132d Wing hosts RPA DMO conference

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Michael J. Kelly
  • 132d Wing Public Affairs

The 132d Wing hosted a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) demonstration conference here March 20-21, 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa.

 

The goal of the conference was to bring together all of the RPA training stakeholders and provide them with firsthand knowledge of the newly developed distributed training capabilities available to them through the 132 Wing’s Detachment 1 Distributed Training Operations Center (DTOC). Participants were able to view the capabilities of the 124th Attack Squadron, experience new cutting-edge technology and increase networking between RPA units.

 

“I think this event was a huge success,” said Lt. Col. Brad Opp, RPA integration lead with the 132d Operations Group. “We don't think anyone has ever put a group like this together before, with staff officers, program managers, industry experts, researchers and the warfighters all with the goal of advancing our distributed training capabilities.”

 

The conference was attended by Brig. Gen. James R. Cluff, vice commander of the 25th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and Brig. Gen. L. Kip Clark, Chief of Staff of the Indiana Air National Guard.

 

Additionally, representatives from Rockwell Collins were in attendance and demonstrated the capabilities of their Coalescence mixed reality system. The Coalescence system is designed to help simulate any situation military members could face. It is also the first training system that enables trainees to interact with real items in their environment while immersed in a virtual-reality environment.

       

Opp said the 132d Wing hopes to host more events like this in the future and that while the topics may change based on the progress in training capabilities, the intent will always be to provide warfighters with the most relevant and realistic training available to them.