The Army’s reorganization into lighter brigade combat teams with less artillery has forced it to rely more on close air support. At the same time, close-quarters urban battles have made air support a trickier and more urgent affair than in previous conflicts. But different languages and incompatible ways of doing things have kept the Army and Air Force from working closely together.
The Joint Air-Ground Operations Group at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas aims to change that.
The group’s four squadrons teach six courses for as many as 5,000 students per year. On the Army side, JAGOG instructs command staff, forward observers and fire support officers in how to talk to the Air Force and best integrate its aircraft into their operations. On the Air Force side, the group instructs ground-based and airborne controllers in the language of ground forces and methods for supporting them from the air.
One of the neato tools at JAGOG’s disposal is a new 360-degree dome simulator (see pic) that drops student forward air controllers into an Iraq-esque scenario featuring tough moving targets and itchy Air Force jet jockeys looping overhead. The controller must spot the target and talk in attacking pilots.
Right now the sim is at the Air Force lab in Mesa, Arizona. But soon it should make its way to Nellis and daily use by JAGOG trainers. Where can I buy a ticket?
–David Axe
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You often hear the assertion that the Army’s reorganization is decreasing the amount of artillery in brigade combat teams, but this is an oversimplification. As the brigades reorganize, the number of artillery pieces in the direct support FA battalions is dropping from eighteen to sixteen, but there’s more to the story than a two-gun loss. The number of brigades is rising — in the 82nd Airborne, for example, the three maneuver brigades were expanded to four — resulting in a net increase in the number of artillery pieces from 54 to 64. Because the number of “maneuver” battalions is shrinking from three to two, the proportion of guns to maneuver battalions will also rise from 6:1 to 8:1. The supposedly increased reliance on airpower is essentially additive.
Is this course in Atrrs? Or where can a Soldier obtain more information about this course? What are the requirements for enrollment?