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Weapons
gap breached
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Weapons
instructors Flight Lieutenant Rob Hargrave (front), holding
a Seeker Head for a Sidewinder missile, and Flight Lieutenant
Aaron Downs, holding a cross section of an L1A1 SLR. Photo
by SGT Kevin Berriman
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THE
return of dedicated advanced weaponeering training to the Air Force
has culminated in the graduation of six Advanced Weapons Employment
Course (WEC) members.
The course underwent extensive restructuring and updating in the
past 18 months to include updated Harpoon anti-ship missile weaponeering
programs, Defence Science and Technology Organisation missile simulation
programs and three new modules.
The course, conducted by the School of Air Navigation Weapon Systems
Flight (WSFLT), is the final of three required to attain a full
Weapons Systems Qualification.
It is aimed at senior operational aircrew, engineers and intelligence
members selected to fulfil squadron and wing weaponeering posts.
The first six participants in the restructured course graduated
on November 1. Squadron Leader Adam Sweeney was presented with the
McDonnell Douglas Dux Award.
The three postgraduate weapons courses that are now offered are
Weapons Theory, Weaponeering Basic and Weaponeering Advanced. This
modularisation of the course ensures significant benefits to student
and instructional staff.
WSFLT instructor Flight Lieutenant Brad Machan said that previously
the Weapons Employment Course ran at RAAF East Sale for five weeks,
presenting major problems for squadrons with operational aircrew
flying currency.
“The course restructuring means now only the last two course
modules – Weaponeering Basic and Weaponeering Advanced –
need to be taught at RAAF East Sale,” FLTLT Machan said. “That
means the maximum continuous time a student will be involved in
WEC training is three weeks. This will, in most cases, allow aircrew
to remain operationally current on return to their squadron.”
He said cost benefits arose from these measures, including the ability
to deploy three instructors to a user base, such as Williamtown,
Amberley, Fairbairn or Canungra, rather than having 16 students
travel to East Sale.
These initiatives ensured an up to date, focused and forward looking
series of post-graduate weaponeering courses, he said.
Further details on the course can be obtained via http://defweb.cbr.
defence.gov.au/raafweb/Sites/SAN/ or by contacting FLTLT Machan
on (03) 5146 6472.
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