Fighter jets and
bombers fly overhead making multiple passes to intercept and
destroy enemy targets called in by Air Force joint terminal air
controllers. One pass is to destroy a building with enemy snipers.
Another pass is to track a man riding a motorcycle suspected of
carrying a bomb in his backpack through this southern Louisiana
town’s crowded streets.
The process continues for several hours as controllers call in
new targets and give feedback to the pilots on the success of each
engagement. Air Force pilots and controllers face these situations
everyday in a real-world combat environment. Only this time the
scenarios are just training and the location is a small American
community.
For about a year now, the cities of Deridder, Oakdale and
Leesville have allowed Airmen from Detachment 1, 548th Combat
Training Squadron at nearby Fort Polk, to conduct urban combat air
support training over their towns.
"Urban combat air support training came from the realization
that real-world close air support was occurring in very crowded
urban areas,” said Lt. Col. Frank W. Corley III, 548th CTS
commander.
“That made it difficult for controllers to coordinate with
aircraft to fire on and destroy enemy targets, while making sure
not to kill civilians or cause unneeded collateral damage."
Of course, there is no chance of that happening in the three
volunteer communities.
The colonel said the Air Force developed grid systems to
identify buildings but did not have a training area with the
density of buildings needed to provide realistic training. Plus, it
was it was a very expensive and long process to build that type of
facility on a training range. That’s where the three
communities stepped in to help.
“In Louisiana we have a very friendly populace that is
more than willing to cooperate and the infrastructure is already
there with the urban areas," Colonel Corley said. “Realism is
the key to making sure that when JTACs and pilots are in real-world
situations they can work through targeting confidently and
accurately.”
Also, on military ranges targets are static and spread out, said
Capt. Lance George, 548th CTS liaison officer.
“Towns have a constantly changing environment with an
active community,” the captain said. “Training in an
urban area allows the JTACs and pilots to operate in a dynamic
environment that is much more complex, with high buildings, narrow
streets and constant movement of traffic.”
Staff Sgt. Daniel Kovarik, a joint terminal air controller,
likes the training environment the towns provide. Each one has its
own characteristics that force controllers to think of things they
might not normally consider.
“You can’t have preset targets and preset
coordinates,” the sergeant said. “You have to actually
come out and do things on the fly like a real world
situation.”
Getting approval to conduct urban training was a lengthy process
initiated several years ago. In addition to complying with
Department of Defense directives outlining training off federal
facilities, there were letters of agreement established with each
town.
“We give congressional notification to senators and
representatives two weeks in advance of urban training
operations,” Colonel Corley said. “We also have letters
of agreement with the mayor of each town spelling out the
conditions we will follow.”
For example, one condition is that all aircraft must fly no
lower than 3,000 feet and cannot carry ordnance, the colonel
said.
“And we also agree to be responsive to any complaints from
local citizens about the training,” he said.
By working with local communities, the squadron is helping
prepare controllers for situations they will likely face on the
battlefield.
Seeing troops running around playing war games is nothing new in
these parts. The three communities have had a military presence
since before there was a separate Air Force.
“The people of Deridder have been friends of Fort Polk and
the Soldiers since 1940,” Deridder Mayor Gerald Johnson said.
“We feel obligated to give back to the military what they
have given to us.” [ANN Salutes Master Sgt. Jack Braden,
AFPN]