By 2nd Lt. Gunbold Ligden
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 4th Infantry Division
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania - Soldiers and Airmen with 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment (Task Force Fighting Eagles), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, made history recently by conducting joint air-to-ground integration and controlling the lethal and agile Romanian MIG-21 fighter jets.
As jets sliced through the cool humid air here, a team of U.S. service members directed the aircraft from the ground, routinely monitoring the radios and the skies. Onlookers stopped their training in awe of the aircraft afterburners.
The group included U.S. Air Force and Romanian joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) and Army joint fires observers (JFO). This was the first time ever that U.S. military personnel spoke directly to Romanian pilots from the 861st Fighter Squadron to execute close-air support (CAS) for a training scenario.
After arriving to Mihail Kogalniceanu with the task force, Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Keithley, a JTAC from the 2nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, took it upon himself to create a training plan with Romanian pilots in order to develop joint tactics and interoperability.
JTACs are trained in CAS and controlling aircraft in support of ground operations.
"I saw the MIG's flying overhead, and I thought it would be great if we could train together. We can help each other by enhancing our capabilities," said Keithley.
The Romanians were eager to train.
"This is a great opportunity for us to invest in Romanian-U.S. air interoperability. I am glad our pilots are working with the U.S. Army and Air Force to broaden their abilities," said Lt. Col. Silviu Marincas, Deputy Squadron Commander, 861st Fighter Squadron. "We look forward to our end state, which is a combined arms live-fire exercise involving ground and air assets from the U.S. and Romania," he said.
In addition to training Romanians, Keithley taught a class to the leaders of the Atlantic Resolve task force about the full capabilities of CAS, a crucial enabler in combined arms maneuvers.
"Air-to-ground integration is key to identifying and destroying targets on the battlefield. The critical tactical advantages CAS brings to the task force enable the unit to become an even more lethal fighting force," said Keithley.
The training provides the opportunity for the JTACs to work through the process of calling fire support. Observers identify targets, JTACs confirm the data, and the MIGs send their payload.
"Keithley's grassroots coordination is the very cornerstone of successful interoperability. The fact that we are able to integrate our ground forces with Romanian air assets is a testament to the strength of our alliance," said Capt. Chad Evans, fire support officer, 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt.
The Fighting Eagles are deployed to Romania and Bulgaria in support of Atlantic Resolve, the U.S. Army Europe's contribution to helping NATO Allies and partners maintain security in Europe. The deployment is the first of continuous "heel-to-toe" rotations of armored brigade combat teams throughout central and eastern Europe.
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