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MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Approximately 160 guardsmen with the 111th Fighter Wing, Pa., Air National Guard, arrived Tuesday to support the Joint Tactical-Air Controllers.
The JTACs communicate, plan and facilitate the execution of close-air support for ground forces while working hand and hand with the fighter aircraft in identifying ground targets, said Senior Master Sgt. John Felice, detachment non-commissioned officer in charge.
This is the wing's third year in a row working with the JTACs. The two previous missions focused on the wing's own pre-deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq. The JTACs requested the wing's support in preparing other squadrons deploying to Afghanistan for this year's deployment, said Lt. Col. Timothy O' Toole, detachment project officer.
"All of the logistics basically started three months ago," said Colonel O' Toole. "We are one of the most recently returned squadron from Afghanistan. We had a very successful deployment."
The wing deployed to Afghanistan July 2008, and the JTACs requested the wing's assistance because of (the wing's) recent knowledge and experience gained in theater.
"The advantage we have is our massive experience. We are going to use our knowledge to train the JTACs." said Col. O'Toole.
Sharing knowledge through experience gained has been a common practice during this deployment.
Tech. Sgt. Michael Scully, 111th Maintenance Squadron electro-environmental technician, participated in last year's MacDill deployment. The 15-year service member is sharing his knowledge and experience gained with members Tech. Sgt. Jason Koder and Staff Sgt. Curtis Jeffries, former C-130 aircraft electrical technicians who transferred to the wing approximately two years ago.
"My supervisor, Master Sgt. Andy Jarosz, and I have been working since day one." said Sgt. Scully. "We've trained Koder and Jeffries and brought them up to spec from the C-130s to the A-10s. It's very good having them, and they are definitely an asset to our shop."
In addition to training the JTACs, another goal was to bring people who normally do not get the opportunity to deploy on a regular basis, considering this could possibly be the unit's last trip with the A10s, said Sgt. Felice.
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2009 11:07 |
| Story ID: | 30484 |
| Location: | MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, US |
| Web Views: | 455 |
| Downloads: | 403 |
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