JTACs prepare for war at Atlantic Strike

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
AVON PARK AIR FORCE RANGE, Fla. (ACCNS) --  United States Airmen, Marines and members of the Danish army came together to participate in exercise Atlantic Strike at Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla., from Sept. 10 to 17.

The Atlantic Strike exercise provides U.S. Air Force joint terminal attack controllers with the most realistic training available.

"Atlantic Strike is an exercise where we bring in coalition forces and Air Force JTACs to work with and learn from each other," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robert Callaway, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing JTAC. "We also have a maneuver force; this time it's the U.S. Marine Corps. We bring the JTACs into different scenarios involving military operations in urban terrain, improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades and other situations, just to see how they react.

"We make sure that they are working with the ground commander and they are meeting their objectives," he added. "They have to get them to sign off on strikes and ensure they are hitting the right targets while taking the rules of engagement into consideration."

During one of the scenarios, Marines and JTAC Airmen used Ultimate Training Munitions training rounds to move into a village and eliminate insurgents. The opposition force was played by contracted civilians, who used real weapons and fired UTMs, which are non-lethal rounds that leave a mark when hit.

"I was a driver for a gun truck," said U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Ian Phillips, 2nd Tank Battalion scout platoon. "This is about as real as it gets. This is going to save men's lives. This training gives us confidence to work with other branches.

"In this exercise we have to recognize opposition force and move in a coordinated way to take them out.," he added.

Atlantic Strike is held twice a year and designed to prepare JTACs to go to Afghanistan.

"This is the one exercise in the United States that is totally dedicated to the JTAC and getting him the training that he needs," said Col. Paul Walski, 93rd AGOW vice commander. "This exercise focuses on the JTAC's needs and everyone else is supporting that role.

"Atlantic Strike shows off air power from a joint perspective," he added. "It brings all services into one fight, creating the best joint strike force we have to protect this nation."

Atlantic Strike provides valuable training to everyone involved, but focuses on the JTACs and their training. There were many scenarios for JTACs to hone their skills. Some of the scenarios called for fake bombs while others involved helicopters firing live AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

"With this exercise, we are making sure everyone gets good training," said Callaway. "The maneuver force figures out what they want to do. Then we figure out what the aircrew and the JTACs need for training and create a scenario that meets all those needs.

"From JTACs that have participated, they have said this is one of the best places to prepare to go downrange," he added. "I think that here, where we have an exercise dedicated solely to the JTAC and can build training around him, it benefits the JTAC a lot more."

One of the focuses of Atlantic Strike was working in a joint environment. For JTACs who typically are attached to Army units and live on Army posts, this aspect of the training was extremely important.

"We all bring something different to the fight," said Marine Sgt. Laquin Andrus, 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company joint fires observer. "By working together we get to see how they do things and learn from each other."

At the end of one of many scenarios, sweat-drenched Marines and JTACs carried their gear back to a tent to debrief and be critiqued.

The training at Atlantic Strike prepared the teams of JTACs and Marines to go downrange and take the fight to the enemy.