An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

FOB Spin Boldak: A dose of Army mixed with a dash of 'Big Blue'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Salanitri
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Combat Correspondent
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan --  Members of the 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and a select handful of Air Force service members from Forward Operating Base Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, are carrying out a dynamic mission.

Their mission: to conduct intelligence-based targeting to disrupt Taliban operations. In layman's terms, they find who the bad guys are and take them out of the fight.

The area of operation for the brigade places them in a geographically important area. With neighboring Pakistan only a short way away, the success of the local Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is vital.

"Spin Boldak is located on a strategic border so we're in a critical position," said U.S. Army Col. Gary Johnston, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and native of Russellville, Ark. "We're partnered with the Afghan National Security Forces to ensure the population is secure and that we're interdicting insurgents who come across the border."

Not only are the members of the 504th BSB working with the ANSF, but they are also sharing knowledge with them along the way.

"The primary theme going into this year is that U.S. and coalition forces aren't going to be here forever," said Lt. Col. Justin Haynes, brigade S3 operations officer and native of Nashville, Tenn. "We're developing them so they can stand on their own two feet. After coalition forces leave, they can continue to grow the Afghan country."

In an era where technology is running rampant, the brigade here uses boots on the ground to help develop the sight picture.

"Without having guys on the ground, observing and reporting what is going on, the sight pictures wouldn't be as strong," said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew Adams, 1st platoon leader of Bravo Troop, 2-38 Cavalry, 504th BSB and native of Modesto, Calif. "We gather info on terrain, infrastructure, society and gain information to pass to the higher ups to help the decision process."

Though the missions conducted here are lead by the Army, they are not the only players. On a majority of their missions, multiple countries are present along with another service, the U.S. Air Force.

The Joint Terminal Attack Controller, better known as a JTAC, seems to be a tool no Army ground commander wants to go on a mission without.

"The JTAC helps us employ all joint aircraft in the (area of operation)," said Haynes. "The JTAC is one of the first (multipliers) our guys will take with them on missions because they control (intelligence, surveillance and recognizance) and strike platforms.

"Their skill set is so unique," said Haynes, "Their ability to communicate and talk to almost anyone out there allows for the ground commander to focus on the mission, knowing that the JTAC can take care of the air assets"

Though you can never predict what the enemy will do, JTACs are always prepared to respond with close air support or ISR feeds.

"We could be out there just smokin and jokin while pulling security and bam, there's small arms fire," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Dickey, JTAC assigned to Spin Boldak. "First thing I do is grab my radio and I'm talking to aircraft trying to get fast-movers (fighter aircraft) on scene to support the Army ground commander."

On a base where the ratio of Soldiers to Airmen is near 100:1, the JTACs here are taking the opportunity to demonstrate the professionals the Air Force has.

" I love how my job lets me change the Army's opinion about the Air Force," said Dickey. "When we hit the ground on a mission, we're hauling (tail) so we're in the front. I'm Air Force; he's Army -- if I do one thing wrong, I'm going to get judged. We're always trying to do things better. If we're rucking, we're up in the front. You're the one setting the pace."

Observing the JTAC work almost seamlessly with their Army unit, the platoon leader doesn't hesitate to grab a JTAC and put him in a stack.

"JTAC, get over here. You're stacking up with us," said Adams as his fire team moves through a closed off fruit orchard at night.

Rarely will you find a JTAC further than an arms reach away from the ground commander or platoon leader.

Recalling one mission where the JTAC came in handy, Adams paints a vivid picture of how value doesn't always mean dropping bombs, but can be showing where the bad guys are.

"We had intel that there were a bunch of bad dudes in the area we were observing," said Adams, a former U.S. Marine. "(The JTAC) was able to use ISR platforms to show us at night where the bad guys were. We'd pop out from our cover only about 20 feet from the target before detaining them. You can tell they were shocked to see us," said Adams with a look on his face of pure excitement.

Though the Army will continue to kick down doors and take out bad guys with or without a JTAC, it's obvious what they prefer.

"No doubt -- If I could take a JTAC out with me every mission, I would," said Adams. "They're part of our team."