TACPs provide vital link between pilots, ground troops

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andrea Thacker
  • Air Forces Central News Team
FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Although they make up one of the Air Force's smallest career fields, their mission leaves a huge impact on the battlefield and can mean life or death for troops on the ground.

Tactical air control party Airmen serve as liaisons between ground commanders and pilots in the sky to eliminate the enemy's threat to ground forces. They're responsible for the planning, communicating and coordinating the ground commander's need for CAS, or close-air support.

"While infantry is the ground commander's piece of the world, he has to trust us on the information we give him and the air capability we can provide," said Tech. Sgt. Harvey Wagenmaker, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment joint terminal air controller, or JTAC. "How much trust he has in us is reflected on how often he uses us."

Their numbers bear out their reliability to the ground force commanders. In the last two months here, they have controlled more than 100 CAS missions and have had a substantial impact on the munitions dropped on enemy forces.

"[Their efforts] provide the ground commander a valid means to neutralize the targets while preserving the lives of friendly forces and the civilian populace," said Master Sgt. Leigh Bradley, Combined Joint Task Force-101 TACP superintendent.

Traditionally, TACPs serve on the frontlines alongside ground forces, but with advances in technology, that is not always necessary. The two-man team comprises one JTAC and one radio operator maintainer and driver, or ROMAD. Together, operating from a tactical operations center, or TOC, they use advanced, real-time full-motion video footage, to acquire a broader view of the battle space.

Commanders must weigh the benefits of placing the TACPs on the ground with the infantry or in the TOC, Sergeant Wagenmaker said. 

"It's a trade off," he said. "In the TOC, we have better lines of communication and access to advanced equipment that we can't always take with us in the field. But on the ground, we have a better pulse of what's going on because we're in the heat of battle and can make things happen."

The TACPs have a variety of CAS options at their disposal. Choosing the right one for the situation is a key component of their role.

"Target destruction is a desired outcome, but it doesn't solely justify effectiveness," said Sergeant Bradley, deployed from the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Campbell, Ky. "CAS effectiveness can come by way of a simple show of force.

This non-lethal mission has the ability to force the enemy to carefully consider their mortality and allows friendly forces to execute their combat mission without challenge."
An example of the TACP's impact was recently felt when an Army convoy came under fire from enemy forces and needed close-air support.

"We were pulling convoy security near [Afghanistan's] Manekandow Pass when we came in contact with heavy enemy fire, and our lead vehicle was disabled from a close-proximity mortar round," said Army Staff Sgt. Chris Summers, 2-506th Battalion targeting NCO.

When the Soldiers called for close-air support, the JTAC requested airpower, and a Navy FA-18 Hornet arrived on station to successfully end enemy contact with the troops, he said.

"Airpower plays a vital role in dismounted or mounted maneuvers through hostile areas," Sergeant Summers said. "When CAS is on station, it greatly reduces the threat. If we do get hit, only a handful (of enemy troops) will be brave enough to fire knowing [aircraft are overhead]."

After a day of successfully controlling close-air support sorties, the TACPs take pride knowing their actions saved the lives of the Soldiers they live and bond with every day.

"It feels good having that responsibility," said Airman 1st Class Eric Czachor, a ROMAD deployed from the 19th ASOS. "I'm capable of helping Soldiers in potentially hazardous situations. I like living and working with the Army. We're able to develop a close bond with the Soldiers since we work in such a small group. We understand what they bring to the table, and they can trust in us when the time comes."

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