375th COS integrates chaplain support, bolsters readiness

  • Published
  • 375th Cyberspace Operations Squadron
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  More than 300 members of the 375th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, known operationally as “Task Force Falcon,” gathered in a briefing room for mission planning ahead of upcoming operations.

As the session began, Staff Sgt. Desiree Cober, a Religious Affairs Airman assigned to the 67th Cyberspace Operations Group, read a story detailing NASA’s Artemis mission and humanity’s return to the moon.

She used the Artemis mission as an analogy for the ambition, precision and dedication required for the squadron’s offensive cyberspace missions executed for U.S. Cyber Command. This analogy addressed the unseen pressures faced by modern Cyber Warfare Operators. Unlike traditional battlefield environments, these Airmen connect to global battlespaces directly from their desktops, navigating cognitive demands during round-the-clock operations.

Recognizing these challenges, Master Sgt. Joshua Hunter, 375th COS first sergeant, initiated routine “sensing sessions” to gather feedback directly from Airmen in their work centers during combat operations. The feedback indicated a need for proactive, integrated support to maintain the force's well-being and readiness.
In response to the feedback from the sensing sessions, leadership within the 67th COG and the 67th Cyberspace Wing acted to embed two U.S. Air Force chaplain personnel directly within the squadron’s secure mission spaces.

While this integration might go unnoticed outside the unit, it was designed to provide an edge toward the lethality of the joint force. This deliberate embedding directly supports the 67th CW’s strategic focus on optimizing human capital and ensuring combat readiness.

According to Lt. Col. Dylan Slagle, 375th COS and Task Force Falcon commander, the continuous, on-the-floor presence of these support personnel shifted the unit’s operational culture.

“Our team is seeing a transformation in physical, mental, spiritual, and social fitness—all pillars of comprehensive fitness,” he said. “Our unit first sergeant and the embedded chaplain personnel are at the center of it. Because of their actions, we have surged capability, readiness, and morale—and motivation has remained rock solid.”

This focus on holistic Airman readiness aligns with the 67th CW commander Col. John Picklesimer’s vision to build “the premier cyber force, bold in action … lethal in execution,” and supports the priority to “COMPETE.” By fostering a resilient and supported force, the initiative also reinforces the National Defense Strategy’s concept of deterrence by denial.

The 375th COS (Task Force Falcon), stationed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is an elite unit responsible for conducting offensive cyberspace operations in support of national defense objectives. The squadron leverages cutting-edge technology and unparalleled human capital to project power in the cyber domain, ensuring the United States maintains decision advantage and operational superiority on behalf of combatant commanders worldwide.