Combat aircraft

to teach a pilot what the view from

the ground looks like than to teach the

JTAC what the view from the air looks

like,’ explains Danza. He quotes a recent

airline  ight he took where he was

sitting alongside a young JTAC as they

 ew at 10,000ft and pointed out how

di cult it is to  nd particular spots on

the ground from that altitude.

During Combat Aircraft’s visit we met

TSgt Christopher Donohue, a resident

JTAC who received the Bronze Star

Medal in connection with a September

2014 deployment to Afghanistan

during Operation ‘Enduring Freedom’.

The former Marine supported more

than 100 Afghan and coalition ground

missions, sometimes being directly

involved in  re ghts. This modest hero

typi es the nature of the members of

the 227th ASOS, in that they thrust

themselves into the face of the enemy in

order to protect their comrades — truly

re ecting the ethos behind the ‘Berserk’

callsign.

AAJTS

The 227th ASOS relies on simulation

to aid in training. The $1.1-million ANG

Advanced JTAC Training Simulator (AAJTS)

was installed in November 2015. This is

a fully immersive simulator designed for

squadron-level continuation, quali cation

and mission rehearsal training. It relies on

high- delity displays, including a 5m dome

with high-de nition projection system,

geo-speci c visual databases, equipment

emulators, and associated hardware and

software. JTAC trainees can use a variety

of military equipment including virtual

binoculars, laser range- nding, target

location and designation equipment,

emulated weapons and infra-red marking

emulation.

briefed with live video streams from the

RPAS over the battle eld. We can slew the

[RPAS] view and say, ‘that’s the enemy,’

painting a picture for the commanders.

Then the A-10s are rolling in, building up

the picture for them while the mission’s

going on, so that the two-star [general]

can focus on his troops and not worry

about the air picture. That is our job.’

On the ground, the JTAC clears that

A-10 pilot in ‘hot’. The JTAC and pilot must

have a good working relationship. ‘There

is a the science and the art,’ says Danza.

‘The science is reading the nine-line, and

the art involves how are we really going

to do this.’

One of the key elements of training is

honing communication skills. ‘It’s easier

Right top to bottom: The ANG

Advanced JTAC Training

Simulator (AAJTS) instructor

operating station.

Dr Richard Porcelli

A young TACP works on the

AAJTS. Dr Richard Porcelli

SrA Christopher

Fantasia works

with New Jersey

Army National

Guard soldiers

during site

exploitation

and tactical

interrogation

training.

ANG/A1C

Amber Powell

The author wishes to thank Col Everman; Lt Cols

Danza and Michalowski and MSgt Donohoe of the

227th ASOS. Plus MSgt Moseley of public affairs

for their support in the preparation of this feature.

http://www.combataircraft.net // February 2018 41

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