Air Force by service, but Army by trade

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. Frank Magni
  • 17th Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  They are a unique breed of servicemembers on the frontline -- Air Force by service, but Army by trade.

Joint terminal attack controllers can be found throughout Afghanistan, planning, communicating and facilitating the execution of close-air support for ground forces.

For the Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment working in the Paktika Province, JTAC support comes from Airmen of the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. Located everywhere from tactical headquarters to smaller operations in the field, the JTAC Airmen act as the liaison for all air support that comes from every service and all coalition partners.

“Because what we do can be applied to any air-support element, we have no problems working with anybody,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Hiler of the 25th ASOS.

From helicopters to bombers, JTAC Airmen and their leaders have a variety of weapons capabilities to perform a variety of tasks.

But choosing the right weapon for the task is just one part of their job on the ground. To be successful at calling in air support, they must master two vital skills -- communication and planning, Sergeant Hiler said.

In the stages leading up to operations, JTAC Airmen are very important to planning because they pay constant attention to how close-air support will be used and even advise leaders on the best ways to use air assets, said Staff Sgt. Robert Pena of the 25th ASOS.

Planning is also important so that close-air support can happen safely on the battlefield with other indirect fire assets, such as artillery and mortars.

While communication goes hand-in-hand with the planning process, it is also one of the most important things the JTAC Airmen do.

“If we can’t talk, we can’t do anything,” Sergeant Hiler said. “Communications is such an important aspect of our job.”

To assist in their communication needs, the JTAC Airmen use a complete array of equipment and have the knowledge to operate, maintain and fix it.

“We have to know how to do everything with our (communication equipment),” Sergeant Pena said. “We are away from our support elements so often, it is many times up to us to make sure we can continue on with the mission.”

For the JTAC Airmen, being isolated from not only support, but also other Airmen, is something they say is just a part of the job. It is an aspect they said they enjoy, and one that sets them apart from others in the service.

Avoiding overuse of the word “elite” in reference to themselves, they instead use “unique,” Sergeant Pena said. Because JTAC Airmen are volunteers, Sergeant Pena said the job creates its own identity and desire for a job well done.

JTAC is one of the few jobs in the Air Force that is so far forward on the battlefield, he said.

“We like to be out on the frontline with the Army,” Sergeant Pena said. “It is something that (we) want to do and is very rewarding. It is almost like a brotherhood.”