The Training and Force Development Division at the Air Force Safety Center develops, teaches and manages the requisite safety education and training needed to enhance safety knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as promote risk management. By educating Airmen and Guardians in safety principles, risk management, and mishap investigation, they enhance air and space power proactively identifying hazards and managing risks to prevent mishaps.
This division provides safety education and training to a wide range of personnel, including approximately 800 civilians and 400 military members in professional Safety roles, as well as approximately 2,000 personnel in other career fields assigned to safety offices.
The division’s mission encompasses all safety disciplines: aviation, occupational, weapons and space, to provide mission-ready capabilities. The programs bolster current and future mishap prevention by providing interactive education and training through on-site, web-based and distance learning courses.
To effectively deliver this comprehensive safety education and training, the division relies on a variety of specialized courses tailored to specific needs and responsibilities. These courses aim to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead and participate in safety initiatives across diverse operational environments. Several of these courses are focused on mishap investigation.
The Board President Course is offered to those who may be selected to serve as a Safety or Accident Investigation Board president. The curriculum covers essential aspects of leading safety investigations: board procedures, composition, duties, safety privilege, and mishap analysis. Participants also benefit from the expertise of safety center representatives and past board presidents, gaining technical support and lessons learned.
The Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course is a three-week course that provides instruction to personnel who may serve as primary board members on Class A and B mishap investigations. Training for these types of investigations are important because they are often high-visibility mishaps and can include significant injury, equipment damage or even death of Airmen and Guardians. The course prepares mishap investigators in techniques for investigating and identifying critical equipment system anomalies that often result in mishaps.
“Students learn to identify structural failures, engine malfunctions, aircraft inflight or ground operation fires, conduct witness interviews, and identify human factors in aviation, occupational, and space mishaps,” said Michael Gann, Training Instruction branch chief and AFSEC instructor. “Teaching students to identify problems leads to investigation teams recommending fixes for operational anomalies. Implementing these recommendations prevents future mishaps and ensures mission readiness for air superiority.”
The Mishap Investigation Non-Aviation Course is designed to teach newly assigned investigators the Air Force mishap investigation process, focusing on identifying root causes. It covers investigation techniques, technical aspects, and proper preparation of the six-part investigative report.
Uniquely aimed at U.S. Space Force personnel, the Space Mishap Investigation Course provides instruction on space mishap investigations and analyses of human and material factors, focusing on determining root causes, investigative techniques, and technical aspects of space and explosive mishaps.
AFSEC also offers courses on Risk Management, Human Factors, and a specialized course for international students.
The Risk Management Application and Integration Train-the-Trainer Course provides in-depth guidance on utilizing risk management tools and techniques. Participants learn how to effectively incorporate risk management strategies into both on- and off-duty activities, ensuring a holistic approach to safety and decision-making with hands-on experience applying risk management principles.
The Human Factors Workshop for Safety Professionals provides a review of basic human factors theory and application. Participants receive training and practice applying recently developed techniques for acquiring, analyzing, and applying human factors data to Air and Space Force operations.
The International Flight Safety Officer course is a six-week training that provides safety education for foreign officers assigned to manage flight safety programs. This course provides a foundation in aviation safety, covering safety principles, program management, human factors, mishap investigation, and a broad overview of flight safety issues. IFSO is not intended to qualify personnel in any specific aircraft system, but has been taught by AFSEC since 1989, with over 100 countries approved for participation.
The division strives to evolve and modernize the safety workforce through the continuous professional development of all safety and safety-support personnel throughout the Air and Space Forces.
“Excellence is our standard, and we are committed to achieving it in every effort,” said Gwendolyn Dooley, DAF Safety Training & Force Development chief and Safety Civilian career field manager. “We are committed to providing an exceptional training experience for each student, meticulously attending to every detail from answering inquiries from Command and Safety Training POCs to ensuring up-to-date course materials and seamless graduation processes.
Training materials are updated with new information or innovations relatively quickly since AFSEC owns, develops, manages and teaches the courses. This includes converting courses to virtual delivery through Microsoft Teams during and beyond COVID. Additional changes include updating MINA to include Air Force Safety Automated System training and providing students with hands-on mishap investigation experience at AFSEC’s Crash Lab. The Risk Management program manager also renamed the Risk Management Application and Integration course adding “train the trainer” to ensure students gain hands-on experience to apply risk management principles to real-world situations through scenarios, case studies, and practical exercises.
Current and future mishap prevention requirements are assessed by biennial course review workgroups. These working groups are comprised of training specialists, subject matter experts, instructors, and other personnel who may teach applicable courses.
The division also hosts roadshows as a flexible method of bringing essential safety training to organizations wherever they are. Roadshows may be virtual or in-person. Only one Safety and Accident Investigation Board President Course roadshow may be requested per MAJCOM/FIELDCOM/FOA/DRU each fiscal year.
The Training and Force Development Division ensures the continuous professional development of Safety professionals, and all personnel assigned to Safety staffs throughout the Air and Space Forces. The division contributes to Department of the Air Force combat power and mission readiness by imparting valuable expertise, teaching current investigation standards and future mishap prevention techniques with evolving education and training methods through interactive on-site and virtual classroom instruction.
For more information about the classes or roadshows offered, visit the Training and Force Development division webpage. https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Training-and-Force-Development-Division/