Royal Air Force trains with Texas Guardsmen

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Pena | United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force joined the Texas Army National Guard during their recent Warfighter exercise held at Fort Hood, in Killeen, Texas, May 29 through June 12. During the exercise, the Royal Air Force were tasked with adapting the U.S. Air Support Operations Center to their overseas training standards. (Photo by Sgt. Elizabeth Pena/Released)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

06.09.2015

Story by Sgt. Elizabeth Pena 

36th Infantry Division (TXARNG)

FORT HOOD, Texas - Soldiers and Airmen from around the world rallied in Texas to support the 36th Infantry Division "Arrowhead" during its full-scale exercise known as Warfighter, held in Fort Hood, Texas, May 29 through June 12, 2015.

Warfighter is a command and control exercise designed to test the battle skills and procedures of the troops of the Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division through simulated deployment scenarios.

"Warfighter is important because it's not just the 36th Infantry Division from Texas, but it is a multi-state, multi-organizational exercise, said Maj. Gen. John Nichols, the Texas adjutant general. It is important for the Department of Defense to know that the National Guard is capable of conducting these kinds of operations, and it also lets the National Command Authority know that the division is deployable.”

One such outside organization taking part in Warfighter with the Texas Guardsmen was the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, tasked with adapting the U.S. Air Support Operations Center to their overseas training standards. ASOC’s role is to coordinate and direct air support for land forces at the tactical level during combat operations.

“We are here observing three separate ASOCs, which are made up of the U.S. Air Force, for the Joint Air Ground Integration Cell [JAGIC] concept to see how they run and how we look to influence that with the British army,” said Royal Air Force Master Sgt. Shawn Phipps, Senior Air Director for the Joint Air Ground Integration Center.

The (JAGIC) Tactical Operating Concept was designed during Operation Iraqi Freedom I to integrate Army and Air Force airspace control and firepower to improve air-ground effectiveness during operations. This concept ensures joint and multi-national friendly aircraft are safe during the complex engagements that occur during air operations. Forces are also able to enhance situational awareness about enemy threats from aerospace down the chain to the battlefield, which leads to better decision-making in the war zone.

Throughout operations, Air Force personnel control the joint airspace, while Army personnel control land assets. This exercise was a good opportunity for the 36th Inf. Div. to reach out and assist allies in improving their operation procedures to defend against enemy attacks.

“Sometimes in the U.K., we find ourselves a little more detached from the Army and it has an impact on how we deliver our air to the fire mission,” said Royal Air Force Sgt. James Bennis, aerospace systems manager for the Ministry of Defense. “The way that the (JAGIC) concept works is great because you have to sit next to your Army contemporaries and as the war is progressing, the discussion and communication about what assets to use is very real. It’s that kind of integrated system to adopt.”

The U.K. has extensive experience working with the Air National Guard. However, this is the first time for the Royal Air Force to work with the Army National Guard, and Texas was proud to host them in this training event.

“It’s definitely an eye opener,” said Royal Air Force Lance Cpl. Robert Oguajur, Joint Air Request Network Operator. “Now we can go back home and say we have trained with the U.S. Army, we see how they incorporate air and land together, and this gives us an opportunity to advance our own.”

• Date Taken: 06.09.2015
• Date Posted: 06.21.2015 20:02
• Story ID: 167580
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US