Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific

Wings of Gold, Spring 2001

CDR Pedersen earned his wings in 1983 following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. He was a flight instructor before transitioning to the F/A-18 in VFA-125. He flew Hornets in VFA-151, then was an adversary pilot in VF-- 45, flying the F-16N, F-5E and A-4E. Next he flew in VFA-- 86, earned a Masters Degree at the Naval War College, graduating with "highest distinction"in 1996. He had a tour of duty at the U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado and returned to flying via the F/A-18 FRS and assignment as XO of SFWSPAC, the Outlaws. He became CO in January 2000. CDR Pederson has logged over 3,500 hours in seven different aircraft. He described SFWSPAC's job as follows:

Our mission, formally stated, is to provide standardized post-graduate level training in strike fighter weapons handling, loading and tactical employment. We normally have 20 officers, 13 aviation ordnancemen and five aviation technicians on board to do the job. A great majority of aviators assigned are TOPGUN graduates. Among other training programs we have custody of and monitor the Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program (SFARP); the Strike Fighter Weapons Employment (SFWE) program; the Strike Fighter Training Program (SFTP), the Advanced Tactical Training Program (ATTP) and the Tactical Electronic Warfare Course (TAC/ EW).

In essence, we take the tactics and accompanying data that NSAWC develops, translate it and deliver it to F/A-18 pilots in fleet squadrons. The tactical world of Naval Aviation is dynamic and changes almost on a continuing basis, primarily because of the introduction of new aerial weapons. The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a classic example. Because of its impressive capabilities, delivery tactics for it are considerably different than those for its predecessors.

Certain tactics are static and don't require modification. Others need a fresh look every couple of months. The fleet - the operators - develop many innovative ideas with respect to tactics just in the normal course of operations. There's an immense amount of talent out there and new concepts and procedures are generated regularly. We welcome these inputs, examine them, convey them to NSAWC and join with NSAWC and our east coast counterparts -- SFWSLANT (F/A-18s) and the Strike Fighter Weapons and Advanced Tactics School (SWATSLANT) (F-14s), both at NAS Oceana, Virginia - in a dialogue to determine the suitability of the proposed tactics. If backed up with good science, we will adopt them for application throughout the fleet.

We give lectures and though we do not have our own aircraft, we fly with the various squadrons as we carry out the prescribed training syllabi. We monitor performance and do whatever we can to help the units maintain or improve their readiness.

Like TOPGUN and NSAWC, we conduct "murder boards" at SFWSPAC, carefully reviewing our training lectures to ensure they're up to speed. We acquire most of our lectures from NSAWC and don't touch any aspects of standardization contained therein. However, we will alter the presentation format a bit.

Our instructors are charged with teaching everyone from the newest nugget to the CO of a squadron. Some flyers are more motivated or more talented than others. But all must meet what we call "the bar," the high standard established as a measure of a Naval Aviator's ability to perform the mission. We adjust the presentations accordingly, so as to "connect" with the average fleet "bubba."

Every F/A-18 and F-14 flyer in the fleet goes through the Strike Fighter Training Program (SFTP), a core program. SFTP is designed to train the individual within the squadron rather than the squadron itself. It is an internal training device for the unit although execution of it is carried out in the fleet with external evaluation by SFWSPAC. The program is a tool for the CO to ensure his squadron measures up.

The squadron, as a unit, is trained by means of the Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program (SFARP, which is synergistic with SFTP. These and the programs delineated above are all part of a training continuum.

This continuum takes aviators from the cradle (the FRS), through their fleet tour. During their tour, aviators undergo four levels of instruction. They complete the FRS (1); become combat section wingmen (2); become combat section leaders (3) and ultimately achieve combat division leader status within their squadrons (4). It takes 24 to 30 months to achieve level four, while levels two and three require six and 18 months, respectively.

We try to make it a seamless progression during which our instructors work with the squadrons, fly with them, advise them and observe their academic and operational performance.

One of the remarkable by-products of the program is the resultant, across-the-board standardization achieved. It is a quantum improvement over what I experienced as a JO 15 years ago. For example, nowadays I could fly in any sea-going AIRPAC Hornet squadron and be a valuable addition to a flight without having to even brief many items. If a pilot's wingman goes down on the flight deck and a spare from another squadron is launched to join him instead, there will be no confusing coordination or loss of effectiveness. Each knows what the other is going to do. It follows that today's JOs are better trained than ever before.