JAGOG: training air-ground combat prowess at the NTC and JRTC

FA Journal, Sept-Oct, 2005 by Arden B. Dahl

This also is the front at which we need to do the most work to correct some dysfunctional CAS practices often observed during the brigade force-on-force scenarios at the NTC and JRTC. The basic problems preventing effective CAS employment at these rotations are listed in Figure 2 on Page 14.

The results of these shortfalls are missed opportunities on the battlefield at best and lost battles at worst.

The Army or Air Force cannot solve these problems in isolation. Both must work together to boost the efficiency of limited air power resources.

Proficient air-ground teams in the TOCs during NTC and JRTC rotations position their JTAC-JFO teams on the battlefield in the right places and times with enough air power to defeat the opposing forces (OPFORs). This, in turn, leverages maneuver and fires to win battles.

Third Front. The third training front addresses the corps-level air support operations center's (ASOC's) interface with the theater air control system (TACS). The ASOC sits astride a number of tactical command and control lash-ups between the senior FEC at the two- or three-star unit of employment (UEx); subordinate TACPs at the brigade, battalion and company levels; FAC-As; and strike aircraft--and at the operational level, to the combined air and space operations centers (CAOCs).

For decades, the Air Force has not trained ASOC command and control skills in a robust combined arms setting. This is a setting in which the ASOC simultaneously works with a CAOC, the senior FEC at the two- or three-star UEx and subordinate TACPs and CAS aircraft, all while dealing with the friction and fog generated in an "opposed" exercise.

The result is that most air-ground command and control lash-ups have to be put together just before or during actual combat operations.

That said, during the last year, the Air Force has initiated a program to overhaul ASOC training to enable the employment of the most air power with the least amount of command and control.

Air Warrior Initiatives. Currently, the NTC and JRTC train BCTs with SASO scenarios that emulate the challenging combat conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the important task of influencing the Afghans and Iraqis to meet coalition goals via nonlethal effects has decreased the high-intensity force-on-force training opportunities for Soldiers and Airmen.

This is a classic problem of "near rocks" and "far rocks" training priorities. Everyone agrees that we must get the SASO mission right today--that our forces must be able to employ air power mainly for nonlethal effects missions (such as presence; show-of-force; intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, or ISR; etc.). At the same time, we need to hone lethal skills to be able to defeat a capable foe in the next major war.

The key is to blend lethal and nonlethal air power execution in the NTC/JRTC and Air Warrior scenarios. The task is for exercise planners to script events that trigger the BCT's execution of lethal CAS. During the last year, both the NTC/JRTC and Air Warrior exercise programs have made great strides in developing various scenario tools to address both SASO and MCO skills and stimulate lethal air-ground training especially in urban settings.