ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Five Joint Terminal Attack Controllers from the 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery joined Airmen from the 37th Bomb Squadron in a training exercise within the Powder River training area, Oct. 28.
The joint exercise was part of a four-day package designed to prepare the 37th BS for its upcoming deployment in January.
"The training we do here most closely mimics what we do downrange," said Capt. Robb Fiechtner, 37th BS co-pilot. "We get some of the best training when we work with the Canadian JTACs."
In theater, JTACs are responsible for directing the actions of military aircraft engaged in combat operations.
"The more they know now, the smoother the process goes," said Lt. Col. Steven Biggs, 37th BS commander. "We flew more than 20 training missions from Monday to Thursday, with the JTACs directing us from the ground. It is invaluable to have them train out here with us, after working so closely with them in theater."
The JTACs assisted B-1B Lancers in the exercise by providing real-time data on simulated targets, via a link between the aircraft's Sniper advanced targeting pod and a laptop on the ground. The pod's video feed gives the JTAC a birds-eye view of the target area, including any hostile forces which may present a threat to the B-1 or nearby ground forces.
"It's really awesome to have this downlink," said Sgt. Aaron Cutler, 1st RCHA JTAC. "The sniper pod has so much more fidelity than ground imaging."
Sergeant Cutler, who has helped put the B-1's bombs on target while in forward combat zones, had nothing but praise for the aircraft and its crew.
"The B-1 was probably my favorite airframe to work with downrange," he said.
With the amount of time B-1 aircrews spend working with the Canadian JTACs downrange, Lt. Col. Biggs considered this chance to provide realistic training to be a golden opportunity.
"They weren't pitching softballs at us during this training," Lt. Col. Biggs said. "It was a phenomenal experience for both parties. The level of realism the JTACs brought to the scenarios is exactly what we need to excel downrange."
The spontaneity and adaptability of both the B-1 aircrews and the JTACs enhanced the realism of the exercise, said Maj. Jan-Peter Linch, 28th Bomb Wing wing weapons officer. The close air support, and high-altitude bombing missions they practiced brought new insights into potential communication problems that could arise during a deployment.
"This training improves communication," he said. "The more realistically we train, and the more we incorporate other services, the easier it will be to find that harmonious communication during combat."
That harmonious communication comes from the intense training both the JTACs and aircrews experience together. Major Linch said during a combat operation, everyone is checking and double-checking information to ensure mistakes aren't made.
"The aircrew needs to trust the JTACS, and the JTACs have to trust the aircrew," Major Linch said. "In combat, there are literally minutes - sometimes seconds, to establish that confidence. This is why realistic training is so essential."
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)