Air Force's first career Air Liaison Officers graduate TACP pipeline training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ryan Whitney
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  For the first time since the Tactical Air Control Party career field began in 1977, five non-rated Air Liaison Officers joined the ranks of Battlefield Airmen across the Air Force after graduating from the basic Tactical Air Command and Control Apprentice Course April 27.

Capt. Matthew Kealy, 1st Lt. Brian Leen, 2nd Lt. John Day, 2nd Lt. Eamonn O'Shea and 2nd Lt. Michael Brittner were presented their certificates of completion from the 13-month training pipeline by Gen. Stephen Lorenz, Air Education and Training Command commander.

During the TACP pipeline, which consists of six courses, Airmen are trained to directly assist, control, enable and execute air and space power functions including communications, tactical vehicle operations, day and night land navigation, small unit tactics and close air support procedures. All of this is conducted alongside enlisted TACP Airmen, evolving the way enlisted TACP Airmen and ALOs interact, Lieutenant Leen said.

"This course was huge and beneficial for us because we were able to go through side by side with the Airmen that we will be leading, so we know exactly what they are capable of and so they know what we can do for them," he said. "We are excited to get out there and lead these highly motivated Airmen, and get them the recognition and support that they deserve."

In addition to these courses, the TACP officers attend five advanced courses: Air Liaison Officer Qualifying Course, Joint Fires Observer, Fire Support Coordination, Joint Air Operations Command and Control and Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, and if required by the unit they will be assigned to, Army's Airborne school.

Although the TACP career field was officially established in 1977, Tactical Air Controllers were first used in 1948. Over the last 60 years, to ensure TACP Airmen had officer leadership, rated fighter and bomber aircrew from across the Air Force filled the demand as Air Liaison Officers for periods of two to three years at a time before returning to their original platform.

Although this method required less training, since the aircrew member would already be familiar with the terminology and assets available to them, it left little in the way of continuity and TACP experience once the temporary ALOs returned to their original jobs.

"Having [non-rated ALOs] train as career Airmen alongside our enlisted counterparts serves two distinct advantages that the career field hasn't seen yet," said Captain Kealy, the first officer to graduate from the TACP pipeline. "The first is providing the continuity of leadership previously unavailable to the field. It will also provide us a level of credibility with the Airmen we will be leading that comes with having the same training, having the same experience and having that connection that was formed through the training."

Although there are now non-rated ALOs, the goal is to maintain 30 percent rated ALOs, which will allow the TACPs to learn the newest equipment and tactics used by Air Force pilots.

"One of our jobs is to be an advisor to the Army ground commander on air power and to teach them the capabilities and limitations the Air Force brings to the fight, so we will continue working with our rated brethren and learn from them so our knowledge doesn't go stale," Lieutenant O'Shea said.

The schoolhouse is scheduled to graduate 36 non-rated ALOs in 2011, and 48 per year after that. Because it is now open to non-rated officers, Airmen who have always been interested in the field can now apply.

"I have always been interested in this mission and always wanted to be involved, and then they opened up the door for non-rated officers and I couldn't be more excited to be here," said Capt. Kealy, a former communications officer. "As much of an honor as it is to be a TACP, I think it is an even bigger honor to lead them, and I only hope to live up to the expectations of these highly motivated Battlefield Airmen."