MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina -- The smoke clears and the deafening roar subsides as another round is sent downrange while the Marines with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, load their next volley. These Marines with 2nd Battalion provided suppression of enemy air defense in support of a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) exercise at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, October 17-21, 2016.
The five-day exercise ensured Joint Terminal Attack Control Marines maintained mission readiness for their command, Expeditionary Warfare Training Group-Atlantic. A JTAC provides fire support for ground Marines who are engaged in combat by controlling air attacks. There is a JTAC for every deployable unit.
“If an aircraft is dropping ordinance of any kind, there is always a JTAC controlling it,” said 1st Lt. James C. Baird, an executive officer with 2/10. “Any type of air strike or air related element also needs them so [the JTAC] can locate targets and provide clearance to fire.”
Their job on the ground is to provide suppression of enemy air defense as well as mark targets for Marines in the air. The Howitzers can mark the location of a target within 200-300 meters with either a white phosphorus or illumination round.
The aircraft will then use the mark like a spotlight in the dark, coordinating attacks with the JTAC to efficiently to suppress any threat by using a barrage of high-yield explosive rounds.
By working together fluently to maintain and gain control of the battlespace, Baird stated mission accomplishment can be achieved smoothly.
“It’s always good to press forward while combining different elements,” said Baird. “At our level, we focus on the small things like cross training Marines on the gun line but at the end of the day, it all adds up to the bigger picture.”
Seasoned Marines with 2/10 are very familiar with TACP training, but it gives them the opportunity to hone skills they already have, and pass down their knowledge to new Marines.
“We focus a lot on making sure our Marines don’t get complacent,” said Cpl. Matthew C. Sanchez, a Cannoneer with 2/10. “Being a mostly stationary asset to this training, we are afforded the opportunity to dig in and practice different positions while operating our Howitzers.”
Sanchez explained nothing beats mission readiness, and the better prepared their Marines are on the ground, the better prepared the unit is as a whole while supporting their brothers and sisters.