Army Transformation's Impact on Close Air Support Terminal Attack Control

Abstract

There are inherent dangers of unquestioned adherence to doctrine; however given historical examples of the success between doctrine and strategy in regards to Close Air Support (CAS) suggests the Air Force work closely with the Army as they transform their brigades to lighter more agile combat units with less organic artillery. Army Transformation's intent is to create a lighter more mobile force consisting of more combat units. The future Army will not have divisional and corps supporting artillery brigades and this will result in less supporting and reinforcing fires. Engaged brigades will have to depend on their own fire support and Air Force air assets to carry the day. The Army's creation of more combat units will generate a corresponding requirement to increase the total number of Terminal Attack Controllers (TAC) to ensure a sufficient number of TACs are available to support each combat unit as agreed upon in the Army/Air Force Liaison Support Memorandum of Agreement. This project addresses the increased number TACs needed to support Army Transformation and provides recommendations regarding the way ahead and how the Air Force and Army share the burden of providing Joint TACs (JTAC) to ensure effective CAS on future battlefields.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 03, 2006
Accession Number
ADA449817

Entities

People

  • James D. Reed

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Artillery
  • Combat Areas
  • Combat Operations
  • Fire Support
  • Infantry Fighting Vehicles
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Tactical Air Support
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies