Tactical first
Graduation from Marine Corps instructor course

FLTLT Simon Wildermuth, an air defence officer, on the US Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in Arizona. The seven-week course is the premier aviation course run by the USMC.

FOR the first time, a RAAF officer has graduated from the US Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course.

FLTLT Simon Wildermuth, an Air Defence Officer assigned to the USAF 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, graduated from the WTI 1-05 on October 23.

The seven-week WTI course is the premier aviation course run by the USMC. It includes theory and practical instruction in aviation weapons and tactics, threat analysis, combat mission planning, functions of Marine aviation, training management and instructional techniques.

The main aim of the course is to produce leaders capable of integrating all functions of Marine aviation to promote mission success.

During the course, FLTLT Wildermuth studied and planned alongside US Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy aircrew. The course also integrated US personnel from all elements of the Marine command, control and communications arena as well as Marine and US Army air defence assets.

It was supported by USMC F-5 aggressors, USN Super Hornets, USAF F-16s and F-15s as well as US and NATO E-3 AWACS.

“The course provides excellent training in how to plan and integrate aviation forces in support of ground forces. The knowledge and experience I have gained here with the Marines will be more and more applicable as the E-3 community moves towards the close air support and time-sensitive-targeting roles,” FLTLT Wildermuth said on graduation.

“When I return to Australia it will assist us as an Air Force to operate more effectively in support of ground operations. It’s certainly a task I think will be crucial in the employment of Wedgetail in the future.

“The staff here are all combat-proven professionals who are experts, both in their field and within Marine aviation as a whole, and it was great to have the benefit of their experience, advice and techniques.”

The flying phase of the course culminated in an exercise for which the students had to plan and execute a three-day integrated air operation involving a battalion insertion, assault support, offensive air support, anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, air reconnaissance and the integration of a robust command and control system.

FLTLT Wildermuth will return as a WTI to his USAF squadron located at Tinker AFB and will also pass on his skills and knowledge on his return to Australia to No. 2 Squadron as part of the Wedgetail AEW&C program.

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