Currently Browsing: Stories
Air Force cell supports Army, MND-C mission
Friday, 02 January 2009
CAMP VICTORY – The personnel of Multi-National Division – Center headquarters work each day on plans and programs which will continue to stabilize the country of Iraq as it reaches self-sufficiency.
Within this Army division headquarters, a company-sized Air Force element is helping along that mission.
The 20th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron out of Fort Drum, N.Y., provides vehicle and radio maintenance, and supply and munitions support for the Tactical Air Control Party.
“We are an interface between Army and Air Force,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Johnson, of Watertown, N.Y., 20th EASOS logistics superintendent of maintenance. Johnson supervises and tracks maintenance for the squadron. “It allows all the TACPs to perform their missions at all the forward operating bases, which is about a 45,000-square-mile area.”
The TACP provides operational air support for MND-C.
“If someone calls in for air support, our guys get them the plane they need and the ammo they need,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Melissa Sandifur, of Montgomery, Ala., 20th EASOS information management officer.
Through Army channels, pre-planned missions must be coordinated to determine which aircraft and munitions are right for the job at hand. Requests go up to the battlefield coordination detachment where the senior person at the Air and Space Operations Center will have planners determine what would be most effective against that target set. A target set may include mortar teams, safe houses or weapons caches.
“At division, we are here to facilitate the needs of the battalions and the brigades,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Wiggins, of Derby, Kan., senior TACP and division noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “We take the request for cache targets…Iraqi-armed over watch or sometimes, electronic warfare requests. Our job is to coordinate with the Fires and Effects Coordination Cell and make sure they receive a priority from division so they can get processed up to corps.”
The TACP, with the help of the 20th EASOS, ensure these requests are filled; once the mission is approved and assigned its specific aircraft, they can coordinate with the brigade, battalion or company that needs air assistance. They work closely with the FECC to execute the ground commander’s plans.
“Artillery brings their assets to the fight; we bring our assets to the fight; then, between us and the artillery, we come up with the best way to expend ordnance on a particular target,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Timothy Ryan, of Dallas, squadron superintendent, 20th EASOS.
Aside from targeting threats, the Air Force also uses their aircraft for air cover during elections, concerts and other large events throughout MND-C. The air cover is used as a presence for security, early warning platforms and as a better set of eyes on locations for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The 20th EASOS is also responsible for providing maintenance support to the TACP for their mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, non-tactical vehicles and high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, as well as radio maintenance, said Sandifur. They also provide supply support for gear, new uniforms, equipment, such as extension cords and printers, and replacing damaged body armor.
The cell deploys to Iraq for six-month rotations, though their deployed mission here is not much different than their work back home.
“My job is the same,” said Sandifur. “The only difference is for the TACP. They are looking more at a war mission than a training mission.”
“(We need to pay) more attention to detail,” said Johnson.“It’s more time constraining, longer days and really cool helicopter rides.”
Related Photographs
