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Saber sharp
By PLTOFF Jonathon Hoiles

Volume 49, No. 4, March 22, 2007
 
CUTTING EDGE: 1st LT Bradley Withers of the US Marines (left) with FLTLT Andrew Hoare and FLGOFF Paul Scott and the plaque presented to them on Okinawa, Japan.
Photo courtesy of CAPT Mark Murphy
 
IN A first for 44WG, two air traffic controller officers (ATCOs) recently got to hone their talents for this year’s Talisman Saber exercise in Okinawa, Japan.

They were the first personnel from their wing to participate in a Command Post Exercise with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on Okinawa.

FLTLT Andrew Hoare, from 44WG Detachment Oakey, and FLGOFF Paul Scott, from RAAF Base Pearce, were hosted by Marine Air Support Squadron 2, which provides the Direct Air Support Centre for the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

The officers were in Okinawa from February 1-10 and served as rotary and fixed-wing aircraft directors.

They integrated with the Marines to process requests for air support, integrate aircraft and airspace with other supporting arms, manage terminal controllers (such as joint tactical air controllers), and procedurally control aircraft.

Other tasks included processing quick-fire requests, which is directing aircraft to attack enemy artillery units after their position has been detected by counter-battery radar.

It was part of lead-in training for Talisman Saber 07, where the two will serve as liaison officers for Marine command and control units that participate in the exercise.

The ATCOs were also exposed to the Direct Air Support Centre – Airborne capability, providing aviation command and control for the Marine Air Ground Task Force from a communications cabin on a C-130H.

“While the actual conduct of the exercise was the most important part of the trip, for me, just being immersed in the USMC culture was very significant,” FLTLT Hoare said.

“By US standards, the USMC is a fairly small force and they tend to be very close-knit. Their esprit de corps is very good.

“Marines at the equivalent rank level, doing similar jobs to ours, tend to have a very good appreciation of the offensive capabilities of various weapons platforms and of ground scheme of manoeuvre.

“It was obvious that this knowledge assisted in the application of offensive air support in the battle space.

“It is an aspect of my job that I’ll be looking to improve.

“Even though USMC airspace control and offensive air support is doctrinally similar to the ADF, some of the procedures and technology they use and the amount of information they pump around the place is really quite something.

“The USMC is quite a small force, relatively speaking, but the amount of personnel, equipment and infrastructure devoted to the USMC on Okinawa needs to be seen to be believed.”

Both controllers have graduated from the Battlefield Air Operations course instructed by HQ 44WG’s TACOPS section.

This course instructs ATCOs in the application of airspace management in the tactical environment.

Following the success of this attachment in promoting and fostering relations between the USMC and the RAAF, HQ 44WG is endeavouring to make this an annual event.

Exercise Talisman Saber 07 will run for four weeks during May and June. More than 15,000 personnel from the US and Australia are expected to participate.