Air Combat Systems Officer

Air Combat Systems Officer is a occupation of the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Regular Force (full time).

Job Description including salary

Salary: See the pay scales online.

After earning your wings, you will be posted to a squadron while waiting for the appropriate Operational Training Unit - the wait can be over a year depending on how many spots each squadron is allocated. While you are at a squadron, you will also receive a Aircrew Allowance in addition to your monthly salary, and Sea Duty Allowance if posted to a Maritime Helicopter squadron.

Training Progression

After BMOQ, you will do several short courses such as Sea Survival and Basic Land Survival, and then the Air Combat Systems Officer course at 402 Squadron, which lasts over a year. After the ACSO course, you will receive your wings and posted to an airframe, usually either the CP-140 Aurora or the CH-148 Cyclone, while some may be posted to the CC-150 Polaris refuelling aircraft, the Alpha Jet Electronic Warfare aircraft or the CC-130 Hercules in search and rescue squadrons. Those posted to the Aurora will go to 404 Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron in CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia for the Maritime Operational Aircrew Training (MOAT) course as a Tactical Coordinator, B-Category (TACCO B) which lasts approximately 7 months, while those posted to Maritime Helicopter will go to 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron in CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia for 8-10 months as a Tactical Coordinator (TACCO).

Common Initial Posting Locations

Long Range Patrol

405 Long Range Patrol Squadron, CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia

407 Long Range Patrol Squadron, CFB Comox, British Columbia

Maritime Helicopter

423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia

443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, Patricia Bay, British Columbia (part of CFB Esquimalt)

Search and Rescue

413 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia

424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Trenton, Ontario

435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba

442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, CFB Comox, British Columbia (flying the CC-115 Buffalo)

Electronic Warfare

414 Electronic Warfare Squadron, Ottawa (flying the Alpha Jet)

Career Progression

After your first flying tour, the second tour is usually an instructional tour at 1 CFFTS in CFB Winnipeg or at 404 or 406 Squadrons. ACSOs posted to the CP-140 Aurora will also be expected to progress from TACCO B to TACCO A, where they fill the role of the Tactical Navigator. After the second tour, ACSOs are usually posted to staff positions. However, exceptions apply.

Opportunities after Baseline Employment up to promotion to Major

OUTCAN postings to AWACS squadrons, staff positions in the US, Europe and Australia

Aerospace Systems Program

Day-to-day life

Whichever airframe that you are posted to, expect lots of travel away from home.

Pros:

Lots of travel CP-140 Aurora crews go to interesting places (Hawaii, Scotland, San Diego, Japan, etc.) for weeks to a month or more.

CFB Comox and CFB Esquimalt are located in an amazing area of Canada (with barely any snow except for the mountains)

Cons:

Expect to be away from home at least half the year for training or operations.