New Squadron Sharpens Cadet Warfighting Skills
Cadet 1st Class Dominic Senft participates in the Fall Validation Exercise (VALEX) at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Oct. 10, 2025. Training events like VALEX develop cadets’ warfighter skills and are part of the hands-on training the 34th Training Support Squadron (TRSS) supports across the Cadet Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A new squadron has been activated at the U.S. Air Force Academy to better prepare cadets for the complexities of modern warfare. The 34th Training Support Squadron (TRSS), activated on Feb. 23, 2026, will strengthen the Academy’s officer-development mission by ensuring warfighter skills are delivered to the cadet wing along with the training resources required to ensure cadets receive a world-class experience, aligned with the operational needs of the Air Force.
With a renewed emphasis on lethality from the Department of War, the Academy is expanding its military training to develop adaptable and critically thinking warfighters. The 34th TRSS will be at the forefront of this effort, delivering and sustaining the training infrastructure necessary to develop the next generation of military leaders.
Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks, Commandant of Cadets, emphasized the importance of this new squadron, stating, “An officer’s development doesn’t begin at their first operational assignment; it is forged here. The 34th TRSS will deliver a more structured and specialized warfighter development to ensure our cadets are fully prepared to lead on day one.”
The squadron is composed of five distinct flights staffed by permanent party Airmen and Guardians: Military Training, Standards/Evaluations and Records Management, Training Resources, Military Training Scheduling and Range Management, and Cadet Personnel Actions.
According to Lt. Col. Austin Bartlett, the 34th TRSS commander, the new squadron will centralize critical functions that were previously spread across multiple organizations. This will allow for a more streamlined and efficient approach to training, with the commander reporting directly to the Commandant of Cadets.
The TRSS will actively forge these future leaders by delivering a comprehensive warfighter curriculum. This framework ensures cadets receive combat-relevant instruction through optimizing training schedules, scheduling ranges and materials, and providing hands-on familiarization with weapons and tactics.
The 34th TRSS aims to provide cadets with earlier and more structured exposure to the skills and mindsets required in a high-end fight. It will also serve as the Academy’s innovation hub for training, integrating emerging technologies, modern instructional design, and data-driven assessment to elevate the quality and relevance of cadet preparation.
This new organizational structure represents a significant step in aligning the Academy’s officer training with the rigor, standardization, and accountability found in operational wings across the Air Force.
Bartlett added, “The creation of the 34th TRSS is a foundational investment in the future of Air Force and Space Force officer development, ensuring every graduate arrives at their first unit better prepared, more confident, and more aligned with the needs of the service.”