November
27, 2006: The U.S. Air Force has a unique and effective way to getting
intelligence information, about potential enemies, to it's pilots and support
personnel. The air force has a unit (the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, or "57th
TAG") that specializes in creating very realistic training exercises. The 57th
has nearly 600 personnel, including many intelligence specialists. These
include active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel. The eight squadrons
in the group each specialize on developing realistic enemy threats for
different situations. Two squadrons develop threats F-16 and F-15 fighters are
likely to encounter. Another squadron creates realistic Internet based
threats. There are two squadrons that deal with space based threats
(attacking, and defending, satellites). Another squadron deals with enemy ground
based anti-aircraft systems. A new squadron is dealing with Information War
(problems with the mass media). There is also an intelligence squadron, and one
that organizes training exercises.
The
57th TAG personnel are in great demand as advisors for combat units, as the
group has a collection of intel personnel who are not only knowledgeable about
enemy (actual or potential) capabilities, but spend much of their time figuring
out how these capabilities might be most effectively used against U.S. forces. In
this respect, the 57th TAG sometimes come up with better tactics for the use of
enemy equipment than the enemy have. So much of the details are kept secret.
