1st ASOG Airmen excel as PACAF's newest combat team

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Just eight months into being re-assigned to Pacific Air Forces, 1st Air Support Operations Group Airmen continue to demonstrate why they are one of the most requested combat support units in the Air Force.

The 1st ASOG, headquartered at Fort Lewis, Wash., directs five squadrons and four detachments located in Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and Japan. The group provides tactical air control parties, and battlefield and staff weather teams, to support U.S. Army combat units in the Pacific theater, including I Corps and seven Stryker brigade combat teams of the 2nd and 25th Infantry Divisions.

The 1st ASOG includes the 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Wainwright, Alaska; the 25th ASOS at Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii; the 16th ASOS at Fort Richardson, Alaska; and the 5th ASOS and 1st Weather Squadron, both at Fort Lewis.

The group's air liaison officers and joint terminal attack controllers advise Army commanders on all aspects of airpower employment, integrating and synchronizing close air support, air mobility, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities into strategy, plans and operations.

Staff Sgt. Greg Iverson, a 3rd ASOS joint terminal attack controller from Oakland, Calif., was recognized for his contributions during a recent deployment when his actions led to the capture of a top "high-valued individual" in Baghdad, Iraq.

Sergeant Iverson provided critical advice to the U.S. Army commander he supported in Iraq, who changed planned air strike locations to those recommended by Sergeant Iverson, contributing to the capture of the HVI.

"Capturing Baghdad's number one HVI was a major accomplishment for my unit, and I'm just honored to have played some small role alongside such a skilled team of professionals," said Sergeant Iverson, who has been in the Air Force for more than eight years. "It is definitely a mission I'll look back on as a memorable accomplishment."

The weather arm of the 1st ASOG is also making notable contributions to the U.S. joint warfighting team. Staff Sgt. Robert Casperson, a 1st WS weather technician who has served for seven years, was deployed to Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2008. There he advised Army planners on expected adverse weather conditions.

In one operation, Sergeant Casperson had a rare opportunity as a weather Airman to go off the military base with a team of Soldiers to repair weather equipment critical to the success of a number of combat operations.

"Living, training and working with the Army has given me the opportunity to do things that I wouldn't normally do as a weather technician," said Sergeant Casperson. "I was excited to be a part of the team when we repaired the weather equipment off the installation. It was a new experience, but I'm glad I had enough courage to meet the challenge and be a part of such a worthwhile mission."

The group was reassigned from Air Combat Command to PACAF's 13th Air Force here in October 2008. The move aligned the 1st ASOG with the Pacific-based Army units it supports and brought critical elements of the PACAF Theater Air Control System, enabling the commander to present tailored command and control capabilities to support the full spectrum of joint operations, according to 1st ASOG Commander Col. Rob Evans.

Additionally, the ASOG's deployable Air Support Operations Center provides the 13th Air Force commander with a highly capable extension of the 613th Air and Space Operations Center here, enabling the integration of airpower's capabilities from major combat to humanitarian relief, Colonel Evans said.

The transition to PACAF has had its rewards and its challenges, and is continuing to move in the right direction, according to Lt. Col. Shaun Copelin, 1st ASOG deputy commander.

"As with any big change, there have been challenges and bumps in the road, but 13th Air Force and PACAF have gone out of their way to make 1st ASOG a part of the U.S. Pacific Command family," said Colonel Copelin. "The staff at all levels has been engaged and professional during the transition, and we are happy with the support and integration at every level."

The addition of the 1st ASOG to the PACAF team helps the major command meet a number of challenges in the Pacific AOR, the lieutenant colonel said.

"1st ASOG Airmen provide the PACAF commander with a range of skill sets that can be used to support anything from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations at one end of the spectrum, all the way to major theater of war operations," said Colonel Copelin. "We are prepared to meet the challenges ahead and proud to serve with the Jungle Air Force."

For the third time in four years, the 1st ASOG has produced an Outstanding Airmen of the Year winner and received a number of Air Force- and Army-level decorations and awards. They include two Silver Stars, 29 Bronze Stars (six with Valor), the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor.