494th FS trains with NATO JTACs

DECIMOMANNU AIR BASE, Italy -- A Norwegian joint terminal attack controller student surveys the area for signs of enemy activity during JTAC qualification course field training in Sardinia, Italy, Feb. 1. Students from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Ground Operations School in Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany, honed their skills with help from the 494th Fighter Squadron during the two-week exercise. During the training, F-15E Strike Eagles supported the students with close air support against simulated hostile targets. (U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Megan P. Lyon)

494th FS trains with NATO JTACs

DECIMOMANNU AIR BASE, Italy -- Joint terminal attack controller students surveys a small village for signs of enemy activity during the JTAC qualification course field training in Sardinia, Italy, Feb. 1. Students from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Air Ground Operations School in Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany, honed their skills with help from the 494th Fighter Squadron during the two-week exercise. During the training, F-15E Strike Eagles supported the students with close air support against simulated hostile targets. (U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Megan P. Lyon)

494th FS trains with NATO JTACs

Published Feb. 15, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Megan P. Lyon
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DECIMOMANNU AIR BASE, Italy -- Airmen from the 494th Fighter Squadron recently helped build partnership capacity with NATO and U.S. Air Force joint terminal attack controller students from Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany, during a two-week exercise in Sardinia, Italy.

During the training, F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath provided the USAF in Europe Air Ground Operations School students with close-air support against simulated hostile targets.

"The students need to have practice talking to actual aircraft, pilots and aircrew," said Lt. Col. Allen Roberts, USAFE AGOS commander.

The trainees were completing two weeks of field training as part of a five-week JTAC qualification course. The first three weeks of the school include academics, doctrine and simulators in Germany. During the last two "air weeks", the students train with USAFE and NATO aircraft in the field.

"We deployed to Sardinia for two reasons: one was to get the support of the 494th FS," said Lt. Col. Craig McCarthy, USAFE AGOS director of operations. "The second was the weather. Northern Europe tends to not favor our training. We need clear skies and solid ranges to drop weapons on."

In addition to training in various climates, the students also trained at ranges, calling precision guided weapon drops from the F-15Es.

After graduating from the course, JTAC Airmen will serve with Army units. They will be responsible for directing close-air support strikes on enemy targets from forward positions while deployed downrange.

"Our mission is to teach the art of war. As the mission continues to evolve, we as NATO partners are trying to produce more JTACs," said Colonel Roberts.

In addition to training U.S. Airmen, the current class also included students from Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Croatia and other NATO and partner countries.

"It's a real privilege for the USAFE AGOS to train NATO partners," added Colonel Roberts. "We are building partnerships that will be long lasting as we continue to forge through and defeat our enemies downrange."