Photo By Capt. Faith Hirschmann | Airmen from the 9th Air Support Operations Squadron run onto a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook...... read more read more
The 9th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) began Exercise Coyote Fury, an annual, two-week, exercise with realistic close air support (CAS) training, near San Saba, Texas, Feb. 19, 2019.
Coyote Fury allows joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) and combat mission support personnel to train together by establishing a forward operating base (FOB) and controlling aircraft over simulated targets.
“We are out here just trying to get proficient at being JTACs,” said Airman 1st Class Matthew Olivet, a 9th ASOS JTAC. “Any kind of [practice] we can get in with aircraft out in the field is good for us and our job proficiency.”
Over the two-week exercise, 90 Airmen executed 44 CAS training missions in several small towns neighboring the FOB in San Saba. During these missions, JTACs drove to a designated location and checked in with their aircraft on portable radios. Then they directed the aircraft toward simulated targets, like nearby buildings and vehicles, as the JTAC instructor talked them through a battle scenario.
The JTACs moved through the towns while communicating with the aircraft and the simulated ground forces commander. A few local townspeople went outside on their front porches to watch the action.
“We run around in the town. We kind of have a relationship with the people out here,” said Staff Sgt. Alexander Hicks, 9th ASOS chief of weapons and tactics. “They see us regularly, so they are used to us being out here.”
While JTACs went out on missions, a small team of Airmen at the FOB monitored their radios and maintained communications with the aircraft at the Air Support Operations Center tent. These Airmen include communications experts who learn the JTAC mission and provide radio support.
“Basically we’re the people that make sure the aircraft can talk to the ASOC and the ASOC can talk to the JTACs out in the field,” said Senior Airman Aubri McLeod, 9th ASOS interface control technician and ASOC member. “We’re up constantly just to make sure the link stays up the entire time.”
The exercise simulated every aspect of the tactical air control party mission, so all the Airmen can work together to accomplish the mission despite being in different career fields. McLeod says she learned a lot from her first exercise with the squadron.
“We get put into a lot of different things, and I had no background on any of this kind of stuff,” said McLeod. “I’m going out to see everything later on today from the JTAC perspective, instead of just seeing what goes on inside the ASOC. I think that part will be a lot of fun.”
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2019 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 312744 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 453 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 9th ASOS conducts annual CAS exercise, by Capt. Faith Hirschmann, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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