A Combat Systems Officer ( CSO ) is a flight member of an aircrew in the United States Air Force and is the mission commander in many multi-crew aircraft. The combat systems officer manages the mission and integrates systems and crew with the aircraft commander to collectively achieve and maintain situational awareness and mission effectiveness. CSOs are trained in piloting, navigation, the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, and are experts in weapon system employment on their specific airframe. Aircrew responsibilities include mission planning, mission timing, weapons targeting and employment, threat reactions, aircraft communications, and hazard avoidance.
41-475: In 2006, USAF undergraduate CSOs began attending Initial Flight Training (IFT), a civilian contracted flight training operation under Air Education and Training Command ( AETC ) auspices, with their USAF undergraduate pilot counterparts at Pueblo Memorial Airport , Colorado, a program that replaced the previous Pilot Indoctrination Program (PIP) at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA),
82-692: A USAF-wide professional publication. The 323 FTW also conducted operational test and evaluation of the T-43A aircraft from 1 August 1973 – 31 October 1973 and began conversion from the T-29 to the T-43 shortly afterwards. As the only USAF flight training school teaching air navigation, the wing served not only the active duty USAF, but also the Air National Guard , the Air Force Reserve and friendly foreign nations. With
123-535: A flying training squadrons as result of the 323rd's reactivation: 449th Flying Training Squadron, 450th Flying Training Squadron, 451st Flying Training Squadron, 452d Flying Training Squadron and the 432d Flying Training Squadron. The 323d also operated Mather as the "host" wing for the installation while SAC's 320th Bombardment Wing and the Air Force Reserve 's SAC-gained 940th Air Refueling Group , later 940th Air Refueling Wing, were "tenant" wings. The 323d also had responsibility for publishing Navigator magazine,
164-523: A result of the Korean War . Its personnel and equipment were used as fillers for other units and it was inactivated on 17 March 1951. The wing was reactivated at Bunker Hill Air Force Base , Indiana on 8 August 1955 and assigned to Tactical Air Command 's Ninth Air Force . Initially training with North American F-86Fs, these were quickly upgraded to the North American F-86H Sabre and then to
205-709: Is a preliminary flight training course for U.S. Air Force officers, to include active-duty Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve , and Air National Guard , who have been selected for Pilot training. Attendance consists of both newly commissioned USAF officers (i.e., second lieutenants ) and prior-commissioned USAF officers (e.g., first lieutenants , captains and in very rare instances majors ) with no previous rated flight experience. IFT consolidated three separate programs: These three programs were originally for pilot candidates who did not have at least an FAA Private Pilot Certificate (e.g. current pilots and navigators/combat system operators), and were consolidated into
246-448: Is conducted at a single site and all students are commissioned USAF officers. IFT students must be undergraduate pilot training (UPT) candidates and be medically qualified with a Federal Aviation Administration Class III airman medical certificate and a USAF Flying Class 1 or 1A flight physical, as appropriate. The IFT curriculum is highly structured and very fast-paced. The IFT program began operations on 1 October 2006. Doss Aviation
287-483: Is more versatile and able to adapt to all spectrums of an airframe. Parallel Navigator and WSO training tracks ended in 2009. In 2009, most USAF Navigators still in an operational flying status, or due to rotate back to an operational flying assignment, transitioned to CSO. Under Air Force Instruction 36-402, rated USAF Navigators who do not transition to CSO are not eligible for advanced CSO ratings, e.g. Senior CSO and Master CSO. Those USAF officers on active duty or on
328-668: Is that in 1993, then-LCDR Hire would become the first female assigned to the combat version of the P-3C Orion, and as a CDR and CAPT, would become a NASA mission specialist astronaut, flying the STS-90 mission in 1998 and the STS-130 mission in 2010. On 15 December 1991, the 323d implemented the objective wing concept and the 449th, 450th, 451st, 452d and 432d FTSs were transferred to the new 323d Operations Group, and as well as reorganized into single aircraft type squadrons. All T-43As were assigned to
369-404: The 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) at Randolph AFB until 2009, and those who attended a joint program with the U.S. Navy's Training Air Wing SIX (TRAWING 6) at NAS Pensacola , Florida was in the type of operational USAF aircraft the candidates would later fly: With the establishment of the 479 FTG and UCSOT, the integrated training program with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps at TRAWING 6
410-495: The Eighth and later Ninth Air Force . The wing was first activated as the 323rd Bombardment Wing at Tinker Air Force Base , Oklahoma in June 1949 when Continental Air Command implemented the wing base organization for its reserve units, uniting support organizations and the 323rd Bombardment Group under a single headquarters. The wing was ordered to active duty on 10 March 1951 as
451-545: The Eighth Air Force claimed jurisdiction of Bunker Hill AFB in September 1957. With the turnover of the base from TAC to SAC, the 323rd was phased down and replaced by SAC's 401st Air Base Group on 1 September 1957. The 323d was reactivated as the 323d Flying Training Wing (323 FTW), an Air Training Command (ATC) undergraduate navigator training (UNT) wing at Mather Air Force Base , California on 1 April 1973, replacing
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#1732854931072492-482: The North American F-100A/D Super Sabre in 1956 to become proficient in tactical air operations. Operational squadrons were the 453rd Fighter Bomber Squadron, 454th Fighter Bomber Squadron and 455th Fighter Bomber Squadron. The wing's aircraft wore a band on the tail and around the nose edged with small black checkers. In 1955, Strategic Air Command (SAC) began stationing units at the base and
533-636: The United States Air Forces in Europe . As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time. It was last known to be active from 14 March – 30 April 2008 at Balotești , Romania, serving briefly as the USAF headquarters for a NATO Summit . During World War II , the group's predecessor unit, the 323rd Bombardment Group (Medium) was a Martin B-26 Marauder bombardment group assigned to
574-513: The 323 FTW was inactivated on 1 October 1993. With the wing's inactivation, its mission and most of its T-43 aircraft were reassigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) and the 558th Flying Training Squadron (558 FTS) at Randolph AFB , Texas. Because of the presence of T-37B aircraft at Randolph AFB for T-37 Pilot Instructor Training (PIT), the Mather T-37s were sent to long-term storage at AMARC at Davis–Monthan AFB , Arizona. The Wing
615-501: The 323d. The 323d began training female USAF navigators in March 1977 and female USN Naval Flight Officers (NFO) in 1981. Female USAF instructor navigators followed in the 1983–84 time frame. In 1986, LT Kathryn P. Hire , USN, a former navigator and aircraft mission commander in the RP-3D Orion oceanographic research aircraft, became the first female USN NFO Instructor in the 323 FTW. Of note
656-560: The 3535th Navigator Training Wing which had existed at Mather since 1946. As the sole navigator training wing for the entire Air Force, the wing also conducted advanced training for newly-winged navigators slated for subsequent as navigator-bombardiers and electronic warfare officers in B-52, FB-111, B-1, EF-111 and RC-135 aircraft as well as weapon systems officers in F-4 Wild Weasel variants. The following operational squadrons were redesignated as
697-536: The 445 FTS and T-37Bs to the 455 FTS. On 1 July 1993, following the disestablishment of the Air Training Command , the wing was assigned to the new Air Education and Training Command ( AETC ). Under AETC, the T-43 and T-37 aircraft assigned to the 445th and 455th FTSs were assigned tail codes of "NT", but due to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)-directed closure of Mather AFB on 30 September 1993,
738-515: The 479 FTG at NAS Pensacola. From 1994 until late 2009, a portion of USAF undergraduate navigator training took place at NAS Pensacola, integrated with the US Navy's student naval flight officer program under the aegis of Training Air Wing Six (TRAWING SIX) with USAF instructor navigators embedded in the wing and its squadrons. US Navy Training Squadron 4 (VT-4) and Training Squadron 10 (VT-10) conducted basic and intermediate flight training, initially
779-621: The B-1B and F-15E subsequently received their wings at that location. Concurrent with the move from Mather to Randolph, a parallel student USAF Navigators track was established for those officers desiring to become weapon systems officers (WSOs) in the B-1B and F-15E. These officer students proceeded to the U.S. Navy's Training Air Wing SIX at NAS Pensacola , Florida and followed a training track nearly identical to USN and USMC Student Naval Flight Officers destined for tactical jet aircraft. The separation between CSO candidates previously attending UNT with
820-599: The F-15E Strike Eagle and the B-1B Lancer, as well as several USAF navigator flight instructors, were also fully integrated into these squadrons, with command of one squadron, VT-10, rotating between a USN commander who was a naval flight officer and a USAF lieutenant colonel who was a senior navigator or master navigator. Starting in the summer of 2010, following completion of initial flight screening, all US Air Force CSO students began attending training at NAS Pensacola as
861-517: The Master CSO rating, although an effort is underway to rename the Master CSO designation to Command CSO, standardizing same with their USAF Command Pilot counterparts. CSOs assigned to NASA crewed spaceflight programs are also eligible for CSO- Astronaut insignia at the Senior and Master level based upon their aeronautical rating at the time and completion of at least one spaceflight. The rationale for
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#1732854931072902-714: The Navy's Lockheed P-3 Orion community, were administratively assigned to Naval Air Training Unit Mather (NAVAIRTU Mather) and embedded in the 323 FTW, teaching USAF, USN and NATO/Allied students. Support of the Marine Aerial Navigation School (MANS) for U.S. Marine Corps enlisted KC-130 navigators also began in July 1976 when MANS moved from NAS Corpus Christi to Mather AFB. However, MANS conducted its own navigation training independently. In view of this influx of naval personnel, Naval Air Training Unit Mather (NAVAIRTU Mather)
943-880: The Raytheon T-34C Turbomentor until it was replaced by the T-6 Texan II , followed by training in the Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk and Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner . Training Squadron 86 (VT-86) then conducted advanced training in the T-39 and the Boeing T-45 Goshawk for student naval flight officers of the U.S. Navy , U.S. Marine Corps and numerous NATO /Allied and Coalition partner nations in addition to advanced USAF undergraduate navigator students destined for assignment as weapon systems officers in tactical aircraft. Prior to 2010, these USAF students destined for
984-611: The Reserve Active Status List in the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard who were designated as USAF Navigators prior to 30 Sep 1993, completed Undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT) and received their wings with the 323d Flying Training Wing (323 FTW) at Mather AFB , California. With the BRAC -directed closure of Mather AFB , UNT was transferred to the 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) at Randolph AFB , Texas in late 1993 and all USAF navigators except those destined for
1025-475: The USAF major command (MAJCOM) and Unified Combatant Command level, up to and including commander of MAJCOMs and deputy commander of combatant commands. Although only one USAF navigator who did not subsequently retrain as a USAF pilot has achieved 4-star rank (pay grade O-10) in the entire history of the USAF, several have reached the 3-star (pay grade O-9) level. Citations Bibliography Initial Flight Training Initial Flight Training (IFT)
1066-521: The United States. The 45-acre (180,000 m ) IFT campus is located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Memorial Airport , Pueblo, Colorado. A single-building facility provides all students need, never having to step outside except to access their aircraft: 323d Air Expeditionary Wing The 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to
1107-471: The change in name from "Navigator" to "CSO" was based on the fact that USAF navigators, now known as CSOs, now serve as aircraft mission commanders and command operational combat flying squadrons , as well as operations groups and wings with an operational flying mission in the same manner as their USAF pilot counterparts. USAF navigators/combat systems officers at the general officer level have also begun serving in positions of increasing responsibility at
1148-475: The control of the 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) at Randolph AFB, albeit as a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the 12 FTW. The first CSO class (11-01) under the new syllabus started 5 May 2010, and graduated on 15 April 2011. Upon completion of training, USAF CSOs receive basic CSO wings. At seven years of aeronautically rated service, they become eligible for the Senior CSO rating and at fifteen years
1189-542: The current single civilian contractor-operated program under direct USAF auspices and oversight of the 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW) of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) at Randolph AFB , Texas, and its subordinate 306th Flying Training Group (306 FTG) at the USAF Academy , Colorado. IFT is conducted at Pueblo Memorial Airport , Colorado and is most similar to the former FSPOT for OTS graduates since it
1230-497: The decommissioning of the U.S. Navy 's Training Squadron TWENTY-NINE (VT-29) at NAS Corpus Christi , TX in 1975, the 323 FTW also began training U.S. Navy student Naval Flight Officers destined for land-based naval aircraft, NATO/Allied student naval flight officers under U.S. Navy responsibility also destined for land-based maritime aircraft, and U.S. Coast Guard enlisted navigators for that service's HC-130 aircraft starting in July 1976. Instructor Naval Flight Officers, mostly from
1271-481: The former 323d Flying Training Wing at the former Mather AFB , California, utilizing the Boeing T-43A Bobcat and Cessna T-37 Tweet aircraft. In October 1993, training then shifted to the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB , Texas, continuing at that location through 2009. Prior to its disestablishment at Randolph AFB, the 562d Flying Training Squadron of the 12th Flying Training Wing (12 FTW)
Combat systems officer - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-495: The other aforementioned extant MDS aircraft, as well as the HC-130J, MC-130J and WC-130J currently entering the inventory, continue to retain requirements for CSOs, thus ensuring the continued viability of the CSO career path. Until its inactivation and closure in September 1993 due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action, all USAF undergraduate navigator training (UNT) took place with
1353-565: The previous Flight Instruction Program (FIP) in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), the former Centralized Flight Screening Program for Air Force Officer Training School (AFOTS) graduates (and later USAFA and AFROTC graduates following discontinuation of PIP and FIP) at Hondo Municipal Airport, Texas , and the former Cessna T-41 Mescalero phase in Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) that
1394-651: The support, maintenance, operations and medical personnel. As part of the operation, the 492d and 493rd Fighter Squadrons were assigned to the 404th Air Expeditionary Group , with the 492d deploying to the Câmpia Turzii Air Base in Romania, and the 493rd deploying to the Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Bulgaria. To support the two fighter squadrons, the 712th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron assigned to
1435-420: The training squadrons at Randolph AFB closed down in accordance with the 2005 BRAC Committee findings. CSO students now fall under the 479th Flying Training Group with two training squadrons (451 FTS and 455 FTS), one operations support squadron (479 OSS) and one student squadron (479 STUS). Like the previous navigator training squadrons at Randolph AFB, the 479 FTG and its subordinate squadrons also fall under
1476-648: Was discontinued in the early 1970s. Initial Flight Screening (IFS) has continued as previously established at Pueblo with the transition of USAF Navs to CSOs. CSO training merges three previous USAF Undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT) tracks formerly known as the Navigator track, the Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) track and the Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) track into one coherent training cycle in order to produce an aeronautically rated officer who
1517-462: Was discontinued. However, despite the divergence of USAF CSO training from student naval flight officer (NFO) training, all CSOs for all USAF aircraft model design series (MDS) now receive their training at NAS Pensacola. While some extant USAF MDS aircraft, such as the pure airlift variant of the C-130E are being retired, and the pure airlift version C-130J have eliminated the navigator/CSO position, all
1558-489: Was established in 1976 under the Chief of Naval Air Training. In order to place the Navy organization on par with the 323d commander, a USN Captain or Captain-selectee naval flight officer who had already had been the commanding officer of an operational combat P-3 squadron was placed as the commanding officer of NAVAIRTU Mather, with administrative claimancy over all naval personnel (students, instructors and support staff) assigned to
1599-626: Was provisionally activated at Balotești in Romania from 14 March to 30 April 2008. It supported Operation Noble Endeavor, a Romanian-led mission to police the skies above the NATO summit in Bucharest . The 323d directed the deployment of KC-135 Stratotankers , F-15C and F-15E Strike Eagles , E-3 Sentries , and F-16 Fighting Falcons to locations across eastern Europe, augmenting the Romanian Air Force efforts. The deployment also involved coordinating
1640-601: Was responsible for training inflight navigation with the Raytheon T-1A Jayhawk and Boeing T-43A Bobcat aircraft, while the 563d Flying Training Squadron taught electronic warfare in an academic and simulator environment. The 563d Flying Training Squadron also incorporated the T-43A Bobcat and the T-1A Jayhawk in advanced CSO training. The T-43A has since been retired and all T-1A CSO training aircraft transferred to
1681-638: Was the original contract, but now CAE holds the contract. IFT conducts flight screening for 1,300 to 1,700 USAF officers annually. As the gateway to USAF aviation, IFT provides initial flying training allowing students to successfully transition to the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT), Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT), Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training (UHT), and Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training (UCSOT) at their associated air force bases, naval air stations, or army air field throughout