116th ASOS Supports 81st Brigade's Annual Training
Story by SrA Angela Bergesen; Photos by MSgt Jim Sundahl - Posted Sep, 2003
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The 116th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) deployed to Fort Hunter-Liggett, California on June 14, 2003 for two weeks with the 81st Separate Infantry Brigade, in support of their Annual Training. Together, they performed coordinated mission readiness exercises involving tactical aerial and ground maneuvers. Training exercises like this prepare Airmen for real time scenarios occurring in and around Iraq and Afghanistan.
Providing Close Air Support (CAS) is the mission of the 116th. It is the ASOSs responsibility to ensure the correct targets are attacked, without harming friendly units. This unique mission requires operating on the battlefield while simultaneously communicating with other tactical air and ground units.
Major John Dowling, 116th ASOS Air Liaison Officer from Camp Murray, WA explains, Our mission is to advise US Army combat commanders in relation to the effective utilization of multi-service air power. When air power is necessary to attack targets close to friendly troops, synchronized efforts between the Army and Air Force are required to successfully complete the mission. (Find out more about the TAC-P training)
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Qualified individuals, serving as Terminal Attack Controllers (TACs), provide final attack control to the pilots while the fighters are inbound to the target. The TAC is responsible for ensuring the pilot positively identifies and attacks the correct target while minimizing the risk to friendly ground forces.
During peacetime, as seen here, training is the major focus and can take the form of common skills testing, various weapons qualifications, chemical warfare and combat first aid training. Throughout the year, Army Field Training Exercises (FTXs) are conducted to evaluate combat readiness.
When deployed, ASOS members live under austere field conditions and rigorously train with US Army units. They are responsible for the coordination, de-confliction, and execution of all attack aircraft operating in their area of operations.
This training pays off. In an article just recently published by Air Force Print News Today, on 7/21/2003 from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, 2nd Lt Rebecca Garland serving the 484th Air Expeditionary Wing in Public Affairs writes;
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Tech. Sgt. Kevin Whalen was one three people wounded when their convoy was ambushed July 19 about 30 miles north of here (Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan). Whalen's job is to call in close air support for soldiers on the ground. He is deployed from the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron at Camp Murray, Washington.
Whalen describes the event in the article by giving a detailed account of the activity on the ground and in the air. He says; "I grabbed the satellite communication radio and four minutes later we had (Marine AV-8) Harriers on site. I talked the Harriers onto our site and onto possible targets. I never saw a single (enemy) face, so I didnt have exact locations for the Harriers (to attack). They strafed the entire ridgeline. It was incredible, because they came in and did a high-angle strafe and another dry pass over the target, and literally, as soon as the Harriers showed up and strafed, the enemy stopped firing at us. Theres something incredible about calling in A-10s and Harriers, watching them bomb the hell out of the enemy, and knowing every single time (the enemy will) stop firing and hide when those jets show up. Thats powerful Im ready to get back to work.
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