Misawa Airman first E-4 to graduate weapons course

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Allison Day
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  In June, an Airman from Misawa Air Base became the first senior airman in the Air Force to graduate from the Advanced Weapons Director Course at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Senior Airman Jacob Henry, 610th Air Control Flight weapons director attended this course, which has historically been attended by staff sergeants through master sergeants.

"Airman Henry has an exceptional ability to manage himself under pressure while performing his job, which is why he was selected," said Capt. Jeremy Huffaker, 610th ACF commander. "His situational awareness is high and he is able to adhere to the strict standards when speaking with pilots on the radio."

The course was anything, but easy, the Airman said.

"Although I was excited to be selected, I was a little nervous once I got to Nellis," said Airman Henry. "I found the course was challenging and definitely nerve racking. The first few weeks consisted of continuous briefings by pilots of different airframes and a daily test. It was very intense, but I attended it with three other weapons directors and we learned how to be each others' wingman. We spent time studying whenever we weren't in class."

As a weapons director, Airman Henry uses a ground control system, which is a computer-based system that provides raw data of any aircraft's location.

"Using this information, I'm able to give the pilot the azimuth (degrees), distance and height of his target from a predetermined point," he said.

The second half of the course was hands on and he learned how to employ (to use Air Force assets to execute a mission) a vast number of airframes.

"The job that Senior Airman Henry does is absolutely crucial to the effectiveness of offensive and defensive counter-air missions," said Capt. Anthony Marek, 14th Fighter Squadron chief weapons officer and an F-16 pilot. "Weapons directors are a part of the fighting team, the equivalent of adding an additional wingman to your formation.

"He's one of the best weapons directors I have ever worked with," said Captain Marek. "A lot of responsibility is placed in a weapons director's hands, so the success and failure of missions can hinge on their performance."

And the 23-year-old Mandeville, La. native continues on his road to success. He'll soon take another step in his Air Force career as he starts Airman Leadership School today and will be promoted to staff sergeant upon completion of ALS.

"Although I've enjoyed working at this base, in the future I hope to someday be attached to a mobile unit and teach others what I've learned here," said Airman Henry.