Air Force, Army officials partner to improve interoperability

by Army Spc. Jason Mayes
I-Corps Air and Missile Defense Detachment

4/5/2010 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- Officials from the Army's I-Corps Air and Missile Defense Detachment moved into 5th Air Support Operations Squadron facilities here in late March and now Soldiers and Airmen will work side-by-side strengthening the joint teamwork that will be critical in combat.

This is the first time a Corps-level air and missile defense detachment has been fully integrated with an air support operations squadron in garrison, according to base officials.

The merger is the outgrowth of the units' numerous joint accomplishments while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and will build upon the close relationships forged during the yearlong combat deployment.

"It was critical that we joined forces to better train and prepare our deploying tactical air control parties and brigade combat teams, leveraging the experience these Soldiers and Airmen gained while working together in Iraq," said Col. Rob Evans, the I-Corps air liaison officer and 1st Air Support Operations Group commander. "This merger only made sense and was the right thing to do."

Members of the 1st ASOG and I-Corps Air Missile Defense Detachment worked together at Camp Victory, Iraq, achieving the first single integrated air picture for Iraq in six years, officials said. This SIAP was critical to improving close-air-support allocation and airspace deconfliction, which gave Air Force joint terminal attack controllers high and low-level situational awareness of the battlefield.

Brig. Gen. Heidi Brown, the I-Corps deputy commanding general for sustainment and the senior air defense officer, visited the 1st ASOG and the 5th ASOS and said she was thrilled with the joint integration and team work.

"I am excited about the unlimited potential and possibilities that this joint teaming will bring to the theater," General Brown said. "The day-to-day integration now taking place at Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be a model for other Air Force units and Corps AMDs across the country and overseas to mirror."

Colonel Evans gave a detailed mission brief and explained some of the complexities and challenges that this new arrangement will help address. For example, the Army datalink systems will provide new opportunities for the group's JTACs to train in digitally-aided, close-air-support techniques.

Lt. Col. Bruce Beyerly, the 5th ASOS commander, showed General Brown the training and support facility and emphasized how the newly integrated team will bring great capabilities not only to the Army and Air Force but also for sister services as well.

The 1st ASOG staff already trains routinely with Navy and Marine aircraft and controllers and the capabilities provided by this new joint team will enable the next level of training, linking digital systems from each of the services.

"Integrated training like this, in the highly complex digital battlespace, is crucial for success in joint warfare," Colonel Evans said.