Battlefield Airmen train for JTAC role at Pohakuloa Training Area

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo
  • Air Force News Agency
POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii (AFPN) --  Tactical air control party members from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron practiced and honed their skills calling in air strikes for B-2 Spirit stealth bombers during a week long training session as part of Exercise Koa Lightning.

These battlefield Airmen serve as joint terminal attack controllers when assigned to Army units and call in close-air-support strikes on enemy targets when necessary.

"Our sole purpose is to prevent fratricide. To me there's nothing more important than keeping the ground troops safe, not only from our fires but also from enemy fires," said Tech. Sgt. Rick Setlock, a tactical air controller practicing his JTAC role during the exercise.

Sergeant Setlock said JTACs are a huge force multiplier for the Army.

"At times, when they need us, we can lay fires down that are more effective than their inherent artillery rounds," Sergeant Setlock said.

Before deploying to support the war on terror, battlefield Airmen must be trained on a variety of tasks - advanced self-aid buddy care, infantry skills and practice pulling targets for precision engagements.

"It's not just a matter of close-air support. We're also infantrymen, in a sense," said Airman 1st Class Robert Gaines, a tactical air controller. "In addition to that we have to have medical skills, communications skills, navigations skills -- we have to be able to function in a plethora of mannerisms."

For the two younger TACPs training at Koa Lightning, being combat ready is a high priority. They must train to operate in any environment and learn to support ground forces and all elements of maneuver.

"They get thrown into the grinder pretty quick," said Staff Sgt. George Earhart, a tactical air controller. "We're looking for Airmen that can handle a lot of stress and a lot of equipment at once. We're not expecting them to be perfect at it right now but that's what we are working towards."

During Exercise Koa Lighting, B-2's fly from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam pair up with the TACPs over Hawaii to practice targeting and shaping the battlefield. This training is critical to the Air Force's ability to rapidly support ground troops in combat.

"We have the most advanced aircraft in the world," said Col. Damian McCarthy, 36th Operations Group commander. "But, I assure you, having the TACP, or joint terminal attack controller, looking at a target adds great tactical flexibility in how we take the fight to the enemy."

According to Sergeant Setlock, bombers are a huge force multiplier for ground troops. Fighter/attack aircraft can only stay on station for about 45 minutes, provide six to eight bombs and strike targets one at a time. With bombers overhead they can stay around for two to four hours, provide four times the firepower and strike several targets at once.

Currently, four B-2 Spirit Stealth bombers are at Andersen as part of the continuous bomber presence mission. Rotational bomber deployments to Guam help maintain stability and security in the region while allowing stateside-based units to become familiar with operating in the Pacific theater.

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