A Combat Systems Officer (CSO) is a flight member of an aircrew in the a multi-crew aircraft’s mission commander is typically a member of the United States Air Force. To achieve and maintain situational awareness and mission effectiveness collectively, the combat systems officer manages the mission and integrates systems and crew with the aircraft commander.
CSOs are trained in navigation, electromagnetic spectrum use, flying, and are pros at using a particular airframe’s weapon system. Mission planning, timing, weapon targeting and use, threat reactions, aircraft communications, and risk avoidance are among the duties of the aircrew.
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What Is A Combat Systems Officer?
A Combat Systems Officer (CSO) is responsible for operating navigational and weapons systems on a military aircraft. CSOs are officers in the United States Air Force, and provide important information to pilots and other flight personnel. Typically, these officers conduct their business from a fighter or bomber aircraft. This Air Force rating is also known by its former name, “Navigator.”
Mission Commanders for Air Force aircraft are these officers. This requires them to oversee a mission and keep track of the air battlefront. These officers are frequently in charge of the navigation and armament systems and are in constant contact with the pilots of the aircraft. A Combat Systems Officer aids in mission planning and enables pilots to communicate and respond to threats effectively.
Requirement Of A Combat Systems Officer
All Air Force Officers, including CSOs, are required to hold a four-year degree from an accredited college or university. People are also required to finish a leadership and military bearing training course. To be eligible for air crew duty, officers who want to become CSOs must also fulfill strict intellectual and physical requirements.
A Duty And An Honor
Cadets accept a commission as second lieutenants in the Air Force or Space Force, appointed by the President of the United States, after fulfilling all Air Force ROTC requirements and earning their academic degrees. Your career will determine how long you must serve in your first position. The average officer commits to serving on active duty for four years. After completing their respective training, Combat System Officers and Air Battle Managers are obligated to serve for six years, compared to ten years for pilots who are on active duty. After passing their licensing exam, nursing graduates accept a commission in the Air Force Nurse Corps and serve four years on active duty.
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Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training
The lovely Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, is where the undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training (UCT) is held. Once on station, all students will begin the Primary Syllabus, which consists of courses on fundamental airmanship, weather, physiology, and navigation. The T-25 simulator, which can simulate a variety of navigation, weapon use, and electronic warfare missions, is the next stop for the class. Primary culminates in a number of flights in a T-6B Texan II, including low level visual navigation flights, high level instrument practice sorties, and contact sorties where students become accustomed to the aerobatic flight environment. At the end of primary, students “track” to EWO, Navigator, Special Operations (SO), or WSO.
Students learn the necessary trade-specific tools at UCT’s advanced campus. Advanced electronic attack and support are topics covered by EWOs, advanced navigation and crew coordination are covered by Navigators, advanced weaponeering is covered by WSOs, and advanced sensor operation is covered by Special Operations students. During the advanced phase’s flight line section, every student flies alongside each other in a T-1A Jayhawk that has been specially modified. While the student in the back of the aircraft operates electronic warfare systems, defends it from fictitious enemy threats, and uses weapons, the student in the copilot’s seat controls aircraft systems, speaks on the radios, and goes through checklists. Visual low-level navigation, dynamic tasking, and fighter intercept are among the T-1A’s missions. Near the end of advanced phase, students select or “drop” their assigned aircraft and finish the syllabus with “top-off” training specific to that mission set. Students receive their wings and the Combat Systems Officer rating at the end of their training.
Operational Combat Systems Officers
After completing their undergraduate combat systems officer training, newly minted CSOs report to their designated base where they will spend an additional 4 to 10 months training on their particular aircraft for missions. CSOs are ready to deploy anywhere in the world in support of USAF and joint operations once they are combat mission ready. CSOs are warfighters of the future, equipped with a keen air sense, expertise in the electromagnetic spectrum, sensor operations, targeting, mission planning, and tactical communication.
Conclusion
Our Airmen must move at the same incredible speed as combat and air operations. The eyes and ears in the sky for their fellow Airmen, Combat Systems Officers integrate electronic warfare, weapons systems, special operations, and navigation. These aviators utilize a wide variety of high-tech systems and weaponry in the air to provide the precision required to complete increasingly complex missions by synchronizing our diverse technologies with decisiveness and leadership. They also abstract important environmental information from their environment.
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