Captain Doug Pinkerton designated a weapons and tactics instructor

Captain Doug Pinkerton USMC, recently graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course administered by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). The intense seven week training conducted at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma consisted of in depth academic courses and flight curriculum that prepares the student to return to his Fleet Squadron as the Squadron’s Training Officer and subject matter expert for threat systems, mission planning, and the weapon systems, tactics and employment of the AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopter. Typically one pilot per squadron is nominated by their Squadron Commanding Officer and invited to attend the course by MAWTS-1. Over 70 aircraft from the four Marine Air Wings along with units from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, participated during the course which focuses on the Six Functions of Marine Aviation: Offensive air support, anti-air warfare, assault support, aerial reconnaissance, control of aircraft and missiles, and electronic warfare. During the flight phase, numerous heliborne raids with an actual Marine Infantry Battalion being inserted and extracted were conducted. These live fire exercises integrated both fixed wing, rotary wing and indirect fires with the fire and maneuver of ground forces.Captain Pinkerton, a veteran of multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, is assigned to HML/A-167 (The Warriors) based at MCAS New River, North Carolina. Captain Pinkerton flies the AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopter. He is the son of Santa Paula ranchers Susan and Dan Pinkerton.