Originally Posted by
Lima Juliet
Due to the confusion between the Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing roles, the Weapon Systems Operators (WSOps) were renamed WSOp (RW) Cmn (ie. for Crewmen) and WSOp (ME) ALM (ie. for Air Loadmasters). This change was made about 2 years ago and also was used to re-identify the various sub-cadres. Here is the full list of WSOps used in flying roles:
WSOp (ISR) EW - electronic warfare gurus for P8, RJ, Sentry, etc...
WSOp (ISR) Aco - acoustic gurus for P8
WSOp (ISR) Lg - airborne linguists for RJ
WSOp (ISR) Lnd - sensor ops for Shadow, Defender and Reaper
WSOp (ISR) Eng - air engineers for Sentry
WSOp (ME) ALM - loadies for C130J, BAe146, A400M, C17
WSOp (ME) MSO - mission system officer for Voyager (they also do Pursar for AT duties with the Cabin Crew)
WSOp (RW) Cmn - helicopter crewman
Then the other Mission Aircrew are the Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs) in the following current flying roles:
WSO (ISR) Nav - flight deck navigators on the Sentry and RJ
WSO (ISR) Air - mission aircrew used on RJ, Sentry, Sentinel
WSO (ISR) Mar - mission aircrew on P8
WSO (ISR) Lnd - sensor operator on Reaper
There are also commissioned versions of the above WSOps conducting roles and then there WSO (FJ) that are sadly without a jet anymore.
You missed all of the rotary guys in your lists.
Thats a lot to remember....perhaps we could rename them something like....
Air Loadmaster
Air Electronics Operator
Air Engineer
Linguist
