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BS6's Dude
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Last Login: 12/10/2008 4:45 PM
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For more cool info on TACPs, go to:
http://www.geocities.com/death_on_call/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/death_on_call/ROMAD.html
http://www.geocities.com/death_on_call/ROMAD2.html
[uswingm]
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Air Force, Army coordinate fire
by Army Pvt. Terri Rorke
11th Public Affairs Detachment
04/23/03 - OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) --
Whether they are jumping out of aircraft or rolling in a convoy, one essential entity in any of the 82nd Airborne Division's operations carried out at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, is an Air Force Tactical Air Control Party.
Without the TACP, soldiers would not have a team to arrange air cover while an operation is taking place, officials here said.
"We call and request air support," said Senior Airman Bret Davidson, tactical air control specialist with the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron from Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
The airman, who is also a combat lifesaver, does more than just call support on the radio; he does everything from performing 15-minute responses with the quick reaction force at Bagram to helping plan operations here, said Davidson.
A two-person team is able to travel along with the infantry or jump out of aircraft with paratroopers to work as a liaison between the Air Force and Army. If soldiers need bombs dropped to explode a weapons cache or they need additional assets for a mission, the team is there to give pilots the big picture.
Because the ground commander has final authority on clearing air strikes, the team coordinates the exact target with him.
"Most of the time they will tell us where we need (ordnance) dropped. Then we relay the request through a (Defense Department) form," said Davidson. The form, which gives grid coordinates, elevation, description, contact and point of the objective, is sent to the Air Support Operations Command in Bagram that handles the TACP on the ground.
The job is "very important because sometimes friendly forces are out of range, (and) sometimes assets need to be there on time," said Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Richmond, terminal attack controller.
"We prevent (friendly-fire incidents) because we see the big picture," said Davidson. "What we do is more of an art than a science. It comes down to talking to the pilot."
If a TACP airman sounds unsure when asking for assistance, the ASOC official may not act as quickly as he or she should, said Richmond.
Being assertive is a huge part of TACP's job. They may tell where a pilot needs to drop ordnance, he said.
The two say they enjoy their job.
Davidson said he picked this job not only because he wanted to serve his country and take on a challenge, but he "didn't want an ordinary job. It was one of the only combat jobs that the Air Force has to offer (enlisted members)."
Since their job is combat-related, sometimes dangerous situations occur, he said.
An ambush of a four-vehicle convoy in late March killed one special operations soldier and Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier, a TACP airman. The ambush was in Geresk, a town near the Taliban's birthplace of Kandahar.
Despite the danger that is involved in the job, Richmond said he still enjoys his work.
"It's a great job. I love to see the places I go to, including Afghanistan. I can imagine doing this for 20 years," said Richmond.
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Trooper
 
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Hard Charger
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quote:
Originally posted by sauce
I heard a rumor that the Air Force is making a careerfield for officers in TACP, and by that I don't mean ALO's (rated officers) since they only do a stint with TACP's. Is there any truth to this, or is it just a dirty rumor?
Haven't seen anything about that, but the AF HAS created a career field called the Combat Rescue Officer (CRO). CROs will be able to act as staff officers who understand CSAR, and can work to integrate PJ capabilities into OPLANs, CONPLANs, etc. They can also provide coordination and support during operations. The PJs are still an all enlisted career field. The CROs are the PJs' representatives to higher, ensuring their role is understood and they are used properly and receive the right support.
http://www.specialtactics.com/afrccro.shtml
http://www.af.mil/news/opscenter/caoc_special4.shtml
"EBO isn't a strategy. It's a sales pitch." - Ralph Peters
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Air Force Liaison/P.Net Original Cast of Characters
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On Monday this past, I spoke with a couple of TACPs assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment LRSU, this guy had the tab, master wings, Master HALO wings, and a dive badge. A Hooah to say the least.
He said that the Army wants to increase the manning of TACPs all the way down to the platoon level. For that to happen, the AF would have to increase the TACP career field 10 fold. They have no TACP officers so if that happens even to the company level, they will need an officer career field.
LOAD CLEAR! LOAD CLEAR! Your Job is my Hobby!
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