Unguided Rocket Employment: Why We Must Update Marine Corps Rotary Wing Attack Training

摘要

The success of the AH-1W helicopter rests primarily on its versatility and that of its pilots. The ability to adapt to enemy threats throughout the spectrum of conflict and provide MAGTF commanders with quick, responsive, and effective fire support has been the hallmark of the community for years. One aspect of versatility inherent with the AH-1W is its variety of weapons capabilities. Complimentary weapons, such as precision guided munitions (PGMs) and unguided munitions, allow pilots to adapt to an ever-changing environment. Versatility does not, however, rest solely with the weapons. Air crews must remain proficient in effectively and accurately employing those weapons. That versatility, however, may be degrading. An analysis of the limited data available reveals a significant lack of proficiency in rocket delivery accuracy. Analyzing data from the last 15 Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Courses shows a student average miss distance in excess of 59 meters from the intended target. Unfortunately, no consistent performance standards exist in the current Training and Readiness Manual (T&R) by which to judge proficiency in this skill. Equally disconcerting are the observations by community subject matter experts that many pilots are content to rely solely on precision guided munitions for increased accuracy; this is a tenuous proposition considering technology can fail and external factors can affect PGM accuracy. The current T&R Manual Program of Instruction, consisting of only eight training events dedicated to unguided weapons employment, does not provide enough focused training to effectively develop that skill set. Although other weapons employment training opportunities exist, the focus during those events does not center on developing the fundamentals of accurate weapons employment. Additionally, the T&R Manual lacks needed performance standards required to effectively assess and evaluate individual pilot skill proficiency.