“It’s like Top Gun… But Air Force”
WHAT’S AN EWO?
EWO stands for Electronic Warfare Officer. It’s one of the career paths available out of CSO (Combat Systems Officer) training in Pensacola. My husband specifically works on the EC-130H, which specializes in electronic attack and communications jamming. The plane is only based out of Davis Monthan in Arizona, where we spent the first 5 years of our marriage living the desert dream. If you or your spouse end up on the EC-130H platform, you can stay at DM for quite a while (think 5+ years), which is really nice for stability’s sake. There are definitely options for career change though, and my husband chose the Weapons School route.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN?
No, WIC stands for Weapons Instructor Course, also referred to as Weapons School. Weapons School is a graduate level course where students become experts in weapons systems and tactics. It is the Air Force’s version of Top Gun (WIC came first), except instead of 6 weeks, it’ 6 months. It’s difficult coursework, grueling hours, and a stressful load for the students. If you’re reading this though, you’re not here for the student story. For the spouse, it can look different depending on the platform. Some are based out of the aircraft’s main duty station, but others are completely based out of good ole Nellis. Wherever Weapons School is though, they’re BUSY. As the spouse of a student, I treated it like a deployment, except we talked less often. I think there are times as a spouse where you rely a lot on friends and extra-curricular activities, and Weapons School is one of them. The good news, as with all things, is that it eventually ends.
HE THOUGHT NELLIS WAS SO NICE, HE CHOSE IT TWICE.
So now we’re stationed at Nellis and he’s an instructor at the Weapons School. There are some difficulties including continued long hours, weekends, and TDYs. However, there are some benefits. We know exactly when he’ll be gone on TDYs every 6 months. We know exactly when he’ll have breaks to take leave. We know which months will be crazy so we can go ahead and order the meal kits and the premium meal delivery subscriptions. And the community at Nellis is so fun. See: Patch Night/Pink Flag
PATCH NIGHT
Let me preface this by saying things look different with COVID, but that’s no reason to forgo a little celebration. All weapons officers get to wear a special patch on their uniform for the rest of their career. The night they get their patches is typically the Thursday before graduation. Each squadron has their own traditions, but in the end all of the “patches” gather at the club where their significant others and non-patch friends can join.
PINK FLAG
Each squadron does Pink Flag differently, but this is where the spouses/significant others of the instructors and students celebrate on patch night. Think party bus rentals, going out on the strip, and just a celebration that another class is over and you all survived to tell the tale. After we’ve had our fun, we meet up with the patches at the club or in the hangar to celebrate their achievements (and drown in a sea of flight suits).
GRADUATION
Graduation is the Saturday after patch night. The patches get their diploma and awards, while you get to dress up to the 9’s for a 3-course dinner. It’s really a lot of fun as an instructor spouse because you get to see a lot of people from earlier in your spouse’s AF career. The best part is afterward when you go out on the strip looking like a million bucks! Who am I kidding, I’m paying a babysitter so I can get a good nights sleep in a hotel room when it’s all over.
For my husband’s platform, I can’t say that the tempo is much different from his flying squadron. While you may roll your eyes at the thought of living in Vegas, it’s really a great place to be. There are a wide variety of employment opportunities, great options for living on and off base, lots of outdoor activities, and it’s really a wonderful community. Plus, I mean the food and the entertainment, obviously! My best piece of advice for WAFs is to make the most of it and remember the hard times are temporary.
MEET MEGAN
