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Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs)

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Article: Tactical Air Control Party Competes

Statement by Admiral Smith - September 1995

Unit Profile

The history of this career field can be found on TSgt Charlie Heidal's website. However, the following description will provide you with the TACP structure, mission and mottos.

The term Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) refers to the two or three MAN operations team responsible for interfacing with, coordinating for and conducting for Army ground forces (U.S. or multi-national) Close Air Support (CAS). However, there are broader and much more narrow aspects to this field.

The MAJCOMs for the TACP parent units are ACC, PACAF and USAFE. Under each MAJCOM are Air Support Operations Squadrons (ASOS). Each ASOS is broken down into two parts: operations and support. Our support troops include Radio Maintenance, Supply and Information Management. Our operations section is broken down into two parts: Air Liaison Officers (ALOs) and Tactical Air Command and Control Specialists (TACCS). Most commonly referred to as ROMAD (for Radio Operator, Maintainer and Driver - an old acronym; Recon, Observe, Mark and Destroy - the new acronym; or, more jokingly and definitely non-P.C., Rude, Obnoxious, Mean-Assed Drunk), TACCS are highly trained enlisted specialists. TACPs usually consist of two or three people, usually one ALO and one or two TACCS capable of going anywhere (leg, mech, light or airborne) to accomplish CAS.

The TACPs mission is: interface with army ground forces, liaison with both command staff and forward controllers, advise of Air Force Tactical Air assets, coordinate any those assets and then control that CAS asset to bear on enemy targets. This is broken down into the phrase, "Advise, Assist and Control."

As for the individuals, ALOs are generally either ex- or banked fighter jocks and, to an increasingly lesser extent, WIZZOs or navigators. All are officers at least a 1st lieutenant or higher grade. ALOs are generally the controllers of any CAS mission. TACCS are broken down into two groups: standard TACCS and highly trained specialists known as Enlisted Terminal Attack Controllers (ETACs). When certified, ETACs are capable of performing the same operations as ALOs. As their ability to retain fighter jocks is reduced, the mission of the ETACs will grow with the eventual transition of all TACCS into becoming ETACs after a couple of years of field training.

ALOs and TACCS can be found at almost every major U.S. Army base around the world. Unlike other "specialized" Air Force brethren (excluding Combat Weather), they live on Army posts, go to the field with them, train with them, eat the food, ruck with them, live with them are often mistaken for the Air Force's Army. Members can be found assigned to Armor/Mech units, Scout units, CAV units, Mountain troops, light and heavy brigades, divisions and battalions. Members are found at the Special Forces and Rangers, many SF qualified and full Ranger members (completed the Ranger and SF training). Many members are at Airborne divisions, most with wings (a few with gold stars). They can go anywhere, in any weather, in any environment with any friendly ground force to accomplish CAS.

At the present, there are four Air National Guard ASOS to provide support for 15 Army National Guard Enhanced Brigades (light, scout/cav, heavy/mech) throughout the U.S. and its territories.

There are two TACP mottos: "Death on Call," and "The strong shall stand, the weak will fall by the wayside."

7/1/00 - UPDATE FROM READER:

Your sight is very informative, however I did notice one discrepancy. You said that ALO's are the principle controllers for CAS missions. This was true at one time, however these days it is the ETAC that does the controlling, and the ALOs stick to the liaison portion. In the five years that I've been doing this job I've never had an ALO actually control a mission while out on an exercise or otherwise. They still practice, just not very much.

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