CWAC - Wednesdays
Cadet Warfighter Advanced Course (CWAC)
The Cadet Warfighter Advanced Course (CWAC) at the United States Air Force Academy is a required 21-day summer training program designed for rising sophomore cadets (C3Cs). The course prepares future officers for the demands of military service by developing essential survival skills, warfighting fundamentals, and the warrior mindset needed to operate effectively in challenging and austere environments. The cadets are led and accompanied by SERE specialists, or Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists, as well as cadet cadres.
Formerly known as Combat Survival Training (CST), CWAC combines hands-on field instruction with leadership development to help cadets build confidence, resilience, and decision-making abilities under pressure.
Key Areas of Training:
Survival and Fieldcraft Skills
Cadets learn critical skills needed for remote and operational environments, including basic medical care, food preparation, shelter considerations, and land navigation.
Aircraft Signaling and Rescue Procedures
Training includes techniques for communicating with and signaling rescue aircraft, as well as working effectively with helicopter crews during recovery operations.
Warfighter Development
A central focus of CWAC is cultivating the warrior ethos. Cadets are challenged physically and mentally while developing leadership, teamwork, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills in realistic military scenarios.
Participants and Training Locations
CWAC is primarily attended by rising sophomore cadets during the summer training period. While the course is overseen by Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) specialists, much of the day-to-day instruction and mentorship is provided by upper-class cadets serving as cadre and student leaders.
Training is conducted throughout several rugged locations on and around the Academy, including Jacks Valley, Kettle Lakes, and the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site near Fort Carson.
Through a combination of field training, leadership challenges, and practical survival instruction, CWAC serves as a foundational experience in preparing cadets for the responsibilities and realities of military service.
This is a new weekly blog showcasing CWAC, previously CST. It is the entire C3C class (29ers) and will last the duration of the summer. As CWAC enters its inagural summer, the team continues to adapt to changing schedules and challenging terrain. Despite the dynamic nature of the program, efforts are underway to document activities in the field whenever possible, with the goal of uploading photos a couple times per week.
To view your photos, please click HERE
Please ensure that your photos are sorted OLDEST to NEWEST
Another way to view your photos is to go to: GALLERIES -> SUMMER PROGRAMS -> CWAC (CADET WARFARE ADVANCED COURSE)
Photos begin on page 7 (towards the bottom of the page)
To ensure the best quality of your photos, please download each of your photos directly off of the website!