The 66th Weapons Squadron is the current incarnation of the 66th Fighter Weapons Squadron which was activated at Nellis Air Force Base in October 1977 as the A-10 weapons training squadron of the US Air Force Fighter Weapons School. Four years later, the 66th Fighter Weapons Squadron was de-activated and reassigned to the school as the A-10 Division.
Following the re-organisation of the US Air Force in 1992 and the activation of Air Combat Command, the school was also reorganised. This meant another name change, becoming the Weapons School, a move to reflect the growing number of non-fighter divisions assigned. The A-10 Division remained intact until February 2003, when it was reassigned as the 66th Weapons Squadron (66th WPS) and continues to run the A-10 syllabus.
Led by a commandant, an O-6 Colonel, the school has one, yet very complex mission, to train weapons officers and enlisted specialists who complete a type or skill-specific Weapons Instructor Course (WIC). After completing the course each graduate is a tactical system expert and weapons instructor for a mission design series combat aircraft or warfare domain, such as ballistic missiles, cyber, intelligence, and space. In the case of the 66th WPS, the A-10C Thunderb…
