USAF Weapons School

The U.S. Air Force Weapons School trains tactical experts and leaders to control and exploit air, space and cyber on behalf of the joint force. Every six months, the school graduates approximately 100 Weapons Officers and enlisted specialists who are tactical system experts, weapons instructors and leaders of Airmen.

Weapons Officers serve as advisors to military leaders at all levels, both those in uniform or civilian government positions. Weapons Officers are the instructors of the Air Force's instructors and the service's institutional reservoir of tactical and operational knowledge. Taking the mantra, "humble, approachable and credible" as their creed, they form a fraternity of trusted advisors and problem-solvers that leads the force and enables it to integrate its combat power seamlessly alongside those of other military services.

In addition, the Weapons School provides academic and advisory support to numerous units, enhancing air combat training for thousands of Airmen from the Air Force, Department of Defense and U.S. allied services each year.

  • USMC supports USAFWS in producing expert weapons instructors

    A U.S. Marine assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Camp Pendleton, California, watches as a USMC helicopter takes off in support of the 66th Weapons Squadron Weapons Instructor Course (WIC) at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Aug. 20, 2020. The WIC teaches instructors to become

  • Hidden heroes: AFE equips USAFWS

    A pilot’s final option in the case of an emergency is to eject. The split second following that ejection and the canopy flying off is the difference between life and death. The pilot is launched out of the cockpit at more than 10 times their own weight and attention to detail is all that separates

  • USAF Weapons School continues to innovate air superiority

    Covid-19 has created a new normal and everyday life is now categorized as either essential or non-essential. Unfortunately for the adversaries of the United States, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS) located on Nellis Air Force Base remains essential, delivering training to the warfighters

  • USAFWS Fact Sheet

WSINT

U.S. Air Force Weapons School Integration (WSINT) is a series of complex, large-force employment missions that serve as the capstone portion of Weapons School classes. WSINT involves the planning and execution of every aspect of air, space and cyber combat operations, with joint force components, converging over the Nevada Test and Training Range.

WSINT demonstrates the strategic advantage of multi-domain, integrated command and control and produces leaders capable of delivering success in a spectrum, ranging from small tactical teams to strategic transformational change.

Training during WSINT follows lines of operations designed to support U.S. Air Force doctrinal missions. Currently, those lines of operations and missions sets include:

Operation MOJAVE SHIELD – Defensive counterair – Integrate air and missile defense to deter and defeat an adversary.

Operation INSTANT THUNDER – Offensive counterair – Gain freedom of maneuver throughout a joint operations area.

Operation CROSSBOW – Offensive counterair/dynamic targeting – Neutralize an adversary’s surface-to-surface missiles, weapons of mass destruction, and power projection capabilities.

Operation LUMBERJACK – Counterland – Conduct theater interdiction, strike coordination and reconnaissance, and close air support to break an adversary’s will/capacity for resistance.

Operation COYOTE FREEDOM – Air Mobility Support/irregular warfare/special operations – Seize key facilities in the joint operations area and set stage for decisive operations.

Operation SKYTRAIN – Strategic attack/space and cyber operations/special operations – Employ special operations forces and strategic attack assets to shape the battlespace and neutralize centers of gravity. 

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United States Air Force Weapons School celebrates 75 years of advanced training

U.S. Air Force Col. Charles Fallon, commandant of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, delivers a speech for the school’s 75th anniversary dedication ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, May 17, 2024. Over 500 Weapons School alumni attended the 75th anniversary weekend, celebrating its heritage and legacy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brianna Vetro)
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USAFWS Holiday Party

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jared Pietras, Senior Enlisted leader of the United States Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS), dresses up as Santa Clause and ziplines down an HH-60W at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 9, 2023. This performance was dedicated to USAFWS Airmen and their families for a holiday party to build morale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan)
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USAFWS Holiday Party

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jared Pietras, Senior Enlisted leader of the United States Air Force Weapons School, dresses up as Santa Clause and runs across the taxiway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 9, 2023. Pietras previously held the position as squadron superintendent of the 66th weapons squadron, where he was an integral member in the development of the first enlisted weapons school. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan)
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USAFWS Holiday Party

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jared Pietras, Senior Enlisted leader of the United States Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS), dresses up as Santa Clause and reprimands Lt. Col. Adam Clift, the Grinch, for trying to steal the sack of presents at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 9, 2023. This performance was dedicated to USAFWS Airmen and their families for a holiday party and to build morale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan)
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USAFWS Holiday Party

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Adam Clift dresses as the Grinch and greets children of the United States Air Force Weapons School’s unit members at a holiday party at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 9, 2023. The party was hosted as a means to build and strengthen morale between the weapons school and its Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan)
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USAFWS Holiday Party

A young girl tells U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jared Pietras, Senior Enlisted leader of the United States Air Force Weapons School dressed as Santa Clause, her Christmas wish list at the United States Air Force Weapons School (USAFWS) children’s holiday party at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 9, 2023. The party was hosted to build and strengthen morale between the USAFWS and Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Tan)
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EA-18G Growler

A U.S. Navy EA-18G aircraft assigned to Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, takes off during a U.S. Air Force Weapons School Integration (WSINT) exercise at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Nov. 21, 2022. The U.S. Air Force Weapons School provides academic and advisory support to numerous units, enhancing air combat training for Airmen from the Air Force, Department of Defense and U.S. allied services each year. (U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis)
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191013-F-DN281-0001

An F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet assigned to the 17th Weapons Squadron sits on the flight line on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Oct. 13, 2019. The Weapons School consists of 19 weapons squadrons entailing a multitude of different aircraft from across the country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Bryan Guthrie)
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F-15C Eagle Weapons School sunsets at Nellis

An F-15 from the 433rd Weapons Squadron approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 509th Weapons Squadron to refuel during Weapons School Integration over the Nevada Test and Training Range Dec. 8, 2021. WSINT is a capstone exercise during the Weapons Instructor Course where undergraduates integrate in defensive counter air sorties.
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F-15C Eagle Weapons School sunsets at Nellis

An F-15 flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range during its final defensive counter air vul as part of Weapons School Integration 21-B at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 8, 2021. As the Air Force continues to modernize, this class marks the final F-15C Weapons Instructor Course to be taught at the United States Air Force Weapons School.
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F-15C Eagle Weapons School sunsets at Nellis

United States Air Force Weapons School instructors and students, including Maj. Michael Tope and Maj. Rodolfo Cruz (center) walk toward the hangar following a defensive combat air vul at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 8, 2021. This flight marked the final flight for the F-15C Weapons Instructor Course.
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F-15C Eagle Weapons School sunsets at Nellis

Students and instructors from the last F-15C Weapons Instructor Course at the United States Air Force Weapons School pose for a photo after making their final flight as a class at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 8, 2021. As the final graduates, the students received more instruction on critical thinking to prepare them for their roles in the Combat Air Force.
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F-15C Eagle Weapons School sunsets at Nellis

A maintainer removes the chocks from an F-15C Eagle as it prepares to take off to conduct its final defensive counter air vul during Weapons School Integration 21-B at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 8, 2021. Maintainers have kept the F-15C Eagle flying since 1978.
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F-15C Eagle Weapons School sunsets at Nellis

An F-15C Eagle takes off to conduct its final defensive counter air vul during Weapons School Integration 21-B at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 8, 2021. As the Air Force continues to modernize, this class marks the final F-15C Weapons Instructor Course to be taught at the United States Air Force Weapons School.
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C-130 pilots conduct Joint Forcible Entry training

Several C-130s fly in formation during a training exercise for class 21A Weapons Instructor Course at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, June 5, 2021. Both C-130H and C-130J models were launched and conducted combat aerial support after months of training and plaining from the pilot students. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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C-130 pilots train at Nellis

Capt. Shawn Riley, 29th WPS C-130J pilot, conducts in-flight operation as the lead aircraft of the formation for class 21A Weapons Instructor Course over the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada, June 5, 2021. Students from the 21A WSINT class spent over five and half months preparing and learning how to conduct large-scale aerial operations to provide air supremacy for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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C-130 takes off for JFE

A C-130J takes off to begin a training exercise for class 21A Weapons Instructor Course at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, June 5, 2021. Over 25 C-130 variants participated in an evasive and strategic combat aerial operation exercise piloted by 29th Weapons Squadron students. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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C-130 pilots conduct Joint Forcible Entry training

Dozens of C-130 pilots from the Air Mobility Command are briefed on the daily mission during their class 21A Weapons Instructor Course culmination exercise at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, June 5, 2021. After several months of training, pilots were given the chance to coordinate and execute combat operations with over 25 airframes to include F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Strike Eagles, C-17’s Globemasters and aerial support airframes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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C-130 pilots conduct Joint Forcible Entry training

A C-130J is parked on the runway and prepared for take-off during a training exercise for class 21A Weapons Instructor Course at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, June 5, 2021. Both C-130H and C-130J models were launched and conducted combat aerial support after months of training and planning from the pilot students. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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C-130 pilots conduct Joint Forcible Entry training

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Casey Tabb, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, stands in front of dozens of C-130 airframes prior to their take-off for a class 21A Weapons Instructor Course culmination exercise at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, June 5, 2021. Air Force crew chiefs are integral to the flying mission, ensuring safety and optimal performance for pilots and aircrews’ missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
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