FORT BLISS, Texas - Infantrymen, artillerymen and Airmen worked together in seizing the village of El Jarbah, the capstone to exercise Hustler Trough II, at Fort Bliss, Texas, Nov. 5, 2015.
Hustler Trough II is a week-long joint fires exercise designed to enhance synergy between more than 10 different Army and Air Force units, Nov. 2 to Nov. 6.
During the battle for El Jarbah Soldiers from Company B, 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, received close air support from A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from the 66th Weapons Squadron, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and B-1 Lancers from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
"Today, Beast Company is attacking the village of El Jarbah," said 1st. Lt. William Macrae, field artillery officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division. "They will move into the village as our mortars establish a firing point."
Airmen assigned to 7th Area Support Operations Squadron, here, moved along with ground forces to provide a link to aircraft providing close air support.
"There's an [Air Force] joint terminal attack controller in the [Army] commander's truck," said Macrae. "The JTAC will be controlling close air support in conjunction with artillery and mortar fires per the commander's guidance."
Direct communication between ground and air forces helped both sides accurately eliminate threats and targets.
"This is helping us learn how to better integrate close air support with mortars and artillery," said Macrae. "It also helps us de-conflict the air space and figure out ways of firing artillery in conjunction with the air support."
This exercise brought a real life scenario of integrating different ways to use attack jets, artillery and mortar.
"We first used the air support to initially observe the village and spot targets," said Macrae. "Then, we call an air strike on enemy vehicles they see within the village."
As the JTACs directed the A-10s and B-1s, Macrae simultaneously directed the artillery and mortar support and paved a way for the infantrymen to take El Jarbah.
"The A-10s did their job taking down the enemies and most of the vehicles in here," said Sgt. Ryan Hogan, infantryman with Company B, 3rd Bn., 41st Inf. Reg. "We were spot on together."
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