Air Force

For you fans of the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, here’s a fantastic look at what makes the Hawg such a unique and highly sought-after asset in theater. A good friend of mine once told me of a mission he flew in Afghanistan, where the JTAC embedded with a SOF unit got on the radio […]

“Say again your position?!” The WARLORD flight lead was getting frustrated because the radio on the ground would pop and hiss at inopportune moments, drowning out critical information the JTAC was trying to pass. “I need ordnance NOW!” the JTAC yelled into his radio mic. “Look for our tracers!” “Looking.” The technique Oiler had used with […]

Once the coordinates were received, the two A-10s immediately pointed at the location, pressing toward it as fast as they could. Oiler’s jet was a bit of a pig, so he was trailing his wingman by a distance of almost eight miles. The throttles were at the stops, demanding as many knots as the airplane would […]

“The United States Air Force will be a trusted and reliable joint partner with our sister services known for integrity in all of our activities, including supporting the joint mission first and foremost. We will provide compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders. We will excel as stewards of all […]

Under the callsign of “MIG One-One,” Lieutenant Colonel Cameron “Glover” Dadgar leads a two-ship of Lockheed-Martin F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 64th Aggressor Squadron into the evening sky. Part of the 57th Adversary Tactics Group,  the 64 AGRS participates in “Red Flag” and Canadian Forces “Maple Flag” exercises, provides the U.S. Air Force Weapons School with […]

When it comes to travel, there is an old adage that says, “Getting there is half the fun!” I considered those words and applied them to the context of my present situation, arriving at a very grim truth: the old adage is a steaming pile of crap! Whoever coined the phrase had obviously never been […]

In air-to-air combat, getting a missile off the rail is infinitely more complex than starting your car. The weapon needs to actually come off of the pylon, the rocket motor needs to ignite, and then it needs to successfully guide to the target. Ever had your car not start? Remember how frustrating that is? Needless to say, missiles don’t […]

Building and teaching is the standard for any institution of higher learning, and like any tactical course, there is a phenomenal amount of information to be assimilated through the hours of classroom learning, mission planning, briefs, and debriefs. But not to be underscored in the forging of a weapons officer are the installation of characteristics […]

Captain Joshua Arki graduated from the U.S. Air Force academy in 2004. He went straight to pilot training and earned himself a fighter slot, his initial assignment being F-16s with the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. His follow-on assignment took him across the world to Osan Air Base in the […]

How is a U.S. Air Force Weapons School candidate chosen? What kind of person winds up on the career path placing them at Nellis Air Force Base for six months?

Jet pilots never plan to get in a dogfight—it is more survivable and cheaper (think gas) to pick the enemy off well outside of visual range—but as Paco alludes to, there are plenty of reasons why even the most advanced fighters may find themselves mixing it up in the phone booth. And if you need […]

Over the course of five and a half months, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School makes its students the very best mission commanders in their particular disciplines, and ultimately they are finely honed into leaders of airmen. The curriculum provides them with the opportunities to lead, but ultimately they are taught the techniques and personal […]