Forging Agile Leaders: 192nd Wing officers sharpen leadership skills during inaugural exercise
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Virginia — Company grade officers assigned to the 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, stepped outside their traditional career fields to lead teams through simulated operational challenges during the wing's inaugural Company Grade Officer Development Exercise Oct. 17, 2026, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia.
Organized by the 192nd Wing Commander's Action Group, the four-hour exercise combined classroom instruction with hands-on scenarios aimed at strengthening junior officers' leadership, decision-making and adaptability in support of Agile Combat Employment operations.
The training drew on lessons learned from previous exercises, notably Operation Mavericks Armistice, a multi-unit exercise held in April 2025 at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia.
“I wanted to share some of the experiences I've had, especially the lessons learned as a designated ground force commander from Operation Mavericks Armistice,” said Capt. Roger Bounthisane, 192nd Wing CAG director.
In deployed or contingency environments, company grade officers may be called upon to serve as ground force commanders, overseeing personnel and coordinating mission requirements outside their primary specialties. Airmen at all levels may also need to perform tasks beyond their usual responsibilities, such as applying tactical combat casualty care training when medical personnel are unavailable.
The exercise began with focused instruction on mission command doctrine, ACE concepts and situational reporting procedures. Participants, including Airmen from medical, finance, intelligence and wing staff agencies, were divided into two teams, each led by a designated ground force commander.
The teams then moved to a hangar equipped with static aircraft and communications flyaway kits, which provided connectivity to higher headquarters. Noncommissioned officers supported the teams as they worked through time-sensitive operational scenarios.
Midway through the exercise, the teams exchanged scenario packets, and new ground force commanders were selected. The company grade officers tested their adaptability and communications skills and applied their prior training and knowledge. The teams faced simulated and real-world time constraints, manning issues, and medical challenges that tested their ability to address obstacles that could impact their mission.
“We were put into high-intensity situations and told to help figure out how to be a GFC from a leadership and followership perspective,” said 1st Lt. Kimberly Smith, 192nd Wing Equal Opportunity director. “Both roles were really enlightening. It took us out of our comfort zone and asked us to use technology in a way that was less conventional than what our steady-state jobs generally require from us.”
Following the exercise, wing leadership, CAG members and participating officers gathered to discuss lessons learned and identify areas for improvement.
Participant feedback will help refine future iterations of the training, with an emphasis on strengthening cross-unit coordination and expanding opportunities for Airmen to develop tactical leadership skills.
“Critical takeaways from this exercise included the importance of continued networking and exposure across the units to better understand how we can operate,” Bounthisane said. “This was a valuable tactical leadership opportunity that allowed for real-time feedback. I would love to see this evolve with greater wing participation so that all members and units can benefit from it.”
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