77th WPS participates in rare training Published June 6, 2012 By Senior Airman Robert Hicks 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 77th Weapons School recently returned from San Clemente Island, Calif., where they successfully dropped 26 of 26 mines during the specialized employment phase of the weapons school course. The specialized employment phase, previously known as weapons officer training, gives instructors a chance to test students with an overall objective rather than a specific scenario or threat. "The purpose of the training is to validate and test our tactics on how effectively we can employ the mines, as well as test the Navy's ability to build them correctly and the 7th Munitions Squadron's ability to load them correctly," said Capt. Andrew Stimpson, 77th WPS student. A B-1 carries more 2,000-pound mines than most of the platforms in the Air Force and the most 500-pound mines, so a B-1 Bomber could be the platform called upon to deliver the blow if the need ever arises. "Dropping mines is something in our operational capabilities and something the Navy expects the Air Force to be able to do if they ever need to deny an area to be used by a threat, such as surface ships and submarines," said Capt. Nick Brooks, 77th WPS student. For the mines to work properly there are certain things we have to concern ourselves with, such as how we release it, airspeed, altitude and the impact angle it hits the water. If it's out of parameter, then the mine won't function, Brooks said. "The 77th WPS goal for our students was to integrate with the Navy and develop maritime tactics for any potential future war," said Maj. Matt McKinney, 77th WPS assistant director of operations. "We wanted our students to have tactical experience in this specialized employment to ultimately return to their future squadrons to build, teach and lead other B-1 aircrews in executing mining operations."