Edwards pilots help JTACs with close-air support training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric M. Grill
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In what is believed to be a first for Edwards, F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots here helped train Air Force Combat Controllers in close-air support.

The pilots, from the 416th Flight Test Squadron, responded to a request for the help in training a team of combat controllers in their Joint Terminal Attack Controller, or JTAC skills.

The combat controllers, who are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command, are preparing to deploy in an upcoming U.S. Special Operations Command tasking.

"They came down here and worked on our ranges -- both locally on the (Precision Impact Range Area) as well as Superior Valley," said Captain Ryan Sweazey, chief of weapons and training for the 416th FLTS. "We launched jets in support of that and they'd call in simulated and real air strikes that we would provide."

Training combat controllers isn't something usually performed here, Captain Sweazey said.

"We don't get a chance to do this type of training (here at Edwards because of our Developmental Test mission), at least not as realistically as having these guys come down," he said. "It's a valuable opportunity for the F-16 pilots on base."

A Master Sgt. combat controller, whose name is withheld for security reasons, was the JTAC team leader during training at Edwards. He said the ranges here were a good match for training because they are very similar to some of the real-world areas JTACs are called to.

"We're able to get close enough to the area to make it as realistic as we'd see in the area of responsibility," the sergeant said. "There is a lot of potential for us to do future training as well."

Talking about the Precision Impact Range Area, or PIRA, Captain Sweazey said the PIRA here recently received recertification for live ammunition drops, which added to the realism of the training.

Combat controllers, who spend a large amount of time overseas performing their mission, use a majority of their redeployed time in the U.S. recertifying their special operations training. Helping the controllers with that training not only aids them, but Edwards' pilots as well.

"I think the benefit of using the (Edwards) aircraft in this scenario of training is we get to see how the newest version of the (F-16) employs in this scenario -- something the rest of the Air Force hasn't seen yet," Captain Sweazey said. "When you train in real-world scenarios, you know what to look for in test a lot better, so you benefit both the test and the proficiency side of the house.

"We hope it's a recurring thing for sure," Captain Sweazey said. "We have pilots willing to support it, we have jets that are usually on station, and we have many ranges nearby that can support it as well."