Airmen support Soldiers by putting bombs on targets

Published May 19, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq -- On a battlefield they plan, request and direct air strikes against enemy targets in close proximity to friendly forces, namely the army units on the front lines who may need close-air support in the blink of an eye.

"I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I am supporting my Army counterparts," said Senior Airman Stephan Merlics, 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron joint terminal attack controller, and who is deployed from Fort Riley, Kan., and is a native of Orlando. "I basically tell the aircraft where to put bombs on targets."

The Airmen charged with calling in these possible air strikes are known as the Tactical Air Control Party or TACPs, and for a small group of them here supporting ground forces is their number one priority.

"Our day-to-day ops revolve around finding and preventing historical indirect fire locations," said Master Sgt. Scott Hayes, 82nd EASOS division superintendent. "We are out there continuously trying to deter the enemy from doing what they are trying to do."
The TACPs here don't just work with the Army while deployed; back at home they are assigned to Air Force Air Support Operations Squadrons, training and living with their aligned Army counterparts on Army Installations.

"There are no jobs more jointly integrated than our job because we work and live with the Army on a day-to-day basis," said Sergeant Hayes, who is deployed form Fort Riley, Kan., and is a native of Tipton, Ind.

In the past it could have taken more than a dozen TACPs to support one Army brigade, but now the same job can be done with just a couple of TACP Airmen thanks to new technology.

"We use rover terminals to see exactly what the pilots are seeing on their sniper and lightning pods," said Sergeant Hayes. "The advantage of this is that the pilots, the TACPs and the Army ground commanders are all on the same page."

Not only do the TACPs support Army units outside the wire, but they also direct coalition aircraft to provide full motion video feeds of areas where enemy forces may attempt to launch attacks.

"We have reduced the amount of indirect fire the base has seen and ultimately ensured the safety of base personnel," said Capt. Troy Berghuis, 82nd EASOS air liaison officer, and who is deployed from Fort Riley, Kan., and is a native of Kimberly, Wisc. "It has been a constant challenge because if we don't catch the enemy in the act it is hard to prevent them from doing it again."

According to one Army company commander, without the hard work and dedication of the TACPs, his ground forces wouldn't be able to perform their mission as well as they do.
"Essentially what the Airmen are able to do is allow me to maneuver and focus on my ground forces, knowing I can get the info and support I need from the different birds providing cover above," said Army Capt. Jason Hoffman, Bravo Company commander, 2nd -112th, 56th Stryker Brigade, charged with the security and safety of the Abu Ghraib area of Iraq and fostering a partnership with Iraqi forces. "Everywhere I go the TACP Airmen have performed in an exceptional manner."