Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Weapons School: Multi-domain integration since 1996Published June 24, 2019
                    
                    By Rebekah Mattes
                    
                    
                    57th Wing Public Affairs
            **NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) --**The purpose of Weapons School Integration — the capstone event for each class of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School Weapons Instructor Course — hasn’t changed much over the years, but the capabilities, platforms and domains involved have changed.A leader in tactics, techniques and procedures development, the USAFWS has focused on integrating combat capabilities across domains since 1996 when the school’s Space Division was established. The division structure was dissolved in 2003 but integrating space operations as part of the USAFWS syllabus continued under the 328th Weapons Squadron, which graduates about 20 weapons instructors each year.“The Weapons School recognizes and understands that our adversaries are building threats to space systems and that the total force has to be prepared to confront those challenges,” said Maj. Mark Crimm, USAFWS chief of space integration. “And so, to tackle those challenges, the USAFWS commandant’s office of integration ensures Weapons School Integration (WSINT) missions address impacts for every Air Force doctrinal mission, including satellite and space operations.”While space operations are integrated across WSINT missions, space takes front and center during Operation Skytrain. “Operation Skytrain, a strategic attack and space operations scenario, is the only mission during WSINT not led by aircrew,” Crimm said. “Instead, because protection of space assets is the primary goal of the mission, it’s led by a space operator.” In the scenario, adversary weapons pose a threat to U.S. assets in space. The defense of these vital national assets requires the integration of air, space, ground and cyberspace capabilities, according to Capt. Marcus Fairchild, 328th WPS student and lead planner for the most recent WSINT Operation Skytrain phase. “I’m an effects-based planner, so I know I need certain threats gone so we can protect our assets in space,” Fairchild said.  “I, along with my deputy who’s a pilot, lead the planning and execution of the mission to mitigate threats to space assets while keeping our aircraft in the best possible position for success and survivability.”The planning process is similar to traditional mission sets. What differs is “the timing and tempo of the operation is built around when space operators are able to perform the maneuvers needed to keep satellites defended,” Fairchild said. “Integration between space and air domains isn’t new,” he said. “Downrange all of our space effects were timed and synchronized with what our airborne assets were doing. I learned how to integrate downrange when it really mattered and I get to practice it here in a much bigger bubble.”According to Fairchild, the insight he has gained into the capabilities of other platforms is what makes the training provided by the Weapons School so significant. With squadrons dedicated to intelligence, cyberspace operations, electronic attack and command and control, the weapons school ensures their graduates are prepared to leverage their platforms and expertise for maximum effect in virtually any combat scenario.“The weapons school teaches you to talk multiple operational languages so this isn’t something I could have done six months ago,” said Fairchild, who deployed to Afghanistan in support of the 21st Space Wing prior to starting weapons school.“Before I didn’t necessarily have an awareness of what others were doing and why,” Fairchild said. “I didn’t have a true understanding of what the platforms I was working with were capable of. After coming through the weapons school, I now know the resources, the people and what their platforms can do and the best way that space integrates into those plans. The same would be true for any graduate.”AFWN 



nellis afb 



Weapons School Integration 



Weapons Instructor Course 



USAFWS 



training 



education 



AF 



Air Force 



Air Force Space Command 



space 



integration 



weapons instructor Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil