Gathers, records, displays and disseminates mission, track, target location, battle management and weapons status information. Relays threat warning and real-time broadcast intelligence information to aircrews and other agencies. Transmits weapons release conditions to manned air weapons. Receives, verifies, and disseminates valid target and battle damage assessment. Uses different coordinate reference systems to report target or track location and maintains accurate situational and tabular displays or data bases while also maintaining situational awareness.
Operates and manages secure and unsecure communications nets with airborne and ground agencies. Coordinates with airborne, ground, and maritime agencies in distributing and relaying operational, threat, intelligence, video, and identification data via voice or data link systems.
Performs mission planning activities. Plans for operational missions in accordance with unified combatant command or theater rules of engagement. Operates mission planning ancillary equipment to initialize information for download to airborne mission systems. Receives, interprets, extracts and disseminates relevant Air Tasking Order (ATO), Special Instructions (SPINS), and fire support annex information. Researches and studies target imagery, ground and air order of battles, or target offensive and defensive capabilities from various sources. Assembles target information, locates forces and determines hostile defensive locations and possible tactics. Assists in navigation and fire control planning. Determines effective air or ground weapons control and delivery tactics to achieve overall mission objectives.
Observes and compiles crew member, mission and equipment data for post-mission reports and analysis. Evaluates systems capabilities and recommends improvements. Conducts initial, qualification, upgrade or continuation training for aircrew members. Identifies and corrects faulty operational techniques. Reviews trends analysis. Maintains publications and currency items.
Specialty Qualifications:
Knowledge: For award of AFSC 1A4X1X, knowledge is mandatory of: active and passive airborne sensor systems fundamentals; electro-optical sensor theory; characteristics and limitation of airborne battle management, surveillance, mission systems and gunship operations; target detection, recognition, identification, and tracking capabilities; computer-generated console situation and tabular displays, electronic generated data, ATO, SPINS, and fire support annex; receiving, recording, and relaying operational threat data; identification procedures and techniques; EA and EP or ESM functions; data link requirements; communications systems; emergency procedures and equipment; maintaining publications; emergency action procedures; and command or theater battle management activities.
For award of AFSC 1A471D, knowledge is mandatory of air weapons control procedures and techniques, and aircraft performance characteristics and armament.
Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school or general educational development equivalency is mandatory.
Training. The following training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:
1A431. Completion of the basic airborne battle management systems course.
1A451D. Completion of AWACS weapons director training.
Experience.The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated: (Note: See Explanation of Air Force Specialty Codes).
1A451. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1A431. Experience in functions such as target detecting, tracking, reporting target information or, receiving, displaying, recording, and relaying threat command, control, and intelligence data from airborne battle management system functions and activities.
1A451D. Mission ready certification as a weapons director.
1A471. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1A451. Also, experience performing or supervising, or airborne battle management system functions and activities.
1A471D. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1A451D. Experience required for annual qualification and certification as a mission ready weapons controller.
1A491. Qualification in and possession of 1A471/71D. Experience in managing airborne battle management system functions and activities.
Other.The following are mandatory as indicated:
