Training to the next level Published Jan. 20, 2015 By Staff Sgt. Trevor Saylor 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs 01/16/2015 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station - -- The 934th Airlift Wing has recently gained an extremely valuable asset, courtesy of the 29th Weapons Squadron at Little Rock AFB. Capt. Brandon Schrader of the 96th Airlift Squadron graduated from the prestigious USAF Weapons School. Weapons Officers are a rarity in the Air Force Reserve, making Schrader's graduation all the more important for the 934 AW. Schrader went through the extensive application and selection process to the Weapons School so that he could reach the highest echelon of his career field. "Graduates from the course are some of the smartest tacticians the Air Force has," explained Captain Schrader, "and I wanted to reach that level." The knowledge he gained will also help the unit by bringing back with him a wide range of tactical knowledge, planning expertise, and operational leadership. The Weapons Instructor Course is comprised of over 400 hours of graduate-level academics and demanding training missions. Combining a brief tour at Nellis AFB, with a longer period at Little Rock AFB, he gained a wealth of knowledge related to mission planning--primarily based around the C-130 aircraft. Upon graduation, new C-130 Weapons Officers receive a patch signifying their completion of the course. "The patch signifies you're the C-130 subject matter expert," said Schrader. "You're the go-to person." Despite being based around a single aircraft, students learn the tactical application of the overall warfighting capability of the USAF; they have to demonstrate their ability to lead and instruct while effectively integrating multiple weapons systems across the land, air, space and cyber domains. Beside the C-130 and tactical planning, the course places a premium on leadership and leadership development. In fact, this is the part that Schrader emphasizes the most. Understanding how to plan a mission is one thing; being able to explain it to those who will execute it is quite another. He admits that this course has taken his leadership skills "to a whole different level." He learned to lead mission briefing and de-briefing, planning, and monitoring execution. The final stage of the course is the culmination of everything students have learned, and combines all facets of the Air Force's warfighting capability. This was one of his favorite parts of the course, as he gained an appreciation for what the Air Force can do as a fighting force. Schrader does not hesitate to explain what he sees as the biggest benefit to the 934th. "Training," he says. "I went to the course to bring back new ways to perform local tactical training, new exercises, and certain types of airdrops that we haven't done previously. This is going to really open up what we can do to prepare." The 934th Operations Group Commander, Col. Keith Wesley, agreed, and said: "Captain Schrader's knowledge will filter down to all of our aircrew members over the next few years as he teaches classes on the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures. We also expect him to help improve our training processes, and add realism and complexity to our mission planning and flying training."