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TABLE 3 Examples of Conditions and Exposures Specific to the Conclusion
Performance of US Air Force 1U Sensor Operator’s (Creech AFB)
PICTs If we are to take seriously the SOF truth that “humans are
1U Conditions Specific to Performance of 1U PICTs more important than hardware,” then addressing the P&H of
Temperature Remote combat Combat (kinetic) Operators clearly begins with focusing on Operators them-
operations exposure selves within their own context. This includes taking into
Lighting Top secret High operations account their unit’s operational context, actively engaging
clearance “life” tempo them as equal-share participants (not passive recipients), and
Noise Rotating shift work Culture climate building synergy and collaboration through CF stakeholders;
Facilities Task intensity Supervision/ this includes leadership, P&H personnel, and researchers.
mentoring When a common understanding of CF needs, performance
Station ergonomics Nondeployment Low 1U manning demands, occupational risks, and context is clearly identi-
requirements fied, stakeholders are better prepared for successful collab-
Remote/deployed Prolonged sitting oration across professional and cultural boundaries in their
environment support of CF mission readiness. They are also better able
PICT, population-identified critical task. to evaluate the impact of their efforts, justify their assets,
resources, and programs and “course correct” when needed.
Special Operations Command’s Preservation of the Force
Phase V
The purpose of the final phase is to debrief identified com- and Family was designed to address the unique needs SOF
munity stakeholders and workshop participants on project Operators and their families, for example, but because each
outputs and results, obtain feedback, and provide recommen- unit is different, challenges remain in precisely gauging and
dations to inform the targeting and validation of human P&H meeting all the needs of a diverse set of CFs and units. For
(e.g., human performance team) service delivery and resources this reason, the CBB’s systematic and collaborative approach
directed at sustaining the P&H of CF community members. At to identifying CF needs may be useful for SOF units seeking
the conclusion of phase IV, TFF-domain SMEs compile all the to strengthen mission readiness and health sustainment over
outputs from the four phases to build the CBB blueprint (Fig- a career lifespan.
ure 2). The blueprint outlines identified PICT, their associated
simulations, operational metrics, occupational risk exposures As the DoD shifts toward supporting mission capabilities,
(e.g., environmental, ergonomics, organizational) and perfor- tools like the CBB can offer a systematic and practical means
mance demands. Any summarized CF-specific professional, to identify CF P&H priorities on the basis of the critical tasks
health, and disease trends collected in phase I are included as SOF Operators perform. This is accomplished by examining
pieces of the blueprint. If a summary of health and disease the performance demands and occupational risks associated
trends by CF and unit cannot be provided from installation with performing those tasks. By supplying P&H metrics,
service agencies in phase I (as was the case with 1Us), partic- stakeholders are better equipped to collaborate and make in-
ipating CF members work collaboratively with TFF-domain formed decisions about what resources are truly needed, how
SMEs to build a consensus survey around the occupational those resources should be distributed, and how return on in-
risk exposures and health trends SMEs identified in the work- vestment can be evaluated to ensure that CF P&H priorities
ing group and from PICT simulation interviews (Table 4). This are being met across stakeholder efforts. Future efforts for the
survey is distributed to the unit CF Operators at large by the CBB will include examining how CBB blueprints have been
established CBB site team, and the results are compiled into applied to address P&H service delivery alignment and sup-
the final CBB report. port mission readiness.

Before the blueprint is released to all CF stakeholders, partici- Acknowledgments
pating CF SMEs and installation human P&H team members
provide input on the final CBB contents to ensure they reflect The authors thank the Capabilities Based Blueprint (CBB)
the CF’s community perspective, language, and priorities, and team at Creech Air Force Base including the 1U Operators, in-
all recommendations made are actionable and complement the structors, human performance team members, and leadership
CF and unit culture. The CBB report is then briefed and dis- for their enthusiasm, support, and participation in the CBB
tributed to CF and unit leadership for their approval before it workshop. They also thank Dan Théoret, Michal Spivock, and
is released as a CF and unit tool. Etienne Chassé at the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare
TABLE 4 Examples of Health Trends Specific to the Performance of US Air Force 1U Sensor Operator’s (Creech AFB) Population-Identified
Critical Tasks From a Consensus Survey Distributed to all 1Us After the Capabilities-Based Blueprint Workshop
Physical Psychological Social Spiritual Nutritional
Eye strain (70.4%) Sleep disturbances (81.7%) Relationship problems Difficulties living out my Poor nutrition (53.5%)
(32.4%) personal values (23.9%)
Back pain (64.8%) Mental exhaustion (74.7%) Difficulties relating to Loss of sense of purpose Dehydration (19.7%)
others due to operation (16.9%)
security/information
security (26.8%)
Weight gain (56.3%) Struggle with work–life Difficulties forming Feeling disconnected from Increased alcohol use
balance (56.3%) meaningful relationships the remote piloted aircraft (16.9%)
(25.4%) mission (5.6%)
Headaches (54.9%) Combat/kill chain–related high Difficulties living out Diagnosed with vitamin D
stress (8.5%) USAF core values (4.2%) deficiency (5.6%)

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