48th FW keeps multi-national JTACs combat-ready Published Feb. 18, 2015 By Staff Sgt. Stephanie Longoria 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- U.S. Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing participated in exercise Purple Windmill with Dutch and French Joint Terminal Attack Controllers in Vliehors Range, Netherlands, Feb. 9 -13. Purple Windmill is a recurring exercise originally developed by the Royal Netherlands Army to keep JTACs trained and certified for real-world deployments. "These exercises are common and the 48th FW participates in them a couple times a year," said Col. Scottie Zamzow, 48th Operations Group commander. "The JTAC training helps U.S. pilots during real-world contingencies since they are likely to work with controllers from other countries both in training and combat roles." The 48th FW accomplished 18 close air support, surface-attack and dynamic-targeting training sorties during the training. JTACs are fully-qualified air traffic controllers who direct the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other air operations from a forward position. According to Zamzow, "The training allows pilots and controllers to gain and maintain currencies, develop tactical training plans, learn cultural differences [military and national], and identify interoperability issues and work-arounds. "More importantly, it forges a bond of trust between operators of different countries fighting for the same common end state."