ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --
The 461st Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the primary force provider for all organize, train and equip functions for the U.S. Air Force Central Command’s command and control mission.
To support the C2 mission with ready Airmen, the 461st Air Control Networks Squadron developed the Air Force’s first Battle Control Center Cyber Maintainer Course May 5, 2025.
The 461st ACNS’ primary responsibility is to manage and train technicians who will maintain unit equipment used by air battle managers, weapons directors and mission system operators.
“This weapon system is like the Batcave, with all its computers and monitors providing Batman the info to track and take down the bad guys,” said Airman 1st Class Evan Scott, 461st ACNS Cyber Systems journeyman and course instructor.
Prior to the course, Airmen were deployed with only a few days of on-the-job training during a two-week turnover period between incoming and outgoing teams.
To help Airmen become more familiar with the C2 weapon system, Airmen 1st Class Phillip Bremner, Jacob Corely from the 461st ACNS along with Scott, and members of the Infinite Technology Services contractor support team developed a two-week Initial Qualifying Training program.
The course teaches the fundamentals of satellite communication, radar, radio and networking principles for C2 equipment. It also breaks down the various weapon system parts and how they interconnect, the necessity for the system design, and what concepts make it all work.
“The new Initial Qualifying Training is the launch-point for our squadron’s deployment certification process and provides the foundational knowledge that is key to success at the next levels of certification and in the deployed environment,” said Maj. Kristoff Kalau, 461st ACNS director of operations. “Our maintainers now share a technical baseline that is simultaneously strengthening our troubleshooting processes and our unit identity as the subject matter experts of the Battle Control Center Cyber systems.”
The course also includes many tasks for the Airmen’s job qualification standards needed for early upgrade training, designed to be easily updated in response to any changes in the mission, equipment or network structure, and new needs and trends.
IQT graduates will move on to Mission Qualification Training to get hands-on knowledge and experience with the specifics of the warfighting equipment. This will include participation in flag-level exercises and temporary duty assignments to the current AFCENT C2 location at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, for further training.
“This achievement lays the foundation for communications and cyber expertise that will be vital to our wing’s future tactical command and control missions in support of AFCENT and U.S. Central Command operations,” said Lt. Col. Miles McMullan, 461st ACNS commander. “These Airmen represent the future, and today we set the standard they – and those who follow – will build upon.”