Hoyt S. Vandenberg award presented to U.S. Air Force Weapons School

(From left to right) Edward Garland, Air Force Association vice president for aerospace education, presents Col. Robert A. Garland Jr., U.S. Air Force Weapons School commandant, Maj. John M. Hale, 57th Weapons Support Squadron, director of operations and Gen. Mike Hostage, Air Combat Command commander, the Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award for the most outstanding contributions to national defense in the field of education or training here Sept. 17 at the Air Force Association’s Air and Space and Technology Exposition. The USAFWS teaches 24 ACC approved weapons instructor courses in 30 combat platforms and specialties graduating 180 to 200 weapons officers every year. The school was recognized for establishing a squadron to strengthen the nation’s nuclear enterprise, as well as for adding classing concerning cyber operations, joint terminal air controller advanced instructor course and advanced enlisted mission planning course. The school’s Joint Forcible Entry Exercise helped to validate joint doctrine, and the semiannual Mission Employment phase provided aircrew from more than 100 aircraft training on advanced combat scenarios covering a range of contingency operations from low-intensity conflict through major theater operations. (AFA photo by Brittany Gray)