First, the LAO.
Step one is to put you, a 163rd vFS Instructor Pilot, and a pair of A-10Cs together and see what develops. You will be invited to a one on one Local Area Orientation (or LAO) flight where an IP (instructor pilot) will evaluate your capabilities. You will attend a short briefing where you will find that the flight itself will be rather relaxed: no more than a simple VFR hop from Nellis Air Force Base to a nearby training MOA.
While you relax and burn holes in the sky, your IP will be rigorously taking notes on your performance and assessing your prowess behind the controls of the Hawg. At the end of the LAO, following a short debrief, you will be presented with the option of joining the 163rd vFS regardless of your performance (so don’t fret if you experience some performance anxiety and forget to extend your landing gear on final…yes, we are talking about you, Mogas). Alternatively, you may find that our atmosphere and operations are not for you - and that’s okay! We know our way of doing things isn’t for everyone and we won’t take it personally if you say you’re going to keep looking for another organization.
If you do decide to join the 163rd vFS after your LAO, you will be granted wider access to our Discord and website with additional ways to engage with the squadron.
Following your LAO, you will likely be placed into one of four stages of training with the ultimate goal of earning a CMR (Combat Mission Ready) qualification.
(We say likely because there has been a pilot in squadron history who demonstrated such advanced knowledge that we granted him a CMR qualification immediately after his LAO and lengthy debrief. Even though you’re no longer flying with us, way to go, Stretch!)
Then, the certifications and training.
IFT
Initial Flight Training
In this stage you will be taught some of the more basic principles of A-10 operations including startup, systems, VFR flying, radio procedures, confidence maneuvers and other basic items. Most pilots will be placed beyond this portion of training, but an IFT placement is nothing to be ashamed of.
UPT
Undergraduate Pilot Training
UPT is essentially an extension of IFT. While IFT focuses on the principles of VFR flight and administrative formations, UPT is all about IFR flight and tactical formations. Here you will learn how to maneuver with your flight lead as a combat element and practice tasks such as tactical navigation and air to air refueling. Most of our pilots begin their virtual 163rd vFS career here.
IQT
Initial Qualification Training
IQT is when the fun truly begins and the foundation of your attack prowess is laid. Your A-10 will be loaded with training munitions such as BDU-33s and you will begin to learn the fundamentals of using the A-10 as it was intended in our Basic Surface Attack (BSA) missions. You will learn the basics of air to ground weapon employment, how to maneuver your A-10 effectively in a target area, and you will get to participate in range exercises.
MQT
Mission Qualification Training
MQT is the final and most extensive stage of training. You will learn the fundamentals of roles, contracts, and attack geometry in this stage of training. Your A-10 will no longer have training wheels: it will be loaded with live munitions and you will and perform CAS missions with player JTACs in simulated threat environments. You will use the geometry, tactics, techniques, and procedures used and verified by real world A-10C pilots. Once you complete your final MQT training sortie, you will be granted the coveted CMR rating and will be among DCS’s finest attack pilots.
Now that you’re CMR, let’s fly some…
COMBAT MISSIONS
Are you ready to stand toe to toe with Integrated Air Defense networks, fly moonless night CAS missions with low cloud decks in high threat environments, communicate with player staffed ASOCs, and have a lot of fun doing it? Of course you are, you’re CMR now! You will participate in the 163rd’s “scenario packages” in Syria, the Persian Gulf, and the Caucasus, flying CAS, BAI, and COIN missions. You’re a bona fide attack pilot now, but don’t mistake it for being the end of the line…
All of our CMR pilots have the option to engage in the “Ready Aircrew Program” which will keep their fangs sharp through training flights such as additional Low Altitude Step Down sorties, BFM and ACM, and Dissimilar Air Combat Training.
Imagine that you’re CMR and have been flying combat sorties as a wingman for a while. You may be approached by the 163rd vFS command staff and asked to take on additional responsibilities. You will have the opportunity to complete 2-FLUG (2 Ship Flight Lead Upgrade), 4-FLUG (4 Ship Flight Lead Upgrade), and SOC (Senior Officer's Course). You may also be given the chance to go through the IPUG (Instructor Pilot Upgrade) course. You are the cutting edge of the 163rd’s blade, but you will now be asked to become a master smith of that very blade. You will join the 163rd vFS Command and Instructor Pilot rosters upon completion of these courses, and you will be so shit-hot that your Robin Olds mustache will receive its own CMR certification and distinguished flying cross.
