DVIDS – News – U.S. Air Pressure Works Alongside U.S. Army in Poland and the Czech Republic

Sgt. Tara Fajardo-Arteaga, 113th Cell Public Affairs Detachment

Troopers can hear a refined roar from the vary tower at Zdar Vary, Hradiště Navy Space, Czech Republic, on March 8, 2022. Czech military troopers come outdoors and look as much as see what made the noise.

Two MI-24 Hind assault helicopters fly over the vary. Immediately, an L-159 Superior Gentle Fight Plane (ALCA) fixed-wing subsonic plane seems and dives near the bottom towards the tower.

On a hill within the distance, Air Pressure Workers Sgt. Justin Hodges and Senior Airman Driestin Aho, Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTAC), conduct shut air assist by figuring out and distinguishing between pleasant and hostile models and directing, by way of radio, the actions of the fight plane as they fly above the coaching space. “We work with the Czech counterparts and the Czech plane to facilitate strikes from the Czech air drive,” defined Hodges.

Hodges and Driestin are members of the U.S. Air Pressure Particular Warfare, Tactical Air Management Get together (TACP). JTAC personnel from the U.S. Air Pressure embedded with Army and Marine models on the frontline whereas working with Allies. “We had been built-in with the Czech JTACs; we had been going up there and conducting coordinated airstrikes on strategic targets for the U.S. Army,” stated Hodges.

Hodges and Aho are assigned to the tenth Air Help Operations Squadron out of Ft. Riley, Kan., and are at the moment stationed at Drawsko Pomorskie Coaching Space, Poland. “The U.S. Army dictates that they need a set quantity of JTACs aligned with the Army,” stated Hodges. “So we’re aligned with these guys and combine the air image into the Army scheme of maneuver.” The 2 Airmen labored alongside the 2nd Battalion, thirty fourth Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Fight Crew, 1st Infantry Division, and took part in Saber Strike 22, Czech Republic.

“We get assigned to work with an Army unit, so we work with the first Infantry Division out of Fort Riley,” stated Aho. “We’re working with 2-34.”

Whereas at Saber Strike 22, a multi-national army train from February to March, the airmen labored along with the Czech air drive to conduct air protection coaching whereas additionally offering shut air assist to coach in case of hostile targets are too near pleasant forces.

Saber Strike 22 gave the U.S. JTACs the possibility to work straight with the army of the Czech Republic, which introduced collectively NATO Allies to rehearse essential abilities in assist of floor operations. “Saber Strike 22 was a really profitable train,” stated Hodges, “It’s very important for us to combine with our NATO counterparts to understand how every of us operates. Working these mixed workout routines offers every nation an opportunity to point out their capabilities and lets them know we’re prepared within the occasion of a battle.”