'Best of the best': A look inside the 77th Weapons School

  • Published
  • By Airman Charles V. Rivezzo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --   Like a thief, creeping under the cover of nightfall, your senses are heightened and your heart is racing as you cross into enemy airspace. It's not a matter of if you will be seen, but when.

Your palms are sweating and muscles tense. At any moment the spotlights could be on you followed by a barrage of enemy fire.

You are the lead aircraft in a two-ship team of B-1 Bombers, escorted side-by-side by F-16 fighters, choreographed perfectly from years of advanced training.

The mission is simple, evade enemy fire and reach your targets. Like a dance you weave through the air as one cohesive unit, each move carefully planned ahead of time.

As you approach your target, a siren sounds and spotlights begin to fill the air. Your heart skips a beat but you remain cool under pressure. You have trained for this moment since you first received your wings.

The order has been given, destroy the enemy targets. Multiple targets fill the radar screen as the bomb bays open up.

At that moment the aircraft seems to rise slightly as a plethora of weapons free-fall to their final destinations. A flash appears as explosions rip through the sky. Success!

The moments following the raid remain tense as you have not yet cleared enemy airspace. However, you still maneuver in perfect formation with your entourage of elite aviators.

You finally cross into friendly airspace, a sense of relief rushes throughout your adrenaline-filled body. A moment of silence passes. You begin to reflect on the mission as you are filled with a feeling of accomplishment. Endless months of training and preparation for a moment like this, and it was executed flawlessly.

- Introduction inspired by Col. David Been, 7th Bomb Wing commander and 1994 weapons school outstanding graduate.

From start to finish, this mission was orchestrated and executed by a select few of elite operators -- "patch wearers."

Revered by their subordinates and squadron mates, essential to their commanders, feared by enemy troops and necessary to continue the Air Force's dominance of airpower, the patch adorns a graduate's left shoulder and signifies the acceptance into an elite brotherhood.

Training

Located at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, the 77th Weapons School produces only eight B-1 weapons officers a year, making this a small and tight-knit community of aviators.

Led by Lt. Col. Jeffrey 'Hoof' Haynes, the 77th Weapons School is a work-hard, play-hard environment, boasting some of the most experienced and knowledgeable B-1 operators across the Air Force.

"This school houses the absolute best operators the B-1 community has to offer the Air Force," Haynes said. "There is no better training on B-1 tactics than the 77th Weapons School."

Three words are echoed throughout the hallways of this schoolhouse -- "Build, Teach and Lead." These simple words embody what it is to be a weapons officer.

Only two classes are held each year with two pilots and two weapon system officers to each class, making this a select group of individuals.

"We take the best of the B-1 community here at the 77th, and even then, some of these guys still don't make it to the finish," Haynes said. "This course pushes these students to limits they have yet to experience in their respective careers. This is arguably one of the toughest courses the Air Force has offers."

Over the next five months, students will go through more advanced training than any other aircrew member receives. They are required to complete more than 300 hours of academic classes, 15 graded examinations, two flight simulator missions and 20 B-1 sorties, culminating into a two-week long mission employment phase that serves as a final exam.

On average, students arrive at the schoolhouse at 7 a.m. and don't leave until 8 p.m., six days a week.

For the next five months, their entire lives revolve around this course. Even when they leave the schoolhouse, their minds are always churning with different scenarios and new information.

"I used to sleep with a notebook by my bed so in the middle of the night I could take notes on what I was thinking about," laughed Capt. Tim Griffith, 77th Weapons School instructor and 2009 graduate of the course. "During this training, it is extremely difficult to find an escape; it can begin to take its toll on even the most motivated of individuals."

"We really throw the book at these guys," Haynes said with a smile. "As a weapons officer, you are expected to lead America's finest through situations you have yet to even ponder. You are expected to take every success, failure and challenge and examine it, analyze it, and debrief it and its possible consequences, all while fine tuning your skills with what you learned from it."

"Most importantly, we want to ensure that when we graduate these students they go back to their squadrons as humble, approachable and credible leaders," Haynes said.

In the past month, students have completed more than 75 hours of academic classes, one simulator mission featuring defensive tactics, three sortie flights including two-ship, daytime and formation defensive tactics, as well as one combat planning exercise.

The Air Force expects new weapons school graduates to be tactical experts for their commanders and top instructors at their units, but getting to that point is no easy task.

Selection

The process begins with selection. Candidates must be instructors, volunteer for the course, and be selected by their wing leadership and a larger selection board. They are typically young captains with five to 10 years of experience.

"The weapons officers in your squadron are almost giving you a grade if you will, ensuring that you would be capable of making it through the program," Griffith said. "There is definitely a grooming process."

Experience is a major factor when it comes to applying for this course. Participating in Red and Green Flags, as well as overseas and combat experience, is critical to acceptance into the course.

"To even be considered for this course, a lot of stars need to be aligned," said Maj. Daniel Alford, 77th Weapons School instructor. "This is one of the hardest training courses the Air Force has."

Even with the rigorous selection standards, 10 percent of the students wash out before completing the course.

"This course is going to push you to those dark moments," Alford said. "When you're physically and mentally exhausted, there will come a point when you want to give up and quit."

However, the return on this investment is hard to beat.

"To lead my squadron to war as a weapons officer was by far the highlight of my Air Force career," said Maj. Jesse Hamilton, 77th Weapons School instructor. "There is no greater feeling than having colonels and generals look to you for your opinion and to be able to mentor young lieutenants into fine operators, being a patch-wearer made that possible for me."

"You're proud to be a weapons officer," Alford said humbly. "Your proud of what you do and proud of what you've done. You enjoy walking in every day knowing that you have the tough task and the pressures on you."

The students of class 11B

Capt. Mike 'Mayo' Taylor represents Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., as the class leader.

As the father-figure of the bunch, Mayo is a proven and experienced operator who is humbled to have been selected for this training course.

"I wanted to excel in my career field and applying for the weapons school was the best way to do it," Taylor said. "I'm anxious to soak up all the knowledge and experience I can get from this course. Coming to the 77th is to become the best you can be at your job."

Capt. Ryan 'Rover' Simpson also represents Ellsworth.

The more reserved operator of the crew, Rover, looks forward to pushing his limits and earning the respected patch.

"This is a very demanding course," Simpson said. "But experience gained through this course is irreplaceable and can't be gained anywhere else. I expect this training to be very challenging. But at the end of the day, the ultimate goal is to be able to put that patch on your shoulder. That's what keeps you going."

Capt. Charles 'Bibs' Armstrong, a weapons system officer and husband is the third student to represent Ellsworth AFB.

As the self-proclaimed "know it all," Bibs has wanted to attend weapons school since he first received his wings.

"Back at my squadron when a guy with a patch on his shoulder would walk in the room everyone trusted and listened to what he had to say," Armstrong said. "After witnessing that, I knew right away I wanted to attend weapons school and one day wear the patch."

Capt. Robert 'Headless' Horstmann, a weapons system officer, is the lone Dyess AFB representative.

Headless tends to keep the class laughing with his high energy and great sense of humor. However, don't let that mislead you; Headless is one of the best the bomber community has to offer.

"I'm just happy to be here," laughed Horstmann. "To one day put that patch on your shoulder and be the go-to guy in your squadron is the ultimate goal for me. There will be those tough times as this is a very demanding course, but guys like us live for times like these."

These four operators have been through the gauntlet to reach this point. They have proved themselves worthy through combat operations and have accomplished many things in their brief Air Force career. It's now time for them to take the next step and place the patch across their left shoulder, being inducted into an elite brotherhood of Airmen.

Follow us throughout the next five months as we delve into the 77th Weapons School. Learn how each student handles the stressors of this grueling course, as well as the unique experiences they encounter on their journey to earn their patch.

Editor's Note: This is part one in a six-part series highlighting the 77th Weapons School and their students.