COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Columbus Air Force Base is pioneering a human performance strategy that positions student pilots alongside Division I athletes in terms of care, conditioning and mental resilience – in a forward-thinking shift that blends military aviation with elite sports science.
The 14th Flying Training Wing’s Operations Group recently launched the Tactical Athlete Program TAP, an expansion of the 14 OG Comprehensive Readiness for Aircrew Flying Training CRAFT model. Designed to treat pilots as “tactical athletes”, the initiative leverages the proven frameworks of high-performance sports programs to optimize cognitive and physical readiness in the next generation of aviators.
“The Tactical Athlete Program integrates rest and recovery, nutrition and hydration, strength and conditioning, cognitive and flying training, all in a daily rhythm similar to Division I athletic training,” said Col. Nicholas Lofthouse,14th Operations Group commander. “We are normalizing the expectation and execution of developing tactical athletes with a Warrior Ethos from day one.”
The program draws heavily from the High-Performance Model seen in top-tier collegiate and Olympic athletics. It incorporates customized fitness regimens, cognitive agility training, nutrition science, and stress management techniques. The CRAFT team --composed of strength and conditioning coaches, performance dietitians, and cognitive specialists -- brings this model to life with over 1,500 weekly touchpoints projected once the program is fully operational.
Expanding on CRAFT’s existing structure, TAP introduces mandatory touchpoints to build foundational skills in physical fitness, mental endurance, and nutritional awareness. “We’ve always talked the talk,” said Colin T. Klatt, CRAFT cognitive performance specialist and co-creator of the TAP program. “Now, we’re walking the walk; giving pilots real opportunities to practice what we teach and internalize high-performance habits.”
TAP includes cognitive performance elements led by CRAFT’s Cognitive Performance Specialists CPS. Once a month, CPS personnel conduct focused training that incorporates mindfulness techniques like box breathing and body scans, teaching pilots how to release tension and manage stress.
Cognitive agility training is also embedded within physical workouts using tools like the synaptic trainer -- a screen-based system that challenges attention, awareness, and reaction time through simulated task-saturation scenarios.
“These scenarios mimic the chaos pilots face in real-world operations, allowing them to practice strategies to maintain focus and make quick decisions under pressure,” said Klatt.
Another critical component of the Tactical Athlete program is performance nutrition. CRAFT’s dietitians use advanced tools like the “InBody” scanner to provide insights into body composition, hydration levels, and other metrics. They also offer Q&A sessions on supplements, macros, and hydration, and advise on healthier meal and snack options.
This evolution in pilot development reflects a growing emphasis across the Air Force on integrating human performance into training environments. As part of a broader shift toward optimizing learning ecosystems and preparing for the future of Undergraduate Pilot Training, TAP represents a practical step forward; embedding resilience, recovery, and readiness into the foundation of a pilot’s career.
“Our mission is to train world-class pilots, and that takes more than flying training,” said Lofthouse. “This is about building 5th-generation Airmen who are physically conditioned, mentally agile, and able to thrive in the chaos of modern air combat.”