Corps’ premiere air-controllers back with 11th MEU
Story Date
4/2/2009
By
Byline
Sgt. Scott M. Biscuiti
,
Unit
11th MEU
Dateline
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.
Page Content
After years of estrangement from Marine expeditionary units, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company personnel, or Anglico, the Corps' air controllers, are once again back with the 11th MEU to do what they do best: Bring death from above.
Due to constant operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Anglico Marines and sailors have been engaged in coordinating close-air support and indirect fire there.
MEU leaders requested a detachment from 1st Anglico to deploy with them later this year. Subsequently, when the 11th MEU deploys later this year, it will be the first of the three West Coast MEUs in several years to take such a detachment, said Lt. Col. Robert C. Rice, 11th MEU operations officer.
As resident experts in all things that go boom, Anglico personnel are highly specialized at directing and controlling air support, not only from U.S. aircraft, but allied aircraft as well.
“Anglico is a phenomenal asset,” said Maj. Brent Johnson, the MEU’s air officer. “They’ll provide a greater capability. Operationally, we can provide better air support with Anglico personnel.”
Over the past several years, Anglico units have been very air-centric; that is, their focus has been on calling in aircraft instead of naval guns and artillery to destroy enemy targets.
Even though some systems are not widely used, Anglico personnel are proficient in all aspects of fire, including mortars, artillery and naval gunfire, said Capt. Robert Suarez, the officer in charge of the MEU’s supporting-arms liaison team, or SALT.
Though small in number, the MEU’s Anglico detachment has as much air controlling capability as an entire infantry battalion, said Suarez.
The MEU’s Anglico complement consists of 18 members. Three officers serve as joint-terminal attack controllers, or JTACs, and are the only ones certified to authorize fire missions. Two fire control teams consisting of five Marines each set up observation posts and engage enemy targets. Overseeing the FCTs and operating as a fire support coordination center is the SALT.
Even though combat operations are Anglico’s bread and butter, they bring greater capabilities to training as well.
“We provide the MEU commander with the capability to plug into any allied unit operating in theater,” Suarez said. “But if we do bilateral training, we have the ability to liaison with them too.” With all the contingencies a MEU faces, having an Anglico detachment with a catchy motto means one thing: No matter where they go, “Lightning from the sky, thunder from the sea,” is only a call away.
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FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.-Members of one of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s fire control teams establish an observation post prior to calling in close-air support during a live-fire exercise here March 29. The FCT from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, or Anglico, set up its post by establishing communication with multiple entities, getting the direction and distance to targets at the range and verifying their own location. The MEU’s 18-man Anglico detachment can direct and control fixed or rotary wing aircraft or call in indirect fire from artillery batteries, naval guns and mortar teams. The training was part of the MEU’s larger Marine air-ground task force exercise that runs through April 9. , Sgt. Scott M. Biscuiti, 3/29/2009 10:49 AM
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.-Capt. Robert Suarez establishes communication with range control at the Stony Valley range prior to calling in close-air support during a live-fire exercise here March 29. A detachment of Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit direct and control air support and can call in indirect fire from artillery, naval guns and mortars. Suarez is the officer in charge of the MEU’s supporting-arms liaison team, or SALT., Sgt. Scott M. Biscuiti, 3/29/2009 10:42 AM
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.-Members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company detachment conduct a debrief after a successful close-air support mission while taking part in an exercise here March 29. The Marines are part of an 18-man detachment deploying with the MEU later this year. , Sgt. Scott M. Biscuiti, 3/29/2009 3:46 PM
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.-Cpl. Jarrod Romine, from Houston, makes a terrain sketch of the Stony Valley range here March 29 prior to conducting a live-fire exercise during the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s larger Marine air-ground task force exercise. Marines from the MEU’s 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company detachment, or Anglico, practiced locating, ranging and calling in close-air support on targets during their training. Romine is one of 13 enlisted Marines from the Anglico detachment who will be deploying with the MEU later this year, Sgt. Scott M. Biscuiti, 3/29/2009 10:24 AM
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.-Cpl. Jarrod Romine, a Houston native, checks his target information in preparation for a section of aircraft to conduct close-air support here March 29. Romine, a forward observer with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, is one of 13 enlisted Marines in an Anglico detachment who will deploy with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit later this year., Sgt. Scott M. Biscuiti, 3/29/2009 3:48 PM
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.-Maj. Brent Johnson (left) and Capt. Jonathan Marang (right) coordinate target information prior to calling in close-air support during an exercise here March 29. A detachment of Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit direct and control air support and can call in indirect fire from artillery, naval guns and mortars. Johnson is the MEU’s air officer and Marang is the team leader of one of the MEU’s two fire control teams. , Sgt. Scott M. Biscuiti, 3/29/2009 4:12 PM
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