WATCH: Competencies' Role in Force Development Published Oct. 10, 2023 By Dan Hawkins Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Air Education and Training Command provides world-class foundational force development, training and education to develop empowered, combat-effective Airmen who deeply understand our strategic competitors and are ready to support integrated deterrence and future combat. As a major line of effort inside the command, AETC officials continue to rapidly codify occupational competencies that form the foundation of training and education programs that ultimately produce the most competitive Airmen possible for the Warfighter. Watch the video as Dr. Mike Battaglino, chief of faculty development at the 82nd Training Support Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, explains the difference between foundational and occupational competencies and how they fit in the context of the broader strategic competition landscape. During an Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference panel last month focused on the Warfighting mindset, Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of AETC, noted the embedded and frequent touch points the First Command has with both uniformed and civilian Airmen during initial or advanced skills training, as well as formal education, and relayed the command is developing methods to inculcate the warrior mindset into an Airman’s DNA from a competencies-based perspective. “We want to make (the warrior mindset) part of your core foundational competencies,” Robinson said. “What are the right areas, in the right dose, to introduce Airmen into the idea of the warrior mindset and agile combat employment, and how to think about problems differently?” The design of a competency-based system sharpens Airmen and Guardian’s tactical expertise, operational competence, strategic vision, and joint proficiency to be empowered and execute the full spectrum of DAF missions.