Robert,
I assume that the 475th flys fighters. Having flown both fighters and heavys,
there is probably no operational environment where an inappropriate response to
a given set of circumstances is punished so swiftly and severely as it is in the
fighter environment. The good news is that the feedback is usually pretty quick
and unambiguous.
I had a couple grad students from fighter squadrons in Europe who addressed the
issue of CRM in fighters. There is one of my former grad sutdents on this
listserver that I have done a bit of work and thinking about CRM as it relates
to fighters. Bart Stine flew F-15's and I flew F-4 Weasels. As we both looked
closely at the operational fighter pilot's environment, we found that most of
what is being coined as CRM outside the fighter community is inherent in the
culture, squadron operations, and the way the squaron pilots operate. For
example, in Weasels we would often practice complete communications-out missions
(to include taxi) with full air to air commit criteria and ground attack plans.
We wouldn't say a word for the entire mission (over two hours to include air
refueling). That definitely doesn't happen without CRM built into the system.
Some of it was clearly defined tactical standards... Some of it was clearly
defined squadron standards... Some of it was mission specific expectations
covered in the detailed premission briefs. (I still contend that much of CRM
can be stated as expected responses to given circumstances).
One of the keys to advancement of resource management in the fighter community
is to capture what the experts do in each fighter mission (using the breakouts
provided in AFI 36-2243), put voice to these skills, and bring everyone up to
this higher standard of performance. This expertise if often developed through
individual ad hoc adaptations within the squadron.
In the months to come, I will be working as a Reservist with the experts at the
Air Education and Training Command to continue to address these and other
training challenges. I look forward to ongoing discussions of Fighter resource
management on this listserver.
Best Regards,
Vince Mancuso