1 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –Capt. Matthew C. Martel and Chief Warrant Officer Randy Peterson of 12th Combat Aviation Brigade fly an Apache AH-64 attack helicopter in formation with a Czech Air force Mi-24/35 attack helicopter. (Photo Credit: Lt. Tomas Chlebecek)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –CW2 Matthew Black communicates with an AH-64D flown by CW2 Cody Schoonover and 1LT Jacky Kwan while a Czech IS91 "Straight Flush" radar attempts to find the aircraft. Photo: CW2 Steven Larmay (Photo Credit: CW2 Steven Larmay)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy Peterson, an Apache pilot for Charlie company, 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, makes his way to the Apache he will be flying during the joint training operation Ample Strike 2015 in Boletice, Czech Republic, September 16, 2015. Operation Ample Strike is a multi-national training operation with an emphasis on land-air integration with 18 different nations. The 12th CAB contributed four AH-64 Apaches to the exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicholas Redding) (Photo Credit: Spc. Nicholas Redding)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –Spc. Dezarae Rodriguez, a petroleum supply specialist for Echo company, 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, prepares to fuel an AH-64 Apache that will be flying during the joint training operation Ample Strike 2015 in Boletice, Czech Republic, September 16, 2015. Operation Ample Strike is a multi-national training operation with an emphasis on land-air integration with 18 different nations. The 12th CAB contributed four AH-64 Apaches to the exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicholas Redding) (Photo Credit: Spc. Nicholas Redding)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –Master Bombardier Matieu Marcoux-Desrochers from the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and a Joint Terminal Attack Control operator from the 147th ASOS, Ellington Joint Reserve base Texas, plot out targets for the AH-64 Apaches to engage during operation Ample Strike 2015 in Boletice, Czech Republic, September 16, 2015. Operation Ample Strike is a multi-national training operation with an emphasis on land-air integration with 18 different nations. The 12th CAB contributed four AH-64 Apaches to the exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicholas Redding) (Photo Credit: Spc. Nicholas Redding)VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 6Show Caption +Hide Caption –Capt. Dave Smith from the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry, designates a target and radios to the AH-64 Apache pilots as part of the training operation Ample Strike 2015 in Boletice, Czech Republic, September 16, 2015. Operation Ample Strike is a multi-national training operation with an emphasis on land-air integration with 18 different nations. The 12th CAB contributed four AH-64 Apaches to the exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicholas Redding) (Photo Credit: Spc. Nicholas Redding)VIEW ORIGINAL
BOLETICE TRAINING AREA, Czech Republic -- Four AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and 60 support personnel from 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment participated in a nine day, Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) air-to-ground live fire exercise, here, Sept. 7-18.
The goal of Ample Strike is to provide pilots and JTACs with direct live fire feedback through a realistic combat scenario. The exercise included JTACs from over 20 nations, and also Airmen from the Texas Air National Guard. Texas has worked with the Czech Republic for over 10 years as part of the U.S. European Command's state sponsorship program. This training prepares 12th CAB pilots and JTACs from our NATO allies for future multi-national deployments.
Aircrews flew five, two-hour iterations per day, in support of both dry fire and live fire JTAC certifications. The scenarios included engagements with the Apache's 30mm chain gun and a portion involving laser target designation with the Hellfire missile. The certifications are important to the JTAC operators because it gives them realistic feedback that a simulator cannot provide.
The 147th Air Support Operations Squadron from Ellington Field Joint Reserve base, Texas, has a long standing relationship with the Czech JTAC's from the 22nd Air Force base. Together, they were the lead JTAC trainers for the exercise, which led to successful executions of the Apache's attack scenario.
"Each rotation brought a new NATO ally, a new accent and new phrases which were challenging to understand," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Black, an Apache pilot from Charlie company, 2nd Bn., 159th Avn. Regt. "Once we got the hang of it, things went smoothly."
In addition, pilots, aircrews and support personnel participated in several other training events with the Czech military which included; drivers training with the SA-6 Gainful mobile surface-to-air missile system, air-defense training with the 1S91 Radar and a formation flight with MI-24 Hinds.
Ample Strike was focused on strengthening the NATO alliance and our junior leaders through decentralized operations. The 12th CAB's ongoing participation in Operation Atlantic Resolve strengthens the partnership with our NATO allies.
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