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Marines assist in Tactical Air Control Party course

US Marine Corps News

5/22/2012
By Lance Cpl. Phillip R. Clark, 2nd Marine Division

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Wherever Marine ground forces are found, Tactical Air Control Party Marines are sure to be nearby. Marines from 2nd Marine Air Wing, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and Company L, 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment all assisted in the training of new TACP students aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, May 14-18.

Training for the TACP course is usually one month long with three weeks in a classroom environment in Little Creek, Va., and one week of live fire exercises on Camp Lejeune.

“The purpose of all the training for the Marines and the purpose of the course is to have a (non-commissioned officer) or above able to call in close air support for ground troops,” Maj. John C. Bailey, TACP course chief, said. “The training in the classroom gets them prepared, so they know the commands and then we come here for a week so we can call in simulated air strikes.”

In Afghanistan, they control the battlefield by coordinating air strikes and using support from different units. Whether involved in a small fire fight with a couple of insurgents or a full assault on the enemy, TACP Marines can properly guide and make the decisions to support the troops.

“A lot of the TACP course is being able to use the joint efforts of an infantry unit, artillery unit and the air wing,” said Bailey. “They are taught what to call in which scenario, whether they need suppressive fire so the planes and helicopters can get in or they are using the planes and helicopters as suppressive fire.”

The challenges are different with every course that’s given, but a requirement of at least four scenarios must be done before students can graduate.

“The weather has crushed us this week with all the raining,” said Bailey. “The raining and clouds prevent the air craft from flying to their destination, so we have to extend the course this week so the Marines can accomplish all four exercises that are required.”

Even though the rain lasted all week the training was accomplished by extending the course an extra day, and with the help of the instructors.

“The instructor’s job is to make sure everything runs smoothly and that there are no errors,” Master Sgt. Chad Proffitt, an instructor for the course, said. “We are here to make sure that when the scenario is given the students can use their assets such as mortar-men, air and crew-served weapons to accomplish the mission.”

Training like this is usually performed six times a year, but even the Marines helping support the course wish it could be performed more often.

“I use this training in order to train my junior Marines, so when the time comes in combat they can use what I have taught them and what they have learned to best assist the commands they are given to support the Marines,” Cpl. Rod Rojas, a Victorville, Calif., native, said. “There is no better training than going to the field for a week and sending rounds down range. My Marines get to use all their tools to learn and use suppressive fire, all while it helps the students who are learning the course.”