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TAC-Ps provide vital link between pilots, Soldiers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andrea Thacker
  • Air Forces Central News Team - Combined Air and Space Operations Center
FORWARD OPERATING BASE ORGUN-E, Afghanistan --  Although they make up one of the Air Force's smallest career fields, their mission leaves a huge impact on the battlefield and can mean life or death for troops on the ground.

Tactical air control-party members serve as liaisons between Army ground commanders and pilots in the sky to eliminate the enemy's threat to ground forces. They're responsible for the planning, communicating and coordinating the ground commander's need for close-air support.

"While infantry is the ground commander's piece of the world, he has to trust us on the information we give him and the air capability we can provide," said Tech. Sgt. Harvey Wagenmaker, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment air liaison officer. "How much trust he has in us is reflected on how often he uses us."

Their numbers bear out their reliability to the ground force commanders. In the last two months here, they've controlled more than 100 CAS missions and have had a substantial impact on the munitions dropped on enemy forces.

"[Their efforts] provide the ground commander a valid means to neutralize the targets while preserving the lives of friendly forces and the civilian populace," said Master Sgt. Leigh Bradley, Combined Joint Task Force-101 TAC-P superintendent.

Traditionally, TAC-Ps serve on the frontlines alongside ground forces, but with advances in technology, that is not always necessary. The two-man team is comprised of one joint terminal attack controller and one radio operator maintainer and driver, or ROMAD. Together operating from a tactical operations center, they use advanced, real-time full motion video footage, to acquire a broader view of the battle space.

Commanders must weigh the benefits of placing the TAC-Ps on the ground with the infantry or in the TOC, Sergeant Wagenmaker said. "It's a trade off. In the TOC, we have better lines of communication and access to advanced equipment that we can't always take with us in the field. But on the ground, we have a better pulse of what's going on because we're in the heat of battle and can make things happen."

The TAC-Ps have a variety of CAS options at their disposal. Choosing the right one for the situation is a key component of their role.

"Target destruction is a desired outcome, but it doesn't solely justify effectiveness," said Sergeant Bradley, deployed from the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Campbell, Ky. "CAS effectiveness can come by way of a simple show of force.

This non-lethal mission has the ability to force the enemy to carefully consider their mortality and allows friendly forces to execute their combat mission without challenge."
An example of the TAC-P's impact was recently felt when an Army convoy came under fire from enemy forces and needed close-air support.

"We were pulling convoy security near [Afghanistan's] Manekandow Pass when we came in contact with heavy enemy fire, and our lead vehicle was disabled from a close-proximity mortar round," said Army Staff Sgt. Chris Summers, 2-506th Battalion targeting NCO.

When the Soldiers called for close-air support, the JTAC requested airpower, and a Navy FA-18 arrived on station to successfully end the troops in contact, he said.

"Airpower plays a vital role in dismounted or mounted maneuvers through hostile areas," Sergeant Summers said. "When CAS is on station, it greatly reduces the threat. If we do get hit, only a handful will be brave enough to fire knowing [aircraft are overhead]."

After a day of successfully controlling close-air support sorties, the JTACs take pride knowing their actions saved the lives of the Soldiers they live and bond with every day.

"It feels good having that responsibility. I'm capable of helping Soldiers in potentially hazardous situations," said Airman 1st Class Eric Czachor, a ROMAD deployed from the 19th ASOS. "I like living and working with the Army. We're able to develop a close bond with the Soldiers since we work in such a small group. We understand what they bring to the table, and they can trust in us when the time comes."