The squadron is located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Its training facility is a state of the art 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m2) facility housing several classrooms, multiple small group mission planning rooms and a 60-person auditorium. All classrooms are equipped with communication and computer systems, including secure video teleconferencing and fiber optic infrastructures to allow real-time war gaming and improved instruction at multiple security levels.[2]
Mission
"Provide initial and advanced information operations and cyber training for the United States Air Force."[2]
History
The 39th Intelligence Squadron was assigned to the 67th Intelligence Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, until 1 October 1988 when it was relocated to Hurlburt Field, Florida. The squadron assumed the mission of the discontinued Detachment 1, 67th Intelligence Group and was redesignated the 39th Information Operations Squadron on 1 September 1999, to better reflect its new and expanded mission.
Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1 October 1998 – present[1]
Courses
The 39th teaches six in-residence courses. The Network Warfare Bridge Course as well as the Cyber Warfare Operations Course; the Information Operations Integration Course, which is required training for airmen assigned to information operations team billets; the Air Force OPSEC Course, which teaches operations security to wing level officers and NCOs; and the Operational Military Deception Course, aimed at operational level planners. The Instructor Methodology Course, which prepares practitioners how to be instructors, and Instructional Systems Design Course, which teaches instructors how to build curriculum.
The 39th also provides initial qualification training for Air Force cyber weapon systems. The Network Warfare Bridge Course (NWBC) provides foundational network warfare skills to the full range of cyber-related Air Force specialties and prepares non-accession Airmen for initial qualification training. Upon completion of NWBC, graduates will join cyber specialty graduates from technical training to become initially qualified on a range of Air Force cyber operations crew positions.
The squadron also offers two faculty development courses. The Instructor Methodology Course (IMC) is a 10-day course awarding 4 semester hours of collegiate credit and provides training to potential formal classroom/lab instructors. Additionally, the Instructional Systems Design (ISD) course merges the AETC ISD and Objectives and Tests course. It is an intensive 10-day group activity course that awards 3 semester hours of collegiate credit and satisfies the 3-semester hour requirement for the CCAF ISD Certification.
Network Warfare Bridge Course
The predecessor to the Undergraduate Network Warfare Training (UNWT) the new course also known as NWBC was stood up. This course is to train airmen to become Network Warfare Operations Specialists who actively defend a wide variety of vital Air Force networks. Students are educated in network warfare concepts and operational functions.
Information Operations Integration Course
Also known as IOIC, this course trains students in basics of IO, Air Force and Joint doctrine, concepts of operations, executing organizations, and operational functions of the USAF. Students will receive an initial familiarization of operations within the Air & Space Operations Center, focused on effects-based operations, and the importance of IO integration within operations planning.
Air Force OPSEC Course
Also known as AFOC, this course trains wing-level signature managers in operations security concepts to counter potential observation of force activities. Initial training for wing-level OPSEC Officers and NCOs. This course is focused on operations security concepts to assess installation processes in order to provide commanders with viable options in regards to protection or exploitation of installation signatures.
Operational Military Deception
Also known as OMD, this course trains airmen in Military Deception planning to develop military deception plans as a part of campaign/wartime operations. Most planners serve at MAJCOMs or NAFs. Training for MAJCOM/NAF operational Military Deception Planners in an Air & Space Operations Center environment.
Instructor Methodology Course
Also known as IMC, this course trains enlisted, officer, and civilian instructors on instructional methodology as well as basic Instructional Systems Development (ISD).
Instructional Systems Design Course
This course builds off the fundamentals taught in the Instructor Methods Course. Students work in an interactive group environment to work through the "ADDIE" (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) phases of the ISD model.
Knaus, Krista; Anninos, Peter (21 March 2013). The Making of a Cyber Warrior (Television production). Hurlburt Field, Florida: United States Air Force. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
