Officer selected for new cyber weapons course Published April 11, 2012 By 2nd Lt. Michael Najar 333rd Training Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Capt. Jeremy Sparks, an undergraduate cyber training instructor in the 333rd Training Squadron, has been chosen to be in the first batch of cyber students to attend the Air Force's newly-formed Air Force Cyber Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Lasting almost six months, the cyber warfare operations weapons instructor course is an intense, graduate-level, in-resident course that develops weapons and tactics officers, also known as "whiskies" or "patch wearers." All whiskies become qualified to apply joint kinetic and non-kinetic weapon capabilities in wartime. WIC is only offered to the Air Force Specialty Codes with weapons systems and the intelligence community. In a recent interview, Col. Robert "Shark" Garland, Air Force Weapons School commandant, said that weapons school "is a seasoning, taking the combat, mobility and strategic Air Force's very best instructors and putting them through a significantly challenging PhD-level course. There is no course beyond this one. That's why the Air Force Weapons School is considered the premier tactical training institution on the planet -- not just in the Air Force, but all of (the Department of Defense) and, clearly, throughout the world. Sparks will be part of Class 12B of the cyber warfare operations course at Nellis. Class 12A, which began in January and will graduate this June, contained the cyber weapons instructor course cadre who will teach the incoming 12B class. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Sparks received his commission through ROTC at Miami University. He's a distinguished graduate of undergraduate network warfare training at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and basic communication officer training at Keesler. Sparks was nominated by the 81st Training Wing to apply for the coveted slot within the new school, part of the existing Air Force Weapons Instructor School at Nellis. Despite tough competition, Sparks was selected after a rigorous application process. After Sparks completes the course, he will join a new unit as a fully qualified weapons instructor and is expected to lead a weapons and tactics flight. "This represents a combination of great mentorship, encouragement and leadership from previous squadron commanders, group commanders and colleagues. I am proud to represent the Spartans and our UCT Cadre here at Keesler," Sparks said. "I'm especially grateful to Brian MacDougald of the 67th Network Warfare Wing at Lackland AFB, Texas, for encouraging me to apply and Brig. Gen. Andrew Mueller and Lt. Col. Douglas Short for their support and recommendation." Mueller commands the 81st TRW and Short commands the 333rd TRS.