from strategy, to targeting, to planning, to assessing, while working with the JFC and other components. They are doing things as if they were real, all while conducting tours and operating in the joint environment, and I've been very impressed." Before retiring, General Heflebower also commanded PACAF's 7th AF, following General Hurd. He is part of the assessment team at JEFX, writing reports for the Air Force chief of staff and assisting the JEFX '06 assessment lead. "I also provide the JFACC perspective (for the report) as the person in General Chilton's place," General Heflebower said. "Where he is busy, I can focus. The senior mentors help do a lot of the things active-duty generals can't do." An Army Senior Mentor Program officer has also been included in this year's experiment. Retired Lt. Gen. Randall Rigby was the chief of artillery and Fort Sill, Okla., commander as well as the deputy commanding general for the U.S. Army's Training and Doctrine Command. Although his duties here differ from the Air Force senior mentors, General Rigby enjoys what he does. "The major difference is they are experienced Air Force warfighters, so they're involved in all day-to-day operations, while I am the advisor to the ground forces and the battlefield coordination detachment," he said. "But this is great. It's a unique perspective to see Air Force experiments and to become familiar with the battle rhythm of the Air Force. I'm also meeting a lot of great people." The Operational Command Training Program also provides subject matter expertise during command and control academic courses such as the Joint Forces Air Component Commander Course, Joint Air and Space Operations Senior Staff Course and Command and Control Warrior Advanced Course. Air Force OCTP senior mentors and observer-trainers also instruct periodically at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. "The program allows us to use the experience we've gained to prime and teach new general officers," General Hurd said. "We also provide them feedback which enhances their knowledge, especially at the operational level." Administered by Air Combat Command, the OCTP is based at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and works with the 505th Command and Control Wing, which falls under the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center.