Seymour Johnson enhances USAF Weapons School capability

by Staff Sgt. Michael Charles
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

11/7/2014 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.  -- Airmen and aircraft assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, recently returned home from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where they were tasked with enhancing the F-15E Strike Eagle capability for the U.S. Air Force Weapons School.

The 335th Fighter Squadron deployed to Nellis AFB from Oct. 11 through Nov. 1 to provide additional air support for the students attending the Weapons School's Weapons Instructor Course.

The squadron helped augment Nellis AFB's 64th Aggressor Squadron's red air forces, the simulated adversary forces, for those participating in the school's Weapons Instructor Course.

"We provide our students advanced scenarios that replicate the toughest tactical problems our graduates and their units may face," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Haynes, USAFWS deputy commandant.  "As part of this training, adversary air is absolutely vital to ensuring a challenging enemy presentation for our students. The members of the 335th FS have been instrumental in helping enhance that training."

The WIC trains weapons officers who will go on to serve as Air Force advisors to military and civilian leaders at all levels of government. The six-month course teaches Airmen to become tactical experts and leaders skilled in the art of integrated battle-space dominance across the land, air, space and cyber domains. During its six-month curriculum, members plan, coordinate and execute various missions on Nellis' 2.8 million acre Nevada Test and Training Range, all the while encountering simulated treats and enemy forces.

"The Weapons School has a mantra," Haynes said. "We build, teach and lead future weapons officers to be humble, approachable, and credible. Upon completion, every Weapons School graduate is immediately charged with providing tactical expertise, integrated experience and unvarnished advice across the joint force. To do that, we must provide our students a challenging syllabus and an authentic simulation of an adversary force."

While the 64th AGRS already contains an F-15 capability, due to the recent deactivation of its sister squadron, the predominantly F-15Cs operated 65th Aggressor Squadron, Weapons School officials began reaching out to various F-15 units to help enhance their training.

"Having the Seymour Johnson operators and aircraft here is critical to achieving our Weapons School advanced training objectives," said Col. Adrian Spain, USAFWS commandant. "It is particularly necessary because we're losing our red air capacity, capable of replicating a high-end adversary, with the stand down of the 65th AGRS and the accompanying loss of those F-15C aircraft."

According to Maj. Lucas Teel, 335th FS director of operations, it was important for those deploying to support the Weapons School to immerse themselves in their role as an adversary force so they can  help provide the best possible training for the future Air Force weapons officers.

"In the adversary role, our job was to study and accurately replicate specific, high-end threats that may be used against our allied forces for any potential conflict in the future," said Teel. "We are helping provide some of the best, most challenging and realistic scenarios available to Airmen. It's really a great opportunity to broaden our aircrew's experience."

During their trip, the 335th FS weapons officers also had the opportunity to integrate with the current WIC class' blue air forces, the friendly forces. By doing so, they were able to fly alongside those currently undertaking the curriculum were able to offer an operational Air Force perspective on accomplishing their assigned objectives.

Haynes expressed the need and importance of the school and the weapons officers it produces.

"Weapons officers are the seed of excellence," Haynes said. "Our school's graduates go on to foster the growth of tactical expertise in their squadrons, groups, wing, and ultimately the Air Force and joint force. Every six months, we graduate a class and replenish this seed. This continual process ensures weapons officers mitigate the risk of rationed readiness. We're fortunate to have squadrons Air Force-wide that can help this process because it's vital to our national security."