Courtesy Photo | An Apache from the 1/151 Aviation Battalion in the South Carolina National Guard fires...... read more read more
MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. – The 1st of the 151st Aviation conducted a joint training exercise with Company A, 2nd of the 149th Aviation and the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Joint Terminal Attack Control from Pope Air Force Base, Nov. 5-6, at Poinsett Range near Shaw Air Force Base.
Five Apache and two Black Hawk helicopters, along with eight ground combat controllers, engaged in helicopter assault training and air to ground fire integration training.
An Air Force Staff Sgt. combat controller assigned to JTAC, said they were able to simulate real life situations that could occur in a deployed environment. During this exercise, they simulated one casualty evacuation each day with the Black Hawks. Also, the Apaches conducted several training missions that involved combat skills including an air assault raid to capture a high value target.
To complete the evacuation mission, the combat controllers had to secure the area where the casualty was located and lead the Black Hawks to the casualty. They then had to control the airspace so the Black Hawks had a clear flight out of the area.
In order for the Apaches and JTAC to accomplish their integrated missions, they had to be in constant communication with each other. JTAC called the Apaches to the area, told them where their targets were and the Apaches flew in to finish the mission. To make the training as real as possible, there were simulated oppositional forces performing missions in which the Apaches had to react. Smoke pyrotechnics and ground burst simulators were set up by JTAC to cause distraction, concealment, and to simulate the enemies attack on the Apaches.
Chief Warrant Officer David Reynolds, Black Hawk pilot with the 2/151st said part of the mission was for the combat controllers to deliver the captured ground force commander to a Black Hawk while two Apaches provided protection.
“Everything had to come together at the right time,” Reynolds said. “The Black Hawks were able to support us in every way we needed. They were able to be very flexible.”
Another part of the mission for JTAC was to perform a battle handover between two Attack Weapons Teams. The commander of JTAC said this skill requires lots of practice to prevent confusion between teams. He added JTAC personnel are trained to control the air space. They are also trained air traffic controllers, surveyors, reconnaissance, and are the air to ground interface. This exercise made them use all of these skills to complete the mission. “This was a very successful training exercise, We like to do training like this but we don’t get the opportunity very often.”
Maj. Jay McElveen, operations officer for the 1/151st said, “This was an outstanding mission. The overall training value was great. Using real people and real objectives forced us to ask important questions that can be assumed when doing simulation training.”
“This whole exercise was training for the entire battalion. Staff from A and B companies of the 1/151st had to plan and execute the air assault mission. It was an exceptional use of skills for everyone involved,” said Lt. Col. Jakie Davis, commander of the 1/151st.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2010 16:58 |
| Story ID: | 61185 |
| Location: | EASTOVER, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, South Carolina Aviation units conducts joint training exercise with JTAC, by 1LT Tracci Dorgan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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