One of my buddies just joined the Air Guard last week and is going for a SP assignment. His ultimate goal is to complete college and come back in as a O1e. He wants to become a TAC-P as soon as he gets his commission. His recruiter told him that that was the best route to take, iot become a TAC-P. Now, I have been reading up on this and it seems like a really cool job. Maybe some of you guys like JR can give me a little bit of the inside poop on TAC-P's and what the best route might be iot become an officer in TAC-P. Maybe one of you can even let me know if there is a selection process to go to the SOCOM units as a TAC-P?

Thanks guys,

RLTW

Matador, your buddy "can't get there from here", so to speak.  The officers in TAC-P are all "rated" (meaning aviators of some type: pilot, navigator, etc) on 2 year tours before returning to flying status.  The permanent members the TAC-P community are all enlisted airmen, career field 1C4X1.  Here is a very detailed link about the career field, to include the process for working with SOF.

http://www.romad.com/pao.htm

I'm not AF, but I worked with these guys while a sigo for an infantry battalion and for an armor battalion, coordinating COMSEC, batteries, etc.  I got my MINIMAL knowledge during BS sessions with our ALO and TAC-Ps.

This FAQ link has some good stuff too:

http://www.romad.com/faq.htm#q13

Additionally, if your friend is joining the Air Guard he might want to look at one of the 4 ANG ASOS in CONUS, rather than trying for Security Forces:

GA: 165 ASOS: http://www2.state.ga.us/gadod/165asos/

MS: 238th ASOS: http://www.msmeri.ang.af.mil/238asos/238rec.htm

IL: 169th ASOS http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/publicaffairs/work%20files/html/stories/stry080603.html

NY: 274th ASOS

LA: 122nd ASOS: http://www.lanewo.ang.af.mil/122asos/homepage.htm

NC: 118th ASOS: http://www.ncchar.ang.af.mil/

WA: 116th ASOS

I realize your friend may be constrained by the fact that he doesn't live near any of these states.  Good luck to him though.

Lastly, this site looked pretty interesting too:

http://www.specialoperations.com/USAF/TACP/default.html

The recruiter is blowing smoke - The best way to become a TACP is to enlist as a TACP.  They usually have TONS of SP slots to fill (it's the largest AFSC in the USAF), so they're always telling guys stuff like that.

CR6 speaks the truth - There are no TACP officers.  They are all rated aviators temporarily performing TACP duty.  Some of them decide to stay in it, but not many.

The ALOs used to do all the CAS, and the enlisted guys were called ROMADs, which stood for Radio Operator Maintenance And Driver specialist.  At one time, all they did was drive the officers around, key up the radios, and hand it to the officer so he could could control the CAS.  All that has changed now, and the enlisted guys are doing most of the CAS, since the Big Blue USAF recognized they are the ones with all the continuity in the job.

The enlisted guys have to become ETAC qualified before they can control CAS on their own.  ETAC stands for Enlisted Terminal Air Controller.  There's a process in place for this, but I don't know how long it takes.

TACPs have one of the BEST jobs in the USAF, if you ask me.  I'm obviously biased toward the "Hooah" jobs, however...

I have a very good friend in the 169th ASOS.  Let me know if you want me to link your friend up with him.

FYI - There are also ANG TACPs who do SF support, and can get all of the cool schools and training.  To get on an SF support Team, they have to be fully trained, and then pass an in-house selection course.

Lastly, www.romad.com is the ultimate source for all things TACP.  I highly recommend you go there for further questions.

RLTW

I am a retired Air National Guard Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) with the 238th Air Support Operations Squadron, Meridian, Mississippi. I completed 2 tours with the unit and retired in July of 2006. Your friend has been sold a bill of goods on the SP route to officer selection to the TACP community. Officer's in fact are prior pilots, navigators, and the like. Yes, they do have a program for officer's that are not rated but it is a difficult program to get into and even harder to get a commander to sign off on it.

The officers are there for their "in-seat" expertise and primarily their ability to use their rank when it becomes necessary to deal with officers outside of the unit (Believe it or not, a Full bird takes being told that his requests are not within our responsibilities sooo much easier from another O than an enlisted!!!), not that he wouldn't get the same answer, the sting just isn't quite as bad.

Enlisted men are the JTAC's or ETAC's who do much of the grunt work and call in the airstrikes, artillery, mortars etc... that are needed. However each unit trains differently. For example, in our unit we have many ALO's who are tested and trained to do Terminal Attack controls in both emergencies and if needed. However, I only know of one case in country where an ALO made the radio contact and control. It is a rarity unless a unit has a different policy. A TACP, which includes all personnel needed to keep the tiger striped TACP animals doing their jobs, including maintenance, Admin, Alo's and the enlisted ETACs and ROMAD's.

You will also find that a guard guy and an active duty TACP can work wonders together and can become an effective team if you can prove yourself as a guard guy in their eyes. The professionals I had the honor to serve with always received the highest admiration from those that served with them and were constantly given assignments sometimes directed away from "part-timers" including some of our men serving with SF members (ODA teams).

If you want to have your friend contact me at ddaniel-727@hotmail.com to talk to someone who has been there be my guest. The Romad website is also a very good source which is orchestrated by one our best, Charlie Hiedal, The REAL Deal.

Good Luck,

Doc

Bayonet 25, JTAC
238th Air Support Operations Squadron
Meridian, MS, TSG Retired