Story and photo by Capt. Daniel de La Fé
U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Capt. Theodore Bertsch, 4th Combat Training Squadron assistant director of operations, identifies targets inside the Joint Terminal Attack Controller battlefield dome simulator at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s Warfare Center on Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany, June 23, 2021. The course, part of the 4th Combat Training Squadron’s three-day workshop, gave NATO operators from nearly a dozen countries the opportunity to provide feedback during the development of JTAC evaluator course for the joint warfighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Daniel de La Fé)
U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s Warfare Center hosted a combined training seminar alongside eight NATO partner nations to discuss the development of the Joint Terminal Attack Controller instructor and evaluator courses at Einsiedlerhof Air Station, June 22-24.
Aaron Corales, a 4th Combat Training Squadron Joint Terminal Aattack Controller simulator operator, directs a training scenario inside the battlefield dome simulator at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s Warfare Center on Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany, June 23, 2021. Corales builds large-scale operational combat scenarios, saying the simulator gives “an accurate reflection of real-world concepts of operations to the JTACs so they are prepared when they enter the theater.” The simulator gives operators the opportunity to experience a variety of mission sets in a controlled and responsive environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Daniel de La Fé)
The 4th Combat Training Squadron currently teaches a USAFE-accredited JTAC instructor course and is preparing to launch a JTAC evaluator course within the next year. The courses are formal training opportunities for JTAC operators to advance the readiness of the joint warfighter, build partnerships among nations, and integrate allied battlefield capabilities.
“This is the first course of its kind for the U.S. Air Force and many JTAC programs across NATO,” said Lt. Col. Sarah Fortin, 4th CTS director of operations. “Considering the diversity of capabilities within NATO, this next-level course seeks to create an educational forum to consistently facilitate the dynamic exchanges of tactics, techniques, and procedures between the 4th CTS JTAC instructor cadre and partner nation JTACs.”
The courses are applying lessons learned from real-world multinational exercises and operations to strengthen interoperability with allies. JTACs must have an increased awareness and understanding of partner air force capabilities to successfully control and maneuver close air support to protect ground forces.
“These courses will continue to provide opportunities to improve interoperability between nations,” said Sergeant 1st Class Almir Mujcinovic, a JTAC operator with the Slovenian Army’s 152nd Fixed Wing Squadron.
Sergeant 1st Class Almir Mujcinovic, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller with the Slovenian Army’s 152nd Fixed Wing Squadron, annotates locations on a scenario map while attending a 4th Combat Training Squadron course at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s Warfare Center on Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany, June 23, 2021. “These courses will continue to provide opportunities to improve interoperability between nations,” Mujcinovic said. The 4th CTS has a multinational team of NATO JTACs with a wide range of experience developing advanced instructor and evaluator courses, a first for the U.S. Air Force and many JTAC programs across NATO. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Daniel de La Fé)
Effective command and control of any battlespace, especially advanced multi-domain operations, begins in the classroom. The UAWC’s battlefield dome simulators provide complex and challenging scenarios allowing JTACs access to realistic training opportunities, across mission sets.
“We are building large-scale operational combat scenarios into the rehearsal system,” said Aaron Corales, a JTAC simulator operator. “This gives an accurate reflection of real-world concepts of operations to the JTACs so they are prepared when they enter the theater.”
The 4th CTS continues to provide formal education and training to achieve the UAWC’s goal of providing professional opportunities to integrate alongside NATO JTACs. Standardizing advanced practices between allies and partners builds greater cohesion and interoperability on the all-domain battlefield.
NATO Joint Terminal Attack Controllers review maps and receive an operations briefing ahead of a 4th Combat Training Squadron simulator course at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Force’s Africas Warfare Center on Einsiedlerhof Air Station, Germany, June 23, 2021. The Airmen and Soldiers attending the course from nearly a dozen NATO nations provided feedback to the 4th CTS who currently hosts a USAFE-accredited JTAC instructor course and is preparing to launch a JTAC evaluator course within the next year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Daniel de La Fé)
Twitter
Facebook
