HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 146th Air Support Operations Squadron from Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City conducted multiple training missions with the 14th Weapons School in support of the AC-130 Weapons Instructor Course at Hurlburt Field, Florida, March 1-22, 2017.
Thirteen Tactical Air Control Party Airmen from the 146 ASOS supported the Weapons School’s training by providing a realistic ground force and Joint Tactical Air Controllers for about three weeks during the AC-130 Close Air Support phase of the 6-month school. The scenarios included the execution of the AFSOC core missions, such as combat search and rescue and hostage rescue, which proved to be valuable training that is not typical for a TACP.
“That’s uncommon training for us to receive when we’re in Oklahoma,” said Master Sgt. Scott Hunter, 146 ASOS superintendent. “Any time we are able to share knowledge like this it makes us all that much more effective on the battlefield when we deploy.”
The 146 ASOS served as a realistic element to the CAS training by being a live asset on the ground while simultaneously facilitating the training and learning objectives that the WIC instructors have set for their students, said Hunter. The ASOS participants also benefited from the training because of the extensive mission planning, briefing, and debriefing during each of the CAS phase missions.
The squadron became a regular participant in training operations starting in 2015 and usually sends out six to seven Airmen to participate.
“We are fostering a great relationship with the weapons school,” said Hunter. “Every TACP that we send to the school comes back with unmatched experience which they can share with our young Airmen in training here so everyone is benefiting.”