What can I do with an Air Force CSO certification?
If you complete the training pipeline you will be a navigator, electronic warfare officer, or weapon systems officer as part of the CSO overarching career field as a rated Air Force aviator.
What does a Combat Systems Officer DO in the Air Force?
Combat Systems Officer. Powering our powerful technology. Combat and air operations move at incredible speed, so it’s essential our Airmen do the same. Serving as the mission commanders for electronic warfare, weapons systems and navigation, Combat Systems Officers are the eyes of their fellow Airmen.
What does CSO mean in the military?
Combat Systems Officer (CSO). After you track for your specific job and complete UCT, you will head to your operational squadron where you will undergo approximately 6 more months of training on the specific systems that you will be operating. Upon completion of this training, you will be qualified to fly operationally.
How long does it take to become a CSO in the military?
To begin flying operationally, you will need to complete your training as a CSO, which can take anywhere from one to two and a half years. Upon graduation from Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training (UCT), you will incur a service commitment of six years active duty.
How much do Air Force CSO make?
US Air Force Salary FAQs The average salary for a Combat Systems Officer is $76,134 per year in United States, which is 36% lower than the average US Air Force salary of $120,086 per year for this job.
What is a CSO officer Air Force?
A Combat Systems Officer (CSO) is a flight member of an aircrew in the United States Air Force and is the mission commander in many multi-crew aircraft.
How long is Air Force CSO training?
The only training base for this job is on NAS Pensacola and Air Force personnel make up a small fraction of the base's overall population. UCT is typically about 11 months, depending on track and airframe.
Do CSO fly planes?
CSOs are officers in the United States Air Force, and provide important information to pilots and other flight personnel. These officers usually work from onboard an aircraft, such as a bomber or fighter. This Air Force rating is also known by its former name, “Navigator.”
How do you become a CSO in the Air Force?
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARYMINIMUM EDUCATION. Bachelor's degree.QUALIFICATIONS. Completion of a current Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) Completion of Officer Training School (OTS), Air Force Academy (AFA) or Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC)
How long is a CSO commitment?
Most officers have a four-year, active-duty service commitment. Pilots have a 10-year, active-duty service commitment, and both Combat System Officers and Air Battle Managers have a six-year service commitment upon completion of their respective training.
Do officers in Air Force see combat?
They do see combat. They just have their own unique way about it.
Is a weapons system officer a pilot?
A Weapon Systems Officer (WSO), nicknamed "Wizzo", is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of a military aircraft.
What do air battle managers do?
An ABM is a rated officer career field in the Air Force that provides command and control capability to airborne and ground units. The core functions of an ABM include orienting shooters, pairing shooters, solving problems, speed decisions, bringing order and up-channeling assessments.
Where is USAF CSO training?
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FLUndergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training (UCT) is conducted aboard beautiful Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL. Once on station, all students will enter the Primary Syllabus which includes classes on basic airmanship, weather, physiology, and navigation.
What do weapon systems Officers do?
A weapon systems officer ("WSO", pronounced "wizzo") is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of an aircraft. In the United States Navy, they are responsible for manning the weapon systems of a fighter.
What are Air Force rated positions?
What Are Rated Positions? “Rated” refers to an aeronautical Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) with job duties which entail the piloting of aircraft and/or the operation or aircraft systems/sensors.
How much do combat systems officers make?
Average Salary for a Combat Systems Officer Combat Systems Officers in America make an average salary of $51,607 per year or $25 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $108,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $24,000 per year.
Is a weapons system officer a pilot?
A Weapon Systems Officer (WSO), nicknamed "Wizzo", is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of a military aircraft.
Do officers in Air Force see combat?
They do see combat. They just have their own unique way about it.
What are Air Force rated positions?
What Are Rated Positions? “Rated” refers to an aeronautical Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) with job duties which entail the piloting of aircraft and/or the operation or aircraft systems/sensors.
What is CSO training?
CSO training merges three previous USAF Undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT) tracks formerly known as the Navigator track, the Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) track and the Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) track into one coherent training cycle in order to produce an aeronautically rated officer who is more versatile and able to adapt to all spectrums of an airframe. Parallel Navigator and WSO training tracks ended in 2009.
What is a combat system officer?
A Combat Systems Officer (or CSO, differs from CSOp) is a flight member of an aircrew in the United States Air Force and is the mission commander in many multi-crew aircraft. The combat systems officer manages the mission and integrates systems and crew with the aircraft commander to collectively achieve ...
How long does it take to become a CSO?
Upon completion of training, USAF CSOs receive basic CSO wings. At seven years of aeronautically rated service, they become eligible for the Senior CSO rating and at fifteen years the Master CSO rating, although an effort is underway to rename the Master CSO designation to Command CSO, standardizing same with their USAF Command Pilot counterparts. CSOs assigned to NASA manned spaceflight programs are also eligible for CSO- Astronaut insignia at the Senior and Master level based upon their aeronautical rating at the time and completion of at least one spaceflight.
Where do CSOs train?
Marine Corps at TRAWING 6 was discontinued. However, despite the divergence of USAF CSO training from student naval flight officer (NFO) training, all CSOs for all USAF aircraft model design series (MDS) now receive their training at NAS Pensacola. While some extant USAF MDS aircraft, such as the pure airlift variant of the C-130E are being retired, and the pure airlift version C-130J have eliminated the navigator/CSO position, all the other aforementioned extant MDS aircraft, as well as the HC-130J, MC-130J and WC-130J currently entering the inventory, continue to retain requirements for CSOs, thus ensuring the continued viability of the CSO career path.
When did navigators transition to CSO?
In 2009, most USAF navigators still in an operational flying status, or due to rotate back to an operational flying assignment, transitioned to CSO. Under Air Force Instruction 36-402, rated USAF navigators who do not transition to CSO are not eligible for advanced CSO ratings, e.g. senior CSO and master CSO.
What does CSO stand for in the military?
Hey guys! So I received some great news today as I have been selected for a CSO (Combat Systems Officer) position!
What does NAS mean in military terms?
NAS = Naval Air Station.... You’ve got a lot to learn and a lot of research to do.
Is being a CSO good?
Being a CSO is an awesome role and the training allows you to find your fit. You should be excited there are lots of opportunities for your career and travel.
Can you be a CSO?
So as a prior nav turned pilot - yes, you can definitely have a great career as a CSO. Unless you can't handle people giving you crap for being a CSO, then you're going to hate life. The airframes you mentioned probably aren't going anywhere anytime soon, but things can and do change, sometimes very quickly.
Can a prior nav pilot be a CSO?
So as a prior nav turned pilot - yes, you can definitely have a great career as a CSO. Unless you can't handle people giving you crap for being a CSO, then you're going to hate life. This is very true haha. Somewhat of a second class citizen to pilots, but important all the same.
Is CSO flight time marketable?
Marketable to civilian flight world...nope. At least not from a flying perspective. Development/engineering definitely. Just don't plan on being in the seat in the civilian world unless you get your civilian ratings, but then your CSO flight time won't count towards, so you have to account for that.
Do CSO flight times count towards civilian ratings?
Just don't plan on being in the seat in the civilian world unless you get your civilian ratings, but then your CSO flight time won't count towards, so you have to account for that. Don't let people talk you out of it because you're "not a pilot.".
What is a rated position in the Air Force?
Virtually all Rated (flying) positions are very competitive in the US Air Force. This includes pilots, combat systems officers, navigators, etc. If you wish to apply for a rated slot, you will need to have a very competitive package (generally a high GPA, stellar letters of recommendation, high AFOQT scores, excellent physical fitness scores, etc.). You will also need to be physically qualified. Rated positions have their own physicals that are different from the s
What is the AFSC code for a bomber navigator?
I recently retired from the USAF after 30 years. My original AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code) was 12B, which is a bomber navigator (I later recoded as a 13L - Air Liaison Officer, used to be called Forward Air Controller, and that's how I spent the second half of my career).
What is the Air Force's PME?
When you're not flying, you're conducting ground training, which are classes related to flying or you're conducting ancillary training, that's training that everyone in the USAF has to accomplish on a recurring basis - security, human relations, etc. You also conduct officer training so you're progressing as an officer and leader at the same time you're developing your skills as an aviator and maintaining your overall training requirements as an Airman. The training in officership (all Airmen have a similar requirements) is called PME; Professional Military Education. This teaches you how the military and the Air Force works, you learn the history of the service and organizational structures and processes.
Is combat rescue harder than PJ training?
Were I to say which is harder, consider that PJ training (whose program you’d have to pass to become a USAF Rescue Officer) has a washout rate of 85–90%. I would say that is harder by far.
Do fighters fly in weapons?
To answer your specific question, you fly in your weapons systems as your primary duty for quite a while, years, that's your job. You have a flying schedule that would vary depending on that airframe (weapons system), fighters fly more shorter missions, heavies (bombers, tankers, transports, wide-body ISR platforms) fly
Is it impossible to become an officer?
It's clearly not impossible to become an officer, but you should be aware that your largest obstacle isn't competition from your fellow applicants, it's the bureaucracy that handles applications. Don't be surprised if you get screwed out of a chance to get before a board five or six times before you get seen, and if at that point they offer you something other than CSO.
Do the Guard have fewer CSOs?
EDIT: Note on Item #1: Take a look at the Guard or Reserves, too. They might have fewer CSOs overall, but their selection rate might be higher. Research which units have CSOs, call them up, and ask what it would take to be a CSO for them.
What is the job of an Air Force navigator?
Air Force Navigator Job Description. Air Force navigators guide the airplanes that the United States Air Force uses in both combat and non-combat missions. Navigators read maps and use radar and other methods to guide the pilot safely to his destination. Air Force navigators serve on large airplanes such as bombers, fuel tankers and cargo planes.
What are the requirements for an Air Force navigator?
Navigators need to have strong map-reading and chart-reading skills, the ability to attend to detail, a deep interest in flying, and the ability to think clearly and adapt quickly in stressful and dangerous situations such as a fire aboard the aircraft.
Overview
- A CSO is a tactical expert in their aircraft, specializing in weapon systems employment, electronic warfare operations, and navigation. CSO training merges Weapons System Officer (WSO), Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO), and Navigator training into one centralized pipeline producing versatile aeronautically rated officers for tomorrow’s Air Force. C...
CSO implementation
CSO operational command
See also
A Combat Systems Officer (CSO ) is a flight member of an aircrew in the United States Air Force and is the mission commander in many multi-crew aircraft. The combat systems officer manages the mission and integrates systems and crew with the aircraft commander to collectively achieve and maintain situational awareness and mission effectiveness. CSOs are trained in piloting, navigation…
Further reading