Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
NAVAL STRIKE AND WARFARE CENTER
The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) at Naval Air Station Fallon is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development. NSAWC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout the United States Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes, and direct operational and intelligence support. The command consists of more than 130 officers, 250 enlisted and 500 contract personnel. NSAWC flies and maintains F/A-18C/D Hornets, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, E/A-18G Growlers, F-16 Fighting Falcons and SH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters.
History: NSAWC consolidated three commands into a single command structure under a flag officer on 11 Jul 1996 to enhance aviation training effectiveness. The Naval Strike Warfare Center (STRIKE “U”) based at NAS Fallon since 1984, was joined with the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (TOPDOME) which both moved from NAS Miramar as a result of a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision in 1993 which transferred that installation back to the Marine Corps as MCAS Miramar. The Seahawk Weapon School was added in 1998 to provide tactical training for Navy helicopters.
Mission: NSAWC is the primary authority on training and tactics development. NSAWC provides training, assessment, aviation requirements recommendations, research and development priorities for integrated strike warfare, maritime and overland air superiority, strike fighter employment, airborne battle management, Combat Search and Rescue, Close Air Support, and associated planning support systems. The command is also responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of several courses of instruction while functioning as the Navy point of contact for all issues relating to the Air Combat Training Continuum. Additionally, NSAWC is the Navy point of contact for all issues related to the Fallon Range Training Complex.
Command Structure: NSAWC consists of 12 departments. Staff (N0) is responsible directly to Commander, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center for enlisted affairs, career counseling, public affairs and other administrative responsibilities specific to the commander’s office. Support Services (N1) oversees administrative functions, supply, security, and first lieutenant. The Intelligence Department (N2) provides support to air wing training in Fallon as well as to fleets and battle groups based all over the world and covers automated information services.
Operations (N3) manages scheduling for aircraft, aircrew, the training ranges, and keeps aircrew log books and records. The Maintenance Department (N4) maintains all NSAWC aircraft, including parts and supplies, manages the loading, unloading and storage of ordnance, and maintains aircrew flight equipment.
Plans, Programs and Tactics, or STRIKE (N5) is involved in tactics development and assessment for tactical aircraft and SH-60 helicopters, program management and participation, mission planning, and inter/intra service liaison. They are also the primary trainers for visiting air wings during their “Air Wing det. Fallon” phase of training, prior to deployment.
The C41/C2W Department (N6) provides graduate-level command, control, communication, and computer intelligence and battle management training to E-2 aircrew, and joint inter-operability training to naval warfare communities, U.S. Air Force, and NATO commands.
The Training and Standardization Department (N7) instructs graduate-level strike-fighter employment through the “TOPGUN” Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) course. It also conducts the Strike Leader Attack Training Syllabus (SLATS) and Senior Officers Course (SOC); and manages air wing power projection training. Concurrent with each SFTI course, NSAWC conducts an Adversary Training Course where pilots receive individual instruction in threat simulation, effective threat presentation and adversary tactics. Each class trains five to six Air Intercept Controllers in effective strike/fighter command and control.
The Rotary Wing Weapons School or “SEAWOLF” (N8) instructs graduate-level rotary wing employment through the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI) course. It also conducts the Navy Mountain Flying course, coordinates air wing training, supports the Senior Officer Course, and provides tactical expertise and guidance on Tactical Development and Evaluation (TAC D&E) initiatives. Finally, the Operational Risk Management/Safety Department (N9) manages air-and-ground related safety programs as well as medical training programs.
HAVOK (N10) is the Growler Weapons School, which instructs graduate-level employment of the E/A-18G aircraft. TLAM (N20) is the Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile department, which works closely as a Fleet liaison to ensure maximum effectiveness for that weapon system.
Training: There are two distinct areas of NSAWC training using the FRTC extensively – carrier air wing (CVW) training and the WTI courses. Air wing training brings together all of an air wing’s squadrons for four weeks, providing strike planning and execution training opportunities in a dynamic, realistic, scenario-driven simulated wartime environment.
Air wing training consists of power projection training in strike warfare, amphibious operations, joint battlefield operations, CAS, and CSAR. The WTI courses provide advanced training for Naval Aviators who will become training officers at the various weapons schools at master jet bases, NSAWC staff, and eventually training officers for Fleet squadrons. Air wings are generally hosted up to five times a year, while each school conducts their courses up to four times a year. Additionally, NSAWC staff members augment “adversary” air support, or “bandit” presentations, to support airborne portions of the training.
In the classroom, NSAWC also conducts tactically oriented courses. The SOC addresses strategic and tactical issues at the battle group commander, air wing commander and squadron commanding officer level. SLATS introduces junior Navy and Marine Corps officers to all aspects of air wing, battle group and joint force tactics, planning and hardware. Another important course is the Advanced Mission Commander’s Course (AMCC) which focuses on the airborne battle management, providing graduate-level command, control and communication training to E-2C mission commanders and other carrier aircraft plane commanders.
Tactics Development: The Plans, Programs and Tactics (N5) department utilizes both NSAWC and fleet aircraft to develop the latest in airwing tactics. These are standardized and promulgated to the fleet via the Naval Warfare Publication 3-01 Carrier Airwing Tactical Memo, and updated bi-annually. The N5 department forms a core of expertise which functions to advise the Chief of Naval Operations on programmatic issues, and lends its support to real world operations as targeteers providing extensive liaison and standardization to other Naval and joint training agencies.
Range/Tacts: The FRTC encompasses more than 10,200 square miles of airspace east of NAS Fallon, including a vast array of electronic systems supporting squadron, air wing and WTI training. The heart of this program is the Advanced Digital Display System or ADDS. This computer-supported real-time digital display allows monitoring of each training event as it occurs on the ranges and recording capability for debriefing. Information is transmitted instantaneously from each aircraft to large screen displays at NSAWC and recorded for playback to the aircrews for post flight analysis of procedures and tactics. This system also allows controllers and aircrews to view an event from several different aspects in three dimensions.
Naval Intelligence: One of NSAWC’s most interactive departments is N2 – Intelligence. Within this department are targeteers and weaponeering experts, assisted by enlisted intelligence specialists, who gather data on potential trouble areas around the globe where deployed naval forces might be called for presence or action. Inherent in the intelligence mission is preparation of aircrews for all circumstances they may face in combat. Another function of NSAWC’s intelligence department is contingency preparation. When called upon, members will deploy, armed with the latest intelligence gathered, to assist commanders in theater.