77th Weapons Squadron, Dyess Airmen, train at Nellis AFB

A U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer assigned to the 77th Weapons Squadron departs for a training mission during the integrated tactics phase of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School Nov. 3, 2011, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 77th Weapons Squadron, part of the U.S.A.F.W.S., provides instructional flying and tactics training for students piloting the B-1 Lancer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brett Clashman/Released)

77th Weapons Squadron, Dyess Airmen, train at Nellis AFB

A 3-ship of U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancers assigned to the 77th Weapons Squadron sit on the Nellis Air Force Base flightline during the integrated tactics phase of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School Nov. 3, 2011, at Nellis AFB, Nev. The 77th Weapons Squadron, part of the U.S.A.F.W.S., provides instructional flying and tactics training for students piloting the B-1 Lancer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brett Clashman/Released)

77th Weapons Squadron, Dyess Airmen, train at Nellis AFB

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryan Wagoner, 7th Aircraft Squadron crew chief, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, folds a safety vest after marshalling a B-1 Lancer during the integrated tactics phase of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School Nov. 3, 2011, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 77th Weapons Squadron, part of the U.S.A.F.W.S., provides instructional flying and tactics training for students piloting the B-1 Lancer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brett Clashman/Released)

77 WPS students endure Integrated Tactics

Published Nov. 15, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Charles V. Rivezzo
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 77th Weapons Squadron recently returned from Nellis AFB, Nev., where they spent two-and-one-half weeks conducting the Integrated Tactics phase of the weapons school course.

Students had the unique opportunity to interact with several different aircraft and aircrews to include: a B-52 Stratofortress, F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, an E-3 Sentry, an E-8 J-STAR, an EA-18G Growler as well as many more.

Arguably, one of the toughest phases of the weapons school course, the IT phase, pushed the students to the edge of their abilities.

"The sole purpose of this phase was to teach students how to properly integrate an array of aircraft into one specific mission," said Capt. Michael Griffith, 77th Weapons Squadron instructor. "What makes this phase so difficult for students is the limited experience they have integrating with other aircraft. If they're lucky, most guys only get this opportunity during red or green flag exercises every few years."

"Integrated Tactics was by far the most difficult phase for me. The learning curve from this phase, to say the least, was steep," laughed Capt. Robert Horstmann, 77th Weapons Squadron student. "We don't usually get the opportunity to integrate with other platforms on the level the IT phase entails."

The experience and knowledge gained from being able to work with other future weapons officers, however, is vital for the Air Force to maintain air superiority.

"More so than the training our guys receive are the relationships they build with the other operators during this training time," Griffith added. "To be able to mission plan, fly and debrief together as a team is crucial for each operator to understand how each platform works and what role they play during battle. The experience gained from the IT phase is irreplaceable."

As challenging as the IT phase is, it is only a prelude to the upcoming Mission Employment phase, which is set to take place at the end of the month.

"The Mission Employment phase is basically the student's final exam," Griffith said. "During the IT phase they learn to integrate with about 20 different aircraft, however, during the ME phase they can expect nearly 80 aircraft to be participating. These students have dedicated the last five months of their lives to one day be a patch-wearer, this phase is all that stands in their way."