FORT CARSON, Colo.---The 13th Air Support Operations Squadron completed nearly two weeks of training June 11, conducting exercises on Airburst Range to prepare them for deployment with Army units later this year.
The final day's events included close air support exercises and ground assault missions for the members of the squadron as they train to be embedded with Army combat units from the 4th Infantry Division. The exercise also included Chinook helicopters from the Colorado Army National Guard.
The 13th ASOS is an Air Force unit on Fort Carson that provides tactical command and control of air power assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander for combat operations.
It is one of six squadrons in the 3rd Air Support Operations Group, headquartered at Fort Hood, Texas. The 13th ASOS is the only Air Force squadron stationed at Fort Carson, with the primary mission of its 120 personnel being to provide support - air support in particular - to the Army.
"Today is the culminating day of our exercise we've been doing for two weeks, providing training specifically for the Air Force (Tactical Air Control Party) that we are sending down range to Afghanistan with the 1st Brigade Combat Team of 4th Infantry Division. They will go for a year. Air Force will send our guys out there with them to support them during their tour," said Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas Moore, director of operations, 13th ASOS.
Three other Air Force groups not deploying also received continuation training and proficiency training at the same time. The expectation is that all of them will be able to handle any situation encountered while on the ground with the Army.
While their primary job is Airman, their secondary role is rifleman, which is why they train as ground troops in an integrated close quarters combat role.
"The kind of training we're doing here, the primary focus is to shoot, move and communicate," said Moore.
This was evident in the first stage of the day's training. Ground forces entered a mock town with enemy combatants hiding behind and in buildings. One officer acted as the town's tribal leader, confronting the troops verbally as they entered in an effort to confuse them.
An explosion behind the buildings started the hostilities, as the objective was to return fire and remove a wounded civilian while avoiding injury. The ground force threw green smoke grenades as camouflage, returned fire and extracted the wounded man.
"Basically we're providing them with a place to train, and to train as realistically as possible to prepare for their deployment. They embed with an Army unit and they provide close air support for them throughout the theater," said Master Sgt. Manuel Gomez, Air Force range control officer.
This means the Airmen play the role of infantrymen, right along with their Army counterparts.
"It's changed a lot just because of the nature of the mission," said Gomez.
Later in the day, the final scenario had troops from the Blue Force (good guys) taking mock rocket propelled grenade fire from a ridgeline by the Red Force (bad guys, simulating the Taliban), while a concealed joint terminal attack controller called in airstrikes and artillery on the positions of the enemy firing the RPG's.
The JTAC allows for detailed integration between ground forces and aircraft due to the close proximity of enemy forces.
"Close air support is what the JTAC specializes in; bringing effective weapon effects upon the enemy. It is in essence a force multiplier, and has been many times a lifesaver," said Air Force Capt. Shaun Cheema, section commander, 13th ASOS.
Mock RPGs, with very real propellant, fired by the Red Force flew overhead as ground forces moved just outside a mock village. The airstrikes, while not actually dropped, were monitored by officials in a tower, who watched the entire event and called in the effect, making it a fluid situation for the troops on the ground.
Also on site were Family members of the Airmen, invited out for the final day to get a sense of what the troops do in their military roles on a daily basis. The Family members got a tour of the Airburst Range facilities; got lectures on the day-to-day operations of 13th ASOS; had a chance to try meals, ready to eat for lunch; and were treated to a barbecue dinner at the end of the day.
Social Sharing