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U.S. Air Force Capt. Michelle Jilek, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron physical therapist, examines Maj. Seth Rumbarger, 71st Fighter Squadron T-38 Talon pilot, at Joint Base Langley Eustis, Virginia, Nov. 13, 2019. For now, Jilek just focuses on pilots and their injuries. Down the road she would like to be able to help all personnel in the wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tristan Biese)

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A 1st Operational Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment Airmen helps prepare local news reporter, Madeline Schmitt, to fly in a T-38A Talon aircraft for a media flight at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Jan. 15, 2020. This flight demonstrates the training rigors U.S. Air Force pilots can endure during flying operations. The 1st Fighter Wing began embedding physical therapists from the 633rd Medical Operations Squadron in 2019 to address neck and back pain that fighter aircrews endure to help save time and provide preventative healthcare.

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A pilot in the Optimizing the Human Weapons System program, performs a Functional Movement Screening at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Oct. 28, 2020. The Functional Movement Screening determines if there is any dysfunction in fundamental movement or motor control, which provides insight into their chance of sustaining an injury. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Delaney Gonzales)

Advancing Medical Readiness for Enhanced Lethality

Published April 18, 2025
By Briel Cook
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --

Air Combat Command continually emphasizes the critical role of medical readiness in achieving air superiority. A key component to warfighter readiness is the Optimized Human Weapon System program, which ACC leads across all major commands and the Air Force.

“Medical is a warfighting community,” said Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of ACC. “Through building mental and physical toughness and fortitude, Airmen can do hard things together, and that is the way we win.”

The OHWS program, aims to improve fighter pilot and aircrew performance and retention. Within ACC, the program focuses on reducing neck and back injuries and enhancing tactical performance through specialized training and care.

OHWS leverages the expertise of physical and cognitive performance specialists, including human system integration subject matter experts, data analysts, active-duty site points of contact, medical supervisors, contracting and project management support.

This holistic approach supports aircrew retention and availability while also enhancing human-weapon system maintenance data and advancing force modernization efforts. Ultimately, these efforts coordinate to optimize flight performance and maximize combat lethality.

“We have to continually strive to give our warfighters the tactical advantage they need on the battlefield,” Wilsbach said. “Using data points from the OHWS program allow us to better equip our warfighters and implement procedures that will enhance the lethality of our aircrews.”

According to Maj. Ryan Scott, ACC’s Human Weapon System Brach deputy chief, data analysis reports have shown that 85% of personnel utilizing OHWS reported an improvement in tactical performance.

Air Combat Command is expanding the OHWS program across all units, integrating human performance data, and exploring the use of AI and machine learning to combine performance, medical and operational data for improved mission planning, pilot selection and risk assessment.

“It’s vital to stress the impact it can have on Airmen if they aren’t mentally or physically prepared for the unforeseen fight,” said Col. Raymond Clydesdale, ACC’s command surgeon. “Keeping Airmen mission ready is the key to being operationally successful.”

This focus on readiness is fundamental to not only ACC’s mission but is also shared across the Air Force medical community. It starts with continuous training, exercises, and education across all career fields and units.

“This commitment to readiness requires a dedicated approach to training,” said Maj. Gen. Jeannine Ryder, Medical Readiness Command Bravo commander. “Your airmen should be ruthlessly ready, and warfighter focused.”

By implementing targeted team training, ACC can equip fighter pilots to better withstand high G forces, manage the cognitive demands of anti G straining, and combat fatigue which can ultimately enhance safety and performance.

Readiness is fundamental to the ACC mission of fielding combat-ready forces to combatant commanders. This starts with taking lessons learned from the OHWS program and implementing them into daily aspects of training, exercises and education across all career fields and units. A healthy and resilient force is essential to maintaining air superiority and projecting airpower globally.