TAC-OPS: Caring for the human weapon system

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Malcolm Mayfield
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Liberty wing F-15 Pilots execute air supremacy through their control of an extremely maneuverable tactical fighter jet. Aircrew are trained to minimize the physical strain of being in the aircraft, and the Tactical Aviation Center for Operator Performance and Sustainment handles the rest.

TAC-OPS provides high performance aviators with easy access to a physical therapist, decreasing the time a pilot is in care and back in the air after an injury.

“With these pilots, especially the younger ones, we’re looking at a potentially 20-year Air Force career,” said the 493rd Fighter Squadron flight surgeon. “So we’ve got to keep them healthy and ready to fight for the entirety of it.”

The program was developed through a collaborative effort between the 48th Operations Group and 48th Medical Group, utilizing experts from both agencies to develop specialty care designed to cater to the aviation community. Aircrew are able to come in for direct access, walk-in medical and physical therapy services. This allows them to be seen quickly for relatively minor aches and pains that they perhaps wouldn't have normally gone to Flight Medicine for.

“These concepts were formed to address the need for changing the culture for aligning human performance with the aviation community,” Col. Maximilian Lee, 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander. “TAC-OPS will enable our operators and medics to build a synergistic relationship maximizing performance of the human weapon system.”

The program was officially launched in 2017, and the center is positioned to collect data to identify the best way to care for aviators. The hope is to change the current culture among aviators who wait until small issues turn into big issues before seeking care, and prevent them from injuring themselves to the point that they are removed from flying status.

“We will constantly evolve this process to make it more centered on our patients,” said the 493rd FS flight surgeon. “I see this only growing, this could be standard practice throughout the air force in the future.”

TAC-OPS provides immediate care for aviators, promoting a stable combat-ready force and ensuring pilots are able to accomplish U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa’s mission of protecting the sovereign skies safely and effectively.