Air Force Takes Over YPG Training Program

LongWire · 07-11-2009, 15:05

A couple of days old.........I didn't know that this was going on.

http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp...menu613_2_18_1

Yuma, AZ July 8th - A major training unit at Yuma Proving Ground is being taken over by the Air Force. A special change of command ceremony was held Wednesday at Yuma Proving Ground to mark the transfer of the Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller Course from the Army to the Air Force. This elite course trains troops from all branches to work with pilots to get the job done overseas.

YPG's Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller Course trains troops on the ground to work with jets to bomb American enemies. Air Force Colonel Paul Harmon says since the training primarily involves jets, it naturally falls underneath the Air Force's roles and missions. "We're talking about fighter jets, be it Air Force, be it Marine Corps, be it Coalition Forces; it's air power changing more into the expertise of the airmen that are on the battlefield that completely support the U.S. Army."

Harmon says the Air Force is experienced in this type of combat warfare, and has been assuming these types of duties overseas in the War On Terror. "We have mostly the operational detachments that are out in Afghanistan and Iraq, most of them have an Air Force Combat Controller." Harmon says the Air Force will now have the majority of instructors and utilize YPG's expansive ranges and target support capabilities to offer a realistic training environment for troops from all branches to train. "We are taking over exactly as the Army has done it for the last 5 or 6 years; it's about a 4-week course, they do academics and a simulator which the Army is loaning to us until we put in another simulator sometime in the future."

The transfer will make the Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller course the largest Air Force component at the Proving Ground.

**Peregrino** · 07-11-2009, 18:59

Interesting; I'll ask about it at work Monday.

**The Reaper** · 07-11-2009, 19:10

Been in the works for a while.

IIRC, the school was stood up by SWCS because the AF would not train SF soldiers in terminal air attack, and it was put at Yuma because the AF would not provide aircraft to support the SOTAC course, but the Marine Air at Yuma would.

I predict that the school will exist only as long as the AF is required by the chain of command to conduct it, it will be closed by them within a few months as soon as support wanes.

TR

ncart326 · 07-11-2009, 19:34

Interesting. The AF is taking over Army fixed wing as well. I was looking forward to DS missions in the new C-27J, because the C-23's are literally falling apart over here in Iraq, and they can't fly high enough to do the mission in Afghanistan. BTW, it's an absolute honor and privilage to support you guys over here.

Ret10Echo · 07-12-2009, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Been in the works for a while.

IIRC, the school was stood up by SWCS because the AF would not train SF soldiers in terminal air attack, and it was put at Yuma because the AF would not provide aircraft to support the SOTAC course, but the Marine Air at Yuma would.

I predict that the school will exist only as long as the AF is required by the chain of command to conduct it, it will be closed by them within a few months as soon as support wanes.

TR

Spot on TR....I was an instructor up their for a bit, sliced over from the MFF school. We received outstanding support from the Marines and Navy.

And the background on WHY the school started in the first place is an interesting discussion as to how the Air Force perceived their support to the Army and how the Army saw that same support (as lacking).

The existence of the course was (IMHO) a burr under the AF saddle blanket. This will make it much more convenient to close down once the operational tempo settles a bit.

Knowledge is power

longrange1947 · 07-12-2009, 19:48

And to think we used to do that stuff without a high speed school or AF oversight.

Richard · 07-12-2009, 20:28

Quote:

And to think we used to do that stuff without a high speed school or AF oversight.

I was thinking the same thing.

Richard's $.02

Warrior-Mentor · 07-12-2009, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

Spot on TR....I was an instructor up their for a bit, sliced over from the MFF school. We received outstanding support from the Marines and Navy.

And the background on WHY the school started in the first place is an interesting discussion as to how the Air Force perceived their support to the Army and how the Army saw that same support (as lacking).

The existence of the course was (IMHO) a burr under the AF saddle blanket. This will make it much more convenient to close down once the operational tempo settles a bit.

Knowledge is power

Will be interesting to see what happens to this course over the next 3 years.

Key Indicators:
- The Course exists and is conducted regularly.
- The Course graduation rates are consistent or improve
- The Course continues to train Special Operations Personnel (and not just USAF) at the same level it currently does.
- Goes without saying that graduates are able to execute down range.

Anything less is unacceptable.

Ret10Echo · 07-13-2009, 04:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warrior-Mentor

Will be interesting to see what happens to this course over the next 3 years.

Key Indicators:
- The Course exists and is conducted regularly.
- The Course graduation rates are consistent or improve
- The Course continues to train Special Operations Personnel (and not just USAF) at the same level it currently does.
- Goes without saying that graduates are able to execute down range.

Anything less is unacceptable.

And there are other courses being spun up in order to sustain and maintain the certification of the graduates....