ACC A6 & SG connect during exercise Raptor Lifeline

Official Statements

• Air Combat Command, November 9: “JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — Airmen from Air Combat Command’s Office of the Command Surgeon partnered with ACC’s Cyber and Communications Directorate during exercise Raptor Lifeline Nov. 3-5, 2026. The exercise was centered on pairing medical information technology with expeditionary communications systems, ensuring seamless connectivity in contested environments.

  “In today’s fight, it’s important now, more than ever, that our Airmen get the reps and sets they need to prepare to deploy together, as one cohesive team,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Sabrina Hatchett, ACC/SG futures and expeditionary medical IT branch chief. “This partnership codifies combat-tested lessons learned to secure resilient, multi-domain continuity of care under contested, degraded-communication environments.”

  As the lead command for cyber, ACC/A6 recognizes that in modern operations the communications network is key to enabling Airmen downrange. The operational focus on expeditionary communications connects the sensor to the warfighter, and in the case of deployed medical personnel, allows for an unbroken chain of care for servicemembers at home and abroad.

  “We’re looking at the human weapon system holistically and, as the front line of medical care downrange, we need our networks to work efficiently and securely,” said Hatchett. “We learned a lot of lessons from our medics in recent operations. Now, by leveraging the capabilities and knowledge of the A6, our medical technicians are modernizing the way our systems interface; saving time means saving lives.”

  Testing radio and communication compatibility between ACC/SG and ACC/A6 directly prepares Airmen for the Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0 "Unit of Action" construct by transitioning them from a legacy, fragmented deployment model to a cohesive, pre-certified combat team.

  Under the AEW 2.0 framework, this exercise ensures that medical assets and expeditionary communications seamlessly plug into a unified command and control architecture before leaving home station. Raptor Lifeline targets specific challenges identified in recent operations and provides Airmen a chance to stress-test their systems and troubleshoot the network during contingency operations. By building their tactical readiness in a simulated environment, communications and medical personnel establish the necessary coordination to provide continuous medical care while operating in contested environments.

  “Our teams are getting hands-on experience working with end users from mission sets around the command, ensuring that we are ready to provide secure and reliable communications solutions for every aspect of the ACC mission,” said Mr. Mitch Maddox, ACC/A6 expeditionary communications deputy branch chief. “New tactics require new training, and that’s exactly what this exercise is about. We’re pulling Airmen together from around the command to stress test these systems, ensuring they mesh seamlessly. This exercise is just one piece of how ACC is modernizing communications downrange.”

  Raptor Lifeline is the first iteration of an ongoing effort to bolster ACC Airmen’s mission readiness under the AEW 2.0 structure, re-optimizing American airpower to secure the skies anywhere in the world.”