Eglin's fires team supports joint training between the Air Force, Army

  • Published
  • By Casey Bain
  • Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team and U.S. Joint Forces Command
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team is supporting and integrating joint training between the Army and Air Force.

In partnership with the Army's National Training Center, the Air Force's Green Flag West is improving joint integration and warfighting skills of fighter pilots and joint terminal attack controllers conducting close air support missions to support maneuver forces as they prepare for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The learning experience and opportunity for units to grow while training here in a very realistic, stressful, and complex operational-like environment is second to none," said Army Capt. Clement Bermudes, training mentor at NTC.

The 23rd Fighter Squadron, an F-16 fighter unit from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; the 79th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.; and the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina Army National Guard, have been training together as part of Green Flag West and National Training Center rotation 09-05.

"NTC and GFW are great examples of how we can link traditional service-level exercises into one well-synchronized training event that benefits all participants and services," said Air Force Master Sgt. Joel House, JFIIT lead at NTC. "Part of JFIIT's mission during this exercise is to help integrate a variety of joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets with the 30th HBCT; and to support the joint air attack team and CAS training that will help prepare the unit for that mission once they deploy."

Part of this joint training replicates the irregular warfare environment in Iraq and Afghanistan according to senior leaders from both training centers.

"Our mission is to train our joint, coalition and interagency partners on how to better integrate the use of air, space and cyber power in support of ground forces in contemporary operations," said Air Force Lt. Col. John Walker, 549th Combat Training Squadron and GFW commander. "We emphasize joint doctrine and best practices to provide the pilots and maneuver units with a training experience that will prepare them for the challenges they will face once in theater."

This current rotation includes participation of a KC-10 Extender, an Air Force tanker that provides air refueling capability for the aircraft participating in this exercise.

"Green Flag provides the experience our team needs to gear up and be ready to deploy," said Air Force Maj. Dirk Young, 79th Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 aircraft commander. "We're helping provide the fighter pilots with a very unique training environment that simulates the same conditions that the pilots will see downrange."

Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Snyder, 79th Air Refueling Squadron director of operations, agrees.

"We help the aircrews and JTACs gain their combat proficiency by training together with an Army brigade at NTC in a very dynamic and near-real world environment," he said. "One thing that's unique about our aircrew's refueling mission here is that we are all reservists. We're a very senior team of professionals that will gladly pass on our experience to help others that are preparing to deploy."

Fighter pilots from the 23rd Fighter Squadron also value the unique opportunity to work with JTACs and their Army counterparts in this live and robust training environment.

"Training here at GFW and NTC allows us to focus solely on our CAS mission that is so vital when we're supporting Army maneuver units," said Air Force Capt. Craig Andrle, 23rd FS B-flight commander. "We realize that we are just part of a larger war effort taking place on the ground and this training will help us to better support those maneuver units when we're downrange."

NTC leaders realize the importance of Army brigade combat teams training with the forces, assets and capabilities they will have when deployed.

"Army units need to develop a plan that integrates airpower into their operations orders and scheme of maneuver," said Army Maj. Steve Thrasher, ground liaison officer at GFW from NTC. "It's a critical asset that we need to fully leverage to defeat the irregular threat that we're seeing today in Iraq and Afghanistan."

According to senior leaders at GFW and NTC, one of the most significant advantages to training is the training centers use of the after action review process that provides feedback to the warfighters immediately after each mission.

"Our training cycle is set up so that we continually brief, execute, and debrief all key personnel that train here," Colonel Walker said. "Our Airmen understand that we're here in direct support of a ground maneuver force and we're going to do our best to deliver the commander's desired effects on the battlefield. We will do everything we can to help the warfighter accomplish their mission and that crucial joint training starts right here."