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CROW VALLEY, Philippines - Marines qualified as forward air controllers conducted bi-lateral training with Philippine Air Force joint terminal attack controllers June 10 in support of Exercise Haribon Tempest 2013.
The Marines are with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122. Both squadrons fall under Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Participating members of the PAF are from 710th Special Operations Wing.
A FAC is a forward air controller who’s also an aviator. They are temporarily assigned to a ground unit, acting as liaisons between the ground and air combat elements. They apply aviation combat power to the ground commander’s needs, whether it’s having something destroyed, assault support or other displays of combat power.
“It’s so important to use pilots as FACs because although several Marines are trained in the role of calling in air fire, when it’s an aviator, it’s a little bit of an advantage, in my opinion, because they have that ability to relate to the pilot they are talking to,” said Maj. Stephen N. McClune, maintenance officer in charge and VMFA-122 pilot. “While that FAC is on the ground, he knows what it’s going to look like from the pilot's airborne perspective and he understands the geometry of how to best employ and target those weapons, having done it himself in the air; he’s the best one to act as that liaison.”
The bi-lateral exercise focused on airborne forward air control and enhancing relationships and proficiency between MAG-12 and the PAF.
“We gain a lot from bi-lateral engagement and a mutual military defense working relationship,” said Lt. Col. Anthony Baggs, lead FAC instructor and future operations officer in charge with MAG- 12. “We work well with the 710 Special Ops Wing Unit. They need more air and we need a place to go train and FACs to work with, so it’s basically a win-win situation.”
Marine FACs paired up one-on-one with PAF joint terminal attack controllers to create a more efficient working environment.
“Our JTACs were paired up with Marines to get more of a personalized, accurate and concise one-on-one experience,” said Sgt. John E. Jonson, JTAC instructor and coordinator with PAF with 710th SPOW. “The bilateral training is important because it boosts up knowledge for our jobs as forward air controllers. This training is increasing our abilities because we are able to get training with fixed-wing aircraft."
Haribon Tempest 13 helps maintain interoperability and enhances military-to-military relations and combat capabilities, further improving the effectiveness of the U.S. military and its allies.
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2013 01:23 |
| Story ID: | 108917 |
| Location: | CROW VALLEY, PH |
| Web Views: | 1,044 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MAG-12 trains with Philippine Air Force during Haribon Tempest 2013, by Vanessa Jimenez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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