TACPs: Providing crucial battle field communication link Published Dec. 18, 2006 By Capt. Khalid Cannon Chief of Public Affairs POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The sunny warm December day's training jump began with 36 Air Force Tactical Air Control Party Airmen, or TACPs, practicing their Parachute Landing Fall procedures in chalky small white rocks, hooking up yellow simulated static lines in a mock C-130 cargo area, repeating the jumpmaster's commands and going over every detail of their impending jump on the Luzon Drop Zone. The jumpers were assigned to the 14th Air Support Operations Support Squadron, one of seven air support squadrons within the 18th Air Support Operations Group that conducts one proficiency jump per month. This training took place on Dec. 5, and would require each Airman to jump with full combat equipment and include an airfield seizure scenario. After walking into the passenger shed, the Airmen began the painstakingly detailed process of packing and securing their scoped M-4 rifles in large padded carriers, donning their main and reserve parachutes, tightening straps, and attaching their heavy rucksacks. Each individual assisted and looked over his buddy's straps, chutes, and helmet to make sure everything was secured and nothing would be a safety hazard. Air Force and Army jumpmasters then checked every jumper before the long, arduous and awkward walk to the C-130. Luzon is located past the historic Camp Mackall, nearly an hour drive from Pope. The drop zone was crowded with soldiers and Special Forces students who were watching earlier drops. "Here they come!" someone yelled. The aircraft was on schedule and making the long level flight over the red-clay and brush covered drop zone. One by one the Airmen leaped from both sides of the C-130 and moments later large green canopies popped open. Upon landing, TACPs are taught to maintain a low profile as they unpack and ready their weapons, establish communications and review their maps. Every Airman jumps with a radio, a TACPs lifeline. Master Sgt. Mark Hurst, 14th ASOS operations superintendent, quickly rolled up his chute and placed a headband with an earpiece and microphone attached. After testing his communication equipment and donning his ruck sack, he linked up with Senior Master Sgt. Peter Klein for the 300 yard trek to a pre-established rally point. "TACPs are airpower experts. They provide expertise throughout all levels of the mission, from planning to execution and they talk to aircraft and put bombs on target," said Lt. Col. Nick Sully, 14th ASOS director of operations. Every fixed and rotary wing aircraft in the Air Force's inventory is available to the battlefield Airmen, whose skills are often called upon during the most intense firefights. That was the case when Tech Sgt. Travis Crosby, a member of the 18th ASOG, deployed with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Baghdad in 2003. In the midst of an intense firefight for a key bridge into the city, Sergeant Crosby called in a flight of A-10s to eliminate the enemy and save the bridge that was crucial to the entire invasion. At one point during the battle, he had to use his sidearm due to the extremely close proximity of the enemy. "It is up to TACPs to communicate to Army leadership exactly what assets are available to them in order to complete the mission," said Master Sgt. Ryan Knight, a veteran controller who received a gold combat star on his jump wings during the 173rd Airborne Brigade's jump into Northern Iraq on March 26, 2003. TACPs are assigned to the Army's major Infantry, Airborne and Special Force units. Colonel Sully echoed the importance of deployed TACPs in linking ground and air assets to make sure combat personnel get the close air support they rely on. "TACPs are valuable to the Army because they can provide expertise throughout all facets of airpower. Our Airmen allow the people on the ground and the planes in the sky to be used most effectively," he said. Once the Airmen arrived, they joined four other Airmen who established a security perimeter around a clay knoll, which had several berms that provided them with cover and concealment. Sergeant Hurst then radioed two Airmen, who moments later joined the group at the rally point. "This training allows us an opportunity to test out our gear, especially our communication gear. It also allows us to get in a tactical mindset," said Colonel Sully. Officers who are TACPs are referred to as Air Liaison Officers, and enlisted members are Joint Terminal Attack Controllers. ROMADs, or Radio Operator, Maintainer and Driver, are apprentice attack controllers. All TACPs undergo a nearly five--month tech school at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and a two--week Survive Escape Resist and Evade school at Fairchild AFB, Wash. Only those Airmen attached to airborne units attend the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. "The benefits of this training are that we can maintain our current proficiency on communication equipment, train on new communication gear and rucksacks, and give the new guys the opportunity to get their skills ready for night jumps," said Senior Airman Matthew Davis, who deployed to Afghanistan and will be deploying to Iraq next month. Airman Davis said he learned that in the field, a TACP has to be ready to change at a moment's notice to meet the ground commander's objectives. After the airfield was secured and Sergeant Hurst successfully communicated with the other rally points, the exercise ended with every TACP going over lessons learned. As the sun set, it was time to make the long drive back to Fort Bragg to "shake chutes" of all debris before turning them in to Army riggers and clean their weapons.