Battlefield Airmen sharpen skills during Exercise Twilight

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FORKS, Wash. --  Fifteen battlefield Airmen stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., conducted close air support training here with two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets Oct. 22 to 24 as part of Exercise Twilight.

The Airmen were from the 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, part of the 1st Air Support Operations Group also at Fort Lewis. The exercise allowed the squadron members to practice important procedures used on battlefields today, said 1st ASOG Commander Col. Rob Evans.

"In our role as the I Corps Tactical Air Control Party, we take our joint responsibilities seriously," Colonel Evans said. "Exercises like this are great, because they let us refine our procedures and ensure we're ready to support the joint fight."

The 5th ASOS Airmen, who support the 3-2, 4-2 and 5-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Teams from Fort Lewis in Iraq and Afghanistan with airpower planners and controllers, convoyed to a site here near the Olympic National Park and the Olympic Military Operating Area Oct. 22.

After arriving, the 5th ASOS personnel established their training camp in the hills surrounding the town and prepared to work with the F/A-18s from the VFA-137 "Kestrels" out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.

From observation points high above Forks, the Airmen used digital and voice procedures to direct the Naval Aviators in simulated urban CAS operations. Digital CAS procedures allow the pilots and 5th ASOS Joint Terminal Attack Controllers to share the common urban picture without making a sound over any radios.

"The digital CAS training was fantastic," said Lt. Cmdr. Eric Taylor, VFA-137 operations officer and lead aircraft pilot during the exercise.

The JTACS also practiced their voice "talk-on" skills with the F/A-18 pilots, an equally important skill according to Lt. Col. Michael T. Whatley, acting 5th ASOS commander.

"These combat skills are critical to the success of our American Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan," Colonel Whatley said.

Future plans for the Airmen include training with the I Corps Joint Fires Observers/Air Defense and Airspace Management Cell, Canadian F/A-18s, U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growlers and U.S. Air Force E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems.

The 5th ASOS and 1st ASOG plan to build on Exercise Twilight's training success by creating the premiere digital electronic warfare CAS center of excellence in the Olympic Military Operating Area, Colonel Whatley said.

The 1st ASOG is assigned Pacific Air Force's 13th Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.