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Cyberspace Support Squadron earns tech award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joshua Eikren
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Air Force Space Command Cyberspace Support Squadron was recently recognized for the Air Force e-Learning program with the SkillSoft Innovation Award for best information technology and technical skills development.

The Air Force e-Learning program delivers online training resources and reference materials to a global Air Force community. Active duty military members, civilians, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel can access the training on the latest technologies from their duty stations, deployed locations, homes, and mobile devices.

"Winning this award reinforces the importance of the work we do for the Air Force," said Lisa McCoy, AFSPC CYSS training flight chief. "Getting Air Force members to change their training mindset is difficult. Many still hold tight to the 'brick and mortar' training paradigm and dismiss online training. By having an Air Force training program recognized within the commercial industry endorses the effectiveness of our program."

According to the Air Force e-Learning program, resources available provide the foundation for training 25,000 Air Force cyberspace enlisted members. SkillSoft and Air Force-developed training resources are presented in 11 customized learning paths targeting each Air Force specialty code. These training resources are also called out in each specialty's career field education and training plan which serves as the roadmap for an individual's training.

"This award honors a SkillSoft client with a comprehensive IT training program that caters to IT professionals' demanding and unpredictable schedules," said McCoy. "Winning programs address the complex and broad range of competencies that make up today's IT needs, covering a complete range of IT skills from desktop aptitude to programming and web development through to certification prep."

McCoy added that nominees effectively address the complexities of technology while keeping pace with the ever changing standards and systems.

As the flight chief, McCoy manages the program from a strategic level and serves as the contracting officer representative. Alongside her are program managers, Rosamary Stansbury and Tech. Sgt. Luke Thornton, who provide operational and technical support while also working with functional communities, such as the Air Force Information Assurance Workforce to identify and package resources for their specific needs. Lastly is Guy Cooley, a SkillSoft program manager who is also assigned to the program to work out connectivity issues and is a retired chief master sergeant who brings his knowledge of training requirements.

The Air Force e-Learning program stresses the need to deliver standardized training to a global Air Force audience and says it's the driving force behind the learning program.

"The Air Force enterprise network is maintained by cyberspace workforce," said McCoy. "These 25,000 men and women are stationed around the world at in-garrison bases, remote locations, or deployed to the field. With the rapid and constant evolution of IT, emerging technologies, and the growing need for cyber security, the Air Force must have the means to provide standardized training to the cyber defenders and maintainers."

The program was established in 1995 and consisted of binders of IT training CDs shipped to 200 Air Force bases around the world.

"As Internet capabilities evolved, so did our program," said McCoy. "Thanks to the longevity of the Air Force e-Learning program, we've been able to mature our program in step with SkillSoft to deliver training on target and on demand. Thanks to additions like InGenius, Mobile Books, and mobile apps, we are able to present options to users who desire social interaction and mobile flexibility."

Various functional communities (i.e., medical IT, financial, etc.) now incorporate Air Force e-Learning training resources in their structured curriculum. The program office provides support to each community to help them take full advantage of the available resources.

"The impact of fiscal constraints has motivated users to seek our services to reduce the cost of training," added McCoy. "Formal Air Force training schoolhouses are partnering with us to use Air Force e-Learning resources as pre-requisites for students to complete prior to attending classroom training."

The future goals of the e-Learning program look to work with the cyberspace support career field managers to create new capabilities, like extracting specific modules in a course and packaging them individually to streamline training.

"Developing Airmen is a top Air Force priority and developmental efforts are key to our ability to provide warfighting assets to combatant commanders," said McCoy. "These Airmen must possess the right combinations of both occupational and institutional competencies."

For more information or to access Air Force e-Learning, visit https://usafprod.skillport.com.