AFGSC taps MindGym to reimagine readiness

Air Force Global Strike Command is expanding its training toolkit with MindGym, a commercial cognitive-training simulator now available to Airmen and civilians across the command’s eight bases. The move is part of a broader push to treat mental performance with the same priority as physical readiness and hardware modernization.

“No different than investing in modernization efforts for weapon systems, such as the B-21 Raider, Sentinel ICBM program, and the new fleet of Grey Wolf helicopters, Global Strike senior leadership recognizes the importance of modernizing how they advance their most important asset: Global Strike Airmen,” said Col. Erich Schroeder, AFGSC command surgeon.

Developed with Lumena Inc., MindGym places participants in a 7-by-7-foot reflective cube featuring subdued lighting, calming audio, and guided exercises. Users wear an EEG headband that tracks brain activity to provide feedback on areas like task management, mental clarity, and relaxation. The command describes the experience as noninvasive and tightly controlled, aimed at sharpening focus, speeding reaction time, and improving decision-making under pressure.

According to AFGSC, the system is open to all ranks and job specialties, whether stationed on the flightline or in the missile fields. The command says the platform does not collect specific military identifiers such as rank, unit, or Air Force Specialty Code. Officials liken the resource to the practice audio available for the 20-meter shuttle run used in physical fitness testing—an optional tool intended to help personnel prepare before formal assessments.

AFGSC frames MindGym as one element of a wider readiness strategy that pairs physical fitness with mental skills training. “MindGym is another example of how Global Strike Command directly invests in our Airmen,” said Col. Nekitha Little, director of AFGSC’s Manpower & Personnel (A1) Directorate. “Striker Airmen are fundamental to mission success. Wellbeing is vital to ensuring that Strikers are always ready to provide long-range precision strike, anytime and anywhere.”