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Joint Air Attack Team Live Fire Exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephany D. Richards
  • Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
Undisclosed Location, SOUTHWEST ASIA --  U.S. Air Force's 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations unit conducted a Joint Air Attack Team live fire exercise called Operation Spartan Spear Two at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Sept. 18, 2013.

A JAAT is when both a fixed wing and rotary wing assets all fire into the same area.
"It is important because it masses fires and gives a shock to the enemy," Staff Sgt Nick Heffron, 82nd EASOS joint terminal attack controller said. "When everything starts blowing up around the enemy, it throws them into chaos and they don't have time to react, so you are able to get the mass amount of destruction without them being able to return fire."

The goal of the operation is to work with the other services to develop joint tactics and techniques.

"We rarely get to do this," Chief Warrant Officer 4 Will Kittelson, 36th Aviation Brigade Air Mission Commander said.

It's the first time a few of the units have been on the range.

Lt Col. Matthew Lengel, 82nd EASOS commander said. "It was a successful mission with good attacks by everybody."

The units who participated in the exercise are the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, all from undisclosed locations in Southwest Asia.

"These are the people we are going to work with if we have to go and respond to a crisis in the Central Command area of responsibility," Lengel said.

The good thing about working with the sister services is the more you know how they operate the more proficient you will be, Heffron said. "We want to try and keep the training sharp."

This is the second time the 82nd EASOS conducted a JAAT training operation.
"So, this is an expanding event and hopefully in the future we can even add some other Army assets." Lengel said.

The 82nd EASOS is an Air Force unit that provides air to ground and weather expertise to an Army Central Task Force.

"We have Tactical Air Control Party personnel that support an Army brigade which is part of Central Command's Regional Response Force," Lengel said.

The RRF's mission is to respond to crisis events within the CENTCOM area of operation.

"In addition to supporting U.S Army units, we also perform partnership operations with various militaries in the region," Lengel said. "There are times that I have JTAC teams out in upwards of three countries with other nations and conducting joint services."

A JTAC is a qualified military service member who, from a forward position, directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive air operations.

"Our job is great because it saves a lot of lives," said Heffron. "By neutralizing the enemy before friendlies get there, we pave the way for their operations so they don't get hurt or killed."