Weapon systems officer A weapon systems officer ( " WSO " , pronounced " wizzo " ) is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of an aircraft . In the United States Navy , they are responsible for manning the weapon systems of a fighter . In the U . S . Air Force and Marine Corps , " WSO " also refers to the aft crew member in the F - 15E Strike Eagle , F / A - 18D Hornet . In the B - 1B Lancer bomber , there are 2 Weapon Systems Officers manning crew positions aft of the pilot and co - pilot . They are known as the Offensive Systems Officer ( OSO ) , and the Defensive Systems Officer ( DSO ) . In the now retired F - 111 Aardvark strike bomber , flown by the US Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force , and EF - 111A Raven airborne jammer flown by the USAF only , the WSO was seated directly to the right of the pilot / aircraft commander . The WSO integrates with the pilot to collectively achieve and maintain crew efficiency , situational awareness and mission effectiveness . In the U . S . Air Force fighter aircraft such as the F - 15E Strike Eagle , the WSO can pilot the aircraft when required although this is typically during non - tactical portions of the mission ( e . g . , returning to base ) . When designated mission commander ( MC ) , the WSO is also responsible for all phases of the assigned mission . In the British Royal Air Force , a WSO ( formerly navigator ) is a commissioned officer that operates aircraft mission systems on the Tornado GR4 amongst other platforms . Non - Commissioned aircrew can serve as a WSOp ( Weapon Systems Operator ) , an umbrella term for the various specialist aircrew responsible for assisting the pilot in operating the mission systems of the aircraft ( e . g . linguists , loadmasters , crewman ) . Overview . WSO mission duties in fighter aircraft were historically rigid because of the displays and controls in the front and aft seats of fighter cockpits . However modern fighter cockpits using programmable multi - function displays allow assigned roles to be more flexible than previous generation aircraft such as the F - 4 Phantom II , A - 6 Intruder , or F - 14 Tomcat . In the latest fighters either aircrew can be responsible for detecting , targeting and engaging air - to - air targets or ground targets , performing communications , operating data - link or defensive systems based on the tactical situation . This provides the flexibility for pilot and WSO roles to be customized based on experience , expertise , workload , tactics , and weapons being employed . The pilot remains responsible for flying the aircraft in tactical situations . WSOs assigned to bomber aircraft typically have more rigidly defined roles . Training . Currently all USN WSOs are trained at various locations in the country but all SNFOs ( Student Naval Flight Officers ) start training at NAS Pensacola , Florida . Training begins with Introductory Flight Screening where the WSO flies a Cessna 172 to show he / she is competent enough in aviation to continue the rigorous training ahead . Then the SNFO starts the U . S . Navy indoctrination course called Aviation Preflight Indoctrination ( API ) . After six weeks of ground school and basic water survival training during API , SWSOs ( Student WSOs ) check into the Training Squadron , VT - 10 Wildcats for Primary and Intermediate training . Primary . Training begins with several weeks of ground school followed by remnants of the " super - fo " program from the U . S . Navy where the SWSO takes front seat of the new T - 6 Texan II for six " contact " flights where the student will become familiar with the T - 6 and general aviation . The SWSO is treated like a pilot training student for these six flights . After Contacts , the SWSO goes back to academics to learn instrument flying rules . Primary ends with a final instrument checkride . After primary the SWSO is compared to his shipmates and selected for tail hook ( Aircraft carrier based platforms that have WSOs which are ; the E - 2 , E / A - 6B , E / A - 18G or F / A - 18F ) . Intermediate . Intermediate picks up where Primary ends for USAF SWSOs . After the instrument phase of training , students move to visual navigation ( VNAV ) " low levels " at 2000 ' AGL , and finish in the T - 6 with a final training block called " forms " ( formation flying ) . Forms consist of four flights of learning the basics of close in formation flying . After forms , SWSOs head back to ground school to learn an entirely new aircraft , the USN T - 39 Sabreliner . The T - 39 is used as an intermediate instrument and low - level trainer for SWSOs , where they receive a total of eight flights . Students are required to learn the aircraft in a two - week ground school period before they go flight side . In contrast , T - 6 ground school is four weeks . Training ends at either VT - 10 or VT - 4 with the " i - grad " ceremony and top graduate award . Advanced . VT - 86 is where all the training comes together to culminate in the SWSO receiving his or her wings of gold . In the T - 39 , a USN twin - engine jet trainer , SWSOs learn advanced instrument flying , radar navigation ( consisting of navigating using an A / G radar from early F - 16s ) , and composite visual / radar navigation . Training takes place on both VR and IR routes that criss - cross the south east United States . After A / G training , track selection takes place . SWSOs select either the F / A - 18 Superhornet , or the E / A - 18 Growler . The final three months of some of the hardest training at Pensacola will leave the SWSO F / A - 18 selectee with their wings of gold . Air force WSO ' s no longer train at VT - 86 . Graduate training . Following the winging ceremony , WSOs complete several training courses to prepare them for the combat Air Force . Parachuting water survival All USAF aviators with parachutes on the aircraft attend this three - day course at NAS Pensacola , Florida . During the course , WSOs learn the basics of surviving an aircraft ejection over water , obtaining food and drinkable water when stranded at sea , combat evasion at sea , and how to be successfully rescued by boat or helicopter . Centrifuge training This one - day course located at Brooks City - Base , San Antonio , Texas , tests WSOs selected for the F - 15E in their ability to withstand the g - forces routinely experienced by fighter aircrew . SERE The Survival , Evasion , Resistance and Escape ( SERE ) training course trains all USAF aircrew basic survival skills , combat evasion , and techniques to resist exploitation if captured . WSOs also learn how to survive an aircraft ejection over land . The three - week course is taught at Fairchild Air Force Base , Washington and the surrounding areas . IFF WSOs selected for the F - 15E learn basic fighter maneuvers ( BFM ) and surface attack in the T - 38C at Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals ( IFF ) . WSOs complete this training at either the 435th Fighter Training Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas or the 49th Fighter Training Squadron at Columbus Air Force Base , Mississippi . WSOs also learn about the culture of being a young aircrew member in a USAF fighter squadron . The course lasts approximately eight weeks . EWO SWSOs selected for the B - 1B , EA - 6B Prowler , B - 52H , and some F - 15E selectees will become electronic warfare officers ( EWOs ) by attending this 12 - week training program at the 563rd Flying Training Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base , Texas . Students learn the basics of radar theory , electronic attack , and electronic defense .