Future Weapons School students participate in WIC Rage

U.S. Air Force Capt. David Ince, 40th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, participates in the Weapons Instructor Course Rage flight over Big Ben National Park, Texas, Dec. 5, 2017. WIC Rage is a voluntary exercise that gives weapons officers the opportunity to gain extra experience before they go to Weapons Instructor School. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylee Thomas)

Future Weapons School students participate in WIC Rage

U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules prepares for takeoff at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 5, 2017. This C-130 was one of four aircrafts that participated in the low level mountain flight as part of the Weapons Instructor Course Rage exercise. There were two C-130s from Little Rock AFB, Arkansas and two other from Dyess. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylee Thomas)

Future Weapons School students participate in WIC Rage

U.S. Air Force Capt. David Ince, 40th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot, controls the plane while maneuvering through mountains of Big Ben National Park, Texas, Dec. 5, 2017. The flight was conducted during the Weapons Instructor Course Rage exercise where weapons officers practiced flying low enough to go under the radar of potential enemies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylee Thomas)

Future Weapons School students participate in WIC Rage

U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules follows three other C-130s while flying over Big Ben National Park, Texas, Dec. 5, 2017. The planes flew approximately one hour to the Big Ben Mountains where they conducted a low level flight as part of the Weapons Instructor Course Rage exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kylee Thomas)

Future Weapons School students participate in WIC Rage

Published Dec. 8, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Kylee Thomas
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

The Weapons Instructor Course Rage is an exercise that gives weapons officer pilots a chance to push the limits of their training and test their capabilities with the opportunity to work with a highly talented aircrew who dedicate their time to making everything happen.

“WIC Rage is an exercise in which weapons officers who have already been through U.S. Air Force Weapons School volunteer to guide future students and prepare them for what they’re about to experience,” said Major Austin Rust, 40th Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations.

The exercise consists of multiple pilots from the 40th AS who volunteered to help train as well as various pilots from Dyess AFB and Little Rock AFB, Arkansas.

“Everyone who is participating in WIC Rage is either an instructor who is getting ready to go through weapons school or someone who hopes to go in the future,” said Rust. “As weapons officers, we’re able to give the participants expertise, mentor them and give them any sort of leadership skills they may need in order to succeed.

Those who volunteered to help run the exercise have spent large amounts of their time planning and executing the events to ensure the personnel participating would be able to get the most out of their experience.

“For this particular exercise, the planning process took about a month and a half to develop the tactics and objectives, as well as to coordinate the logistics of the other units participating in this exercise with us,” said Rust.

The students that participated in the exercise were able to gain knowledge that can be used at the USAFWS. WIC Rage also gives them an advantage over other future students who do not participate in the exercise because they gain firsthand experience with pilots who have already gone through the course.

“This is the first time I’ve ever experienced something like this and the learning curve is incredible and you learn a lot about how to work with other people,” explained Captain Brogan O’Toole, C-130J Super Hercules Pilot at Little Rock AFB. “I couldn’t imagine going into the weapons school program without having been able to see this before.”

Overall, the exercise is for anyone looking to improve their skills as a pilot before entering USAFWS. The pilots that have participated in the exercise also have the advantage of getting to know and work with each other before they start the course.

“I’m very appreciative for how many volunteers that were there and were focused on my learning,” said O’Toole. “I would recommend this exercise to anyone looking to join the course because it’s very limited.”