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Enlisted terminal attack controllers

In an era of smart bombs and stealth aircraft, the effectiveness of modern air operations often depends on a relative handful of Air Force specialists who spend most of their time on the ground. These airmen, mostly enlisted members, are USAF's commandos.

They often commute to work by parachute or other unusual means. Their job is to direct air operations, spot targets, suppress enemy forces, and help rescue downed aircrews. These operations fall to two groups of elite troops: combat controllers and enlisted terminal attack controllers.

While they share a general specialty, the two groups train and work separately.

Combat controllers are ground combat forces assigned to special tactics squadrons of Air Force Special Operations Command. They are schooled in unconventional warfare and operate in forward areas, where they control everything from assault landings to air strikes.

Enlisted terminal attack controllers, who fall under Air Combat Command, spend most of their time working with Army units. They, too, train in extreme tactics and operate with forward ground forces. Their primary job is to call in and then direct close air support aircraft.

This group of airmen—also known individually as CCTs—has overseen air operations in conflicts from the Korean War to the most recent action in Iraq.

In addition to training in ground combat, each CCT is a certified air traffic controller. The work includes setting up navigational aid equipment to guide aircraft to landings on makeshift runways. CCTs deploy into combat areas by air, land, or sea and set up bare bones airfield capabilities. The CCTs are trained in demolition work to clear obstructions and hazards from potential runways and landing zones. They manage parachute assault zones and aircraft landings and low-altitude airdrops for resupply—without air control towers or extensive communications systems. Once they have an "airfield" established, the CCTs control air operations, provide command and control, gather intelligence, and make weather observations.

However, the primary thing CCTs do is air-to-ground interface. The manner in which a CCT provides air-to-ground interface varies with each mission. Sometimes it's providing air traffic control and sometimes it's doing tactical control or close air support, and sometimes it's placing navigation aids or actually controlling aerodromes.

They are trained to take over an airfield and run it just as if it were at Hurlburt Field. That means directing airplanes during landing and instructing pilots where to taxi and where to off-load personnel or equipment. Basically everything you would do at a normal airfield.

Because their aircraft land in combat zones, CCTs also must provide the long-range coordination to get them out of the airfield and on to their next mission. Training is varied and usually beyond USAF's mainstream courses. There are two major elements: Air Education and Training Command handles the first and AFSOC the second.

AETC first provides a two-week combat orientation course at Lackland AFB, Texas. Students undergo flight physicals, receive initial shooting instruction, and learn about the history of the combat control specialty.

What's next on the agenda varies depending on Air Force and Army schedules. The prospective enlisted CCTs go through a four-month air traffic control school at Keesler AFB, Missisippi; Army airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, which can last several weeks; and a 2.5-week survival school at Fairchild AFB, Washington. Following those three, the airmen must complete a three-month combat control school at Pope AFB, North Carolina.

The entire process takes about a year and prospective CCTs leave the AETC pipeline with a three-level apprentice skill level from combat control school. They are ready then for the AFSOC portion of their training—another year during which they learn advanced skills at Hurlburt. By the time they finish with this they are five-level qualified controllers.

Officer combat controllers follow much the same process. One exception is that officers spend slightly less time on air traffic control, but they receive training in airfield management.

AFSOC's 720th Special Tactics Group, headquartered at Hurlburt, is home to combat controllers. Within the group, there are seven special tactics squadrons: six active duty and one Air National Guard. Of the six active units, one is located at Kadena AB, Japan, and one at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom.

Depending on the mission, Air Force CCTs operate with Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and Special Forces. The mission also dictates whether the 720th STG's other special tactics airmen—combat weathermen and pararescuemen—deploy with the combat controllers. There are instances when all three will be on the same mission.

The weathermen can deliver time-sensitive forecasting and that can affect a commander's decision on how to prosecute a coming mission or an ongoing mission. The weather channel provides an overview of the weather situation, but in a combat situation you don't know what's happening at that mountain pass. That is why you need to send somebody out there to collect the data.

Combat controllers display a number of talents, not the least of which is their ability to recognize and sort out air traffic in the combat area—that includes rockets or artillery. The CCT must be able to "deconflict" air traffic in the area to prevent problems from developing. That is really their core skill. All the other specialty skills, such as free-fall parachuting and scuba diving just comes with the territory.

USAF's enlisted terminal attack controllers (ETACs) work directly with Army combat forces to manage their close air support.

The Air Force awards the ETAC specialty (which has no officer counterpart) only after an airman has served a long apprenticeship and taken a variety of courses, many of them with the Army. Becoming an ETAC is an extended process. The first step is to gain basic credentials as a tactical air command and control specialist.

First, there's a 75-day technical school at Hurlburt. There an airman receives training on ground maneuvers, handling weapons, and radio equipment—the basics that you need to use just to wander around with the Army.

After this initial training, the airman may take a number of specialized courses with the Army or other services. While the Air Force does not require such courses, they help the airmen to support the Army customer. Airmen working with the airborne forces, for example, have to be jump-qualified.

However, the majority of training for airmen hoping to become enlisted terminal attack controllers comes from work in the field, serving as an assistant to an ETAC and as a member of a tactical air control party (TACP). After an airman has been working in the career field for approximately two years he is sent to the Joint Firepower Course at Nellis AFB, Nevada. That course provides training in advanced close air support tactics. On returning to his unit, the airman gets a "check ride" with an experienced ETAC or air liaison officer. If he passes he is qualified to handle CAS air strikes without the direct supervision of an officer.

Once certified, an ETAC may spend most of his USAF career living and working with an Army unit. Frequently, a single ETAC is the sole Air Force representative with a small Army Special Forces or Ranger unit. At battalion level, an ETAC likely will be working with a younger tactical air command and control specialist trying to gain the experience needed to move up the TACP chain.

Calling in close air support strikes is the primary mission, but an ETAC also winds up simply sorting out air traffic in a combat area. An ETAC probably can control about 100 square miles of airspace by racking and stacking aircraft, watching fuel loads, and the whole bit. At the same time, the ETAC must keep in close contact with Army counterparts to let the "duck shooters"—the air defense troops—know that American aircraft are going to be in the area.

However, operating from a vehicle is a luxury rarely afforded USAF's enlisted terminal attack controllers. The ETAC works with what he can carry on his back. That includes several different heavy radio systems.

Air Combat Command has three air support operations groups:

• 1st ASOG assigned to 12th Air Force and headquartered at Fort Lewis, Washington
• 3rd ASOG assigned to 8th Air Force and headquartered at Fort Hood, Texas
• 18th ASOC assigned to 9th Air Force and headquarterd at Pope AFB, North Carolina, adjacent to Fort Bragg.

Each group has subordinate squadrons or flights stationed at various Army posts around the country.

Air Force Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)

"The strong will stand, the weak will fall by the wayside." For Air Force Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) airmen, these words are more than just a motto; they also serve as a battle cry.

Wherever American military forces are found, TACP airmen are sure to be nearby. Nicknamed the "Air Force infantry" because they spend most of their career assigned to Army units, tactical controllers can most often be found embedded with special operations forces.

Their primary role is to direct combat strike aircraft against enemy targets. They also coordinate artillery fire with air strikes. To accomplish their mission, tactical controllers serve on the front line, often in advance of any other military units.

In Afghanistan, they control the battlefield by coordinating strikes of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. Whether involved in a low-intensity conflict or full-scale conventional warfare, TACP airmen guide the full fury of American military might.

Known by Army special operations soldiers as enlisted terminal attack controllers, TACP airmen provide close-air-support aircraft guidance control to increase the capability of ground combat forces. They also are experts in artillery and in naval combat and attack helicopter capabilities; they use all combat assets to rain destruction on the enemy.

Some people think they are air traffic controllers, but that's inaccurate. Their mission is terminal control. That means bombs on target, and a very bad day for the enemy.

These airmen must be thoroughly proficient in ground combat techniques, and their training goes well beyond that of the Army infantry. Tactical control airmen serve as advisers to ground component commanders in planning and employing combat assets, and are the link between joint and combined forces.

In Afghanistan, TACP airmen coordinate ground and air assaults on terrorist positions, provide convoy security for coalition forces and even assist with presidential security for the fledgling Afghan government.

The fight for peace and freedom takes the tactical controllers into some of the roughest terrain and most inhospitable conditions in the world. Whether they are braving the freezing temperatures and thin air in the mountains of Afghanistan, or in the desolate, searing deserts of Iraq, wherever Special Forces are needed, TACP goes. Often they are the first in and last out.

TACP airmen can be recognized by their black berets. Although the burgundy berets of Air Force pararescuemen and the crimson berets of Air Force combat controllers are easily recognized, the black beret is seldom seen worn by Air Force members.

In the field, tactical controllers wear a battle uniform that is unremarkable, without name or Air Force labels, rank insignia or unit markings. Instead, their uniforms are adorned with small patches that make them visible to American pilots using special night-vision equipment, and are clearly marked on the sleeves and boots with each airman's blood type.

Tactical controllers are Ranger and airborne qualified, and are proficient in static line and high-altitude, low-open parachute tactics, as well as in air assault and scuba operations.

Their training begins with basic radio maintenance and operation, then continues with land navigation and combat air support basics, followed by survival school, where they learn resistance, escape and evasion tactics.