Joint SOF Trainer (Ops & Plans) IV - Range/OPFOR Planner

Athenix Solutions Group•Hurlburt Field, FL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Athenix Special Missions Group is hiring a Joint SOF Trainer (Operations & Planning) IV – Range/OPFOR Planner to support the AFSOC EMERALD WARRIOR exercise team at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The role supports large-scale training exercises intended to enhance readiness and prepare SOF units for deployment. The contractor facilitates planning and execution of SOF core activities and SOF-CF I3, augments or replicates critical staff planning positions, and develops SOF exercise planning and execution products throughout the Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC), aligned with SOF, Joint, Service, and GCC training objectives. The planner maintains current knowledge of SOF and Joint Enterprise training requirements through research, professional development, participation in relevant meetings and working groups, conferences, courses, and monitoring readiness and lessons-learned systems. The role prepares adult-learning-based methods and materials to train battle staffs on SOF core activities and joint headquarters tasks across functional areas, and maintains cooperative relationships with operational and strategic-level planners and leaders across USSOCOM, GCCs, TSOCs, the Joint Staff, and JSOC. The position supports exercise design and JELC planning, scenario scripting, key-staff role playing, training, and observation. Using the ADDIE model and Joint Training System/Joint Training Tool, the planner identifies training requirements, develops materials and scripts for in-person and online delivery, delivers training, and evaluates its effectiveness. The role oversees OPFOR, range, and SITFOR support for AFSOC participation in JNTC events, including target arrays, access and movement coordination, and coordination with weapons and tactics offices and local range offices. Additional duties include creating or reviewing event concepts; developing or replicating international, national, strategic, and operational products and orders for multinational Theater SOF/CT/CWMD exercises within foreign disclosure and export-compliance guidelines; providing counter-terrorism exercise design support during ELLIPSE; incorporating JMETL tasks and exercise objectives into observation plans; and, when required, supporting the Joint Exercise Control Group and augmenting or replicating key SOF higher-headquarters staff positions.

Requirements

Prior SOF planning experience in a SOF unit or SOF command-and-control organization, with operational knowledge of SOF air planning guidance and current assigned aircraft capabilities.
Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of SOF experience, or prior E8+ or CW4+ status with 10 years of experience working in SOF.
At least 4 years of recent experience serving in a command, senior enlisted advisor, or primary staff billet in SOF (USSOCOM/TSOC), Service, Joint Staff, OSD, or a 3- or 4-star Service/CCMD headquarters within the past 8 years.
At least 5 years of experience with the Joint Training System, including joint exercise planning management.
At least 4 years of experience in joint operations and operational- to strategic-level SOF planning and operations.
At least 4 years of experience with the Adaptive Planning and Execution System (APEX) and Joint Operational Planning Process (JOPP).
Excellent presentation, communication, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

At least 4 years of experience in Operational Design.
At least 4 years of experience directly interfacing with senior staff (O5/O6 and GOFO) at TSOCs, Components, CCMDs, Services, and interagency organizations.
Two years of experience as a platform instructor in a Professional Military Education or training environment.

Responsibilities

Maintain current knowledge of SOF and Joint Enterprise training requirements through research, professional development, meetings, working groups, courses, conferences, and monitoring relevant readiness and lessons-learned systems.
Prepare training methods and materials based on adult learning and training principles for battle staffs on SOF core activities and joint headquarters tasks across specified functional areas.
Maintain working relationships with operational and strategic-level planners and leaders across USSOCOM headquarters, GCCs, TSOCs, the Joint Staff, and JSOC to support synchronized exercise design and execution.
Support exercise design, JELC planning, scenario scripting, key staff role playing, training, and observations.
Use the ADDIE model and Joint Training System/Joint Training Tool to determine training requirements; design and develop materials and scripts; deliver in-person and online training; and evaluate training effectiveness and efficiency.
Oversee development and coordination of OPFOR, range, and SITFOR support for AFSOC participation in JNTC events, including targets, medical and logistical access, vehicle and landing-zone access, and coordination with weapons and tactics and local range offices.
Create or review and critique event concepts, including purpose, objectives, scenario characteristics, processes, and products, using real-world events and operational planning concepts.
Create or replicate international, national, strategic, and operational-level products and orders for multinational Theater SOF/CT/CWMD exercises in accordance with foreign disclosure and DOS export-compliance guidelines.
Provide counter-terrorism exercise design and coordination expertise, advisory support, and co-planner technical assistance during the ELLIPSE exercise design phase.
Incorporate JMETL tasks and exercise training objectives into observation plans to ensure exercise milestones and objectives are observed.
When required, support the Joint Exercise Control Group and augment or replicate key SOF higher-headquarters staff positions.