The formation of the USAF Weapons School F-15E Division was formally announced in the Spring of 1991. The Commandant of the US Air Force Weapons School directed the initial syllabus and courseware development in early 1989. The initial cadre of instructors, consisting of five instructor pilots and three weapons system officers, began arriving in March of 1991 and were in place by June of 1991. The F-15E Division was formally activated in ceremonies at Nellis Air Force Base on July 8, 1991.

The course of instruction provides highly advanced instructor training for currently qualified F-15E instructor pilots and weapons system officers selected from throughout the Combat Air Forces. The course is designed to produce experts in all phases of F-15E tactical employment. The F-15E Fighter Weapons Instructor Course consists of over 315.5 hours of classroom academic instruction and 35 flying training missions. The validation class graduated in December of 1991. They were the first F-15E instructors to wear the "graduate" patch.

In January of 1992, the F-15E Division began full operation, producing 12 F-15E Weapons School graduates annually.

On 3 February 2003, the USAF Weapons School redesignated the F-15E division to the 17th Weapons Squadron.