Program offers ‘Vigilant Look’ at AFSPC

  • Published
  • By Jenna McMullin
  • Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  While the Air Force encourages its personnel to "cross further into the blue" through its new force-development philosophy, Air Force Space Command officials have been using a unique application of that philosophy -- the Vigilant Look program.

Nearly four years old, Vigilant Look encapsulates the mission and career opportunities of AFSPC into a weeklong orientation open to all Air Force officers, regardless of major command.

"Vigilant Look widens the picture of opportunities available to you in Air Force Space Command," said Maj. Tye Prater, chief of command officer development. "We show people there are other opportunities within their career fields."

There are about four Vigilant Looks a year, with 30 attendees per program. Since its inception in late 2000, about 260 airmen from all Air Force major commands and varying career fields have participated. The targeted attendee is a young to mid-grade captain, and Maj. Prater said a nomination to attend Vigilant Look is a way for commanders to recognize outstanding officers.

Vigilant Look is based on a simple, career-development concept: Gather the best and brightest company grade officers from across the Air Force and provide a variety of briefings, tours and visits to give them a portrait of AFSPC. Participants receive an inside look at what makes AFSPC tick, including talking with senior AFSPC leaders and visiting the missile alert facility simulator. They also get to set foot on a launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

"Going to a missile silo is something I'd never have the opportunity to do otherwise," said Capt. Keith Johnson, chief of staff for the 1st Air Command and Control Squadron at Offutt AFB, Neb.

As an RC-135 Rivet Joint pilot who used satellite communications each time he flew, Captain Johnson had never been exposed to the space field before attending Vigilant Look in July 2003.

Besides learning about satellites, which is just one part of each Vigilant Look and is covered during a visit to the satellite operations squadrons at Schriever AFB, Colo., attendees have the opportunity to interact with senior leaders. After the first day, which is spent at AFSPC headquarters and the 1st Space Control Squadron at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., attendees and senior AFSPC leaders mingle during a Vigilant Look kick-off icebreaker. The gathering with general officers and other senior AFSPC staff presents Vigilant Look attendees with one-on-one time not often available early on in Air Force careers.

"The chance to meet with senior space leaders was great, but it was neat to just be able to talk to senior leaders about more than just space, (such as) universal leadership issues, too," said Capt. Chris Welch, a pilot with the 7th Special Operations Squadron at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England.

Maj. Marne Deranger said she hopes attendees will take away a greater understanding of AFSPC, regardless of their current assignments. She is the deputy chief of command officer development.

"You really get a perspective of what each unit brings to the fight," Major Deranger said. "Plus, the informal crossflow of information among attendees from different parts of the Air Force is valuable, too."

Since Vigilant Look highlights all AFSPC assets in one week, there is a lot of subject matter to cover. While briefings address much of the mission of AFSPC, the interactive visits to places such as Cheyenne Mountain and Vandenberg AFB provide the perspective of space and missile career fields in action.

"People gain a better appreciation of what this major command provides to the Air Force and to the country," said Col. Cal Hutto, director of the AFSPC space professional task force.

An announcement is made each quarter about the upcoming Vigilant Look. The next program will be held Mar. 15 to 19, and a call for attendee nominations was sent via personnel and wing commander channels Jan. 15.

More information on Vigilant Look is available on the program's Web site, at https://midway.peterson.af.mil/2letters/dp/AODS/index.htm. (Courtesy of AFSPC News Service)