IFAM hones special tactics skills for operators

Released: 14 Mar 2000

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) -- They've survived some of the most intense training to earn the right to wear the beret. But before the pararescuemen and combat controllers can join a special tactics team, they have one more course to complete.

The 720th Special Tactics Group's Special Tactics Initial Familiarization program -- known as IFAM -- provides pararescuemen and combat controllers exposure to the unique aspects of Special Tactics.

Though many special tactics units have their own in-house familiarization program, the group's IFAM course is held at the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, here.

"The course is designed to familiarize PJs and controllers with the special tactics core missions," said Ron Childress, IFAM course director. "We're not here to decide if they have what it takes to be a PJ or controller. They've already proven that by graduating the tech schools."

"Now that they have their beret, we want to take them as close to the edge as we can get in the special tactics arena," said Childress, who is also a retired combat controller. "The object is to teach them those lessons here, so they're better prepared to take on real-world missions when they get to their special ops units."

Though most of the students come to IFAM after graduating the combat control or pararescue schools, some may have been out of the special operations community for awhile serving in Air Combat Command or Air Education and Training Command units. For these students, IFAM serves as a refresher course. The combat control school is held at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. The PJ School is at Kirtland AFB, N.M.

"We get NCOs through the course who have been instructors at the indoc (indoctrination) schools or have never been assigned to AFSOC. Whether the student is a three-, five- or seven-level, IFAM provides them the training essential to the Special Tactics world," said Childress.

Currently there are two PJs and two controllers serving as IFAM instructors, and with more than 22 years experience as a combat control instructor and being assigned to conventional and special tactics squadrons, Childress brings continuity and real-world experience to the program. During the 30-day course, students are introduced to special tactics techniques such as airfield seizure operations, combat search and rescue, and call-for-fire missions for fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Classroom time provides students instruction on topics such as portable radio familiarization, navigational aids and beacons, aircraft capability, utilization and employment of the global positioning system within Special Operations, and mission planning, air traffic control procedures and individual team member responsibilities during forward arming and refueling point operations.

Practical instruction covers everything from fast roping and zodiac maintenance, to drop zone/helicopter landing zone survey and multi-lift static line jump procedures.

"There's a lot of attention on providing students practical, hands-on training," said Childress. "They'll use all they've learned at the end of the course during a field training exercise. They have to plan and prepare for the exercise, which is held for two nights and culminates with an airfield seizure operation."

After they've completed the course students are ready to take on an active role on their special tactics team, he said.

Airman 1st Class Jose Nevarez, a combat controller currently attending IFAM Class 00-02, said the course's progressive learning pace is a training benefit.

"During pipeline training you're learning on the go," said Nevarez, who will be assigned to the Blue Team at the 23rd STS. "During IFAM I have a chance to ask questions and reinforce what I'm learning. It's helping phase me into my team." Class 00-02 graduates April 5.

Senior Airman Erin Bowser said the course is giving him a better understanding of what to expect when he joins his team at McChord AFB, Wash.

"It's a great course and really shows you how a special tactics team operates," said Bowser, a combat controller who will be assigned to the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron at McChord. "I'm anxious to learn all they have to teach me so I can be more compatible with my team. IFAM is pulling all the information together so I can hit the ground running."

Preparing students for the special tactics team environment is the biggest benefit of the program for another IFAM student.

"IFAM offers a more structured environment than you'll get in team training," said Staff Sgt. Jason Kemp, who cross-trained into the combat control career field. "I can stop the instructors and ask a million questions. I'll learn more and be an asset to my team, not a liability." After completing IFAM, Kemp will be on the Silver Team at the 23rd STS.

In a unit that's 99.9 percent prepared, getting a new member to fold into the team is a mission benefit, said the superintendent of the 23rd STS Silver Team.

"In the past the team took a 'green' airman and taught him how to apply all those skills he spent the last year-plus learning," said Master Sgt. Gary Maddock. "Though training is our full-time job, team training is more proficiency focused. We train together in events, exercises and scenarios that challenge us to perform our wartime missions. Practicing them, not learning them. Training a new airman how we do those things actually takes away from that practice. This is where IFAM earns its money."

The end result of IFAM is to provide combat-ready Special Operations pararescuemen and combat controllers for AFSOC units, said Childress.

"The benefits of IFAM show with each real-world mission our special tactics teams take part in," he said. "A great example is the special tactics teams that participated in the rescue missions during Operation Allied Force -- they learned what they did in IFAM. IFAM sharpens the sword for the special tactics commanders, and gives them a better weapon to use in executing the mission."

Since the program began in 1997, there have been 16 IFAMs, graduating 192 students into the AFSOC special tactics world.

RELATED SITES

** Air Force Special Operations Command
** 720th Special Tactics Group