Doctorate level C-130 tactics course added to Air National Guard base

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Crane
  • 139th Airlift Wing
The adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, Maj. Gen. Steve Danner, announced today that a C-130H Weapons Instructor Course (WIC) will be added to the curriculum at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center (AATTC) here.

A WIC is an Air Force doctorate level course in tactics and leadership. Graduates of the six month course become weapons officers. The word 'weapon' refers to the actual aircraft, in this case the C-130H.

The course is aimed at pilots and navigators of the C-130H model aircraft.

"Graduates...will take key positions in the Guard and Reserve wings around the nation, making our C-130 fleet stronger and more capable," said Danner during a press conference.

The course will be taught by active duty Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Airmen.

The first WIC will begin in February and two courses will be offered per year. Each course will have six students.

Approximately 30 new positions will be added to the AATTC as a result of the WIC.

"The Air Force puts their best of the best in this type of course," said Brig. Gen. Gregory Champagne, assistant adjutant general - air, Missouri National Guard. "To have the WIC here is a big deal for the C-130 community...The capability that the 139th and AATTC have with these tactics experts is what drove the final decision to bring it [WIC] here."

"I want to thank the community of St. Joseph for the outstanding support shown to its hometown Guard, as well as the support shown to our students participating in training at the AATTC from across the Mobility Air Force, including the Active Duty, the Air Reserve Component and our International Partners," said Danner.

The C-130H WIC will be an detachment of the 29th Weapons Squadron based at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., home of the C-130J WIC. The 29th WPS is a geographically separated unit of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

More information on the U.S. Air Force Weapon Instructor School can be found here: http://www.nellis.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=19837