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Gen. Roger A. Brady, commander of Allied Air Command Ramstein and commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, visited the Close Air Support Exercise Ramstein Rover 2010 Aug. 31, conducted at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center in Wisconsin, to get a first-hand look at the exercise.
The primary purpose of RR 10, held from Aug. 21 to Sept. 3, is to ensure air-land integration by providing theatre-realistic training opportunities for NATO forward air controllers and joint terminal attack controllers. General Brady was able to tour the squadron operations facility and talk to a variety of FAC teams, including those from Estonia, Lithuania and Great Britain, among others.
A FAC is a qualified and certified servicemember who, from a forward position, directs the action of a combat aircraft engaged in CAS. While FAC is the historical NATO term and most common amongst alliance members, JTAC is the term used by the U.S. Armed Forces.
“This is a perfect example of building capability,” General Brady said, “13 nations coming together, executing a training plan and developing one of the most critical skill sets we need in Afghanistan — that of FACs and JTACs.”
General Brady expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Air National Guard for the use of Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, noting that many of the participating air assets are based close by, proving essential to the success of the operation and for the training of the controllers.
“I am grateful for the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s exceptional
hospitality as host of Ramstein Rover. The combination of their facilities, professional force, and proximity to both ranges and units make Volk an outstanding resource,” General Brady said. “This has been a tremendous opportunity for our FAC Capability Branch, as well as all the nations participating in the exercise.
“This type of exercise must continue because air–land integration is so incredibly important to the ongoing fight in Afghanistan,” he continued. “That’s what this is all about — making alliance Airmen more effective for commanders in the field.”
(Courtesy of Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein)
