Update: U.S. F-15E fighter pilots train with Estonian forward air controllers

  • Published
  • By MSgt Gino Mattorano
  • USAFE Public Affairs
TALLINN, ESTONIA --  Several F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath's 494th Fighter Squadron participated in a two-day NATO training event near Tallinn, Estonia Monday and Tuesday helping to train Estonian forward air controllers in calling in close air support.

The event, titled Baltic Region Training Event IV Alpha, gave F-15E aircrews and the Estonian FACs the opportunity to work together in a training environment, to better prepare them for real-world missions.

"Our aircrews benefited from conducting Close Air Support training with the [Estonian] FACs who will soon deploy to Afghanistan," said Lt. Col. John "Bugs" Bunnell, 494th Fighter Squadron commander. "We have supported these FACs and their parent ground units in the past and undoubtedly will in the future. This exercise, in particular, allowed us to practice convoy escort and video downlink."

While this was a NATO training event, it supports USAFEs goal of building partnership capacity throughout the region.

"The BRTE series of exercises is important training to ensure Estonian interoperability with the NATO partners," said Lt. Col. Bunnell. "There are many difficulties involved in complex military operations that never show themselves until you exercise in a live environment. This particular BRTE was important for the Estonian Scouts Batallion as they prepare to send forces to [International Security Assistance Force] operations in Afghanistan. Since the 48th Fighter Wing continually trains and regularly deploys to these operations, the training was valuable to our aircrew as well."

Master Sgt. Jay Lemley, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller assigned to USAFE's Operations Directorate Close Air Support Branch, has been working with the Estonians to help train them to work with US and NATO aircraft. A JTAC is the U.S. Air Force equivalent to the Estonian FAC.

"Standardization is very important to JTAC missions," said Master Sgt. Lemley. "It's vital for them to ensure they are training to NATO standards, and this training is about as close as we can get to a real-world situation."

According to Master Sgt. Lemley, one of the most challenging jobs for a JTAC is to learn to manage the variety of assets involved in combat - from fighter aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, to the Army ground artillery units, helicopters or other military units in the area.

"The JTAC has to be the key element tying all these pieces together," he said. "And he has to make every effort to ensure that we're protecting both friendly forces and the civilian populace - - it can mean the difference between life and death in combat."

For their part in the training, the Estonian FACs, were excited for the opportunity to train with U.S. forces.
"This was our first time training with F-15s," said Estonian 2nd Lt. Ivo Koiv. "We were able to exercise coordination between us, the aircraft and the ground forces. We are constantly learning, and this training helps prepare us for our deployment to Afghanistan next year. "

Along with the obvious language differences, Lieutenant Koiv noted another key part of the coordination process between air and ground forces, was that he had to be able to translate common Air Force terms to terms used by ground forces, and vice versa.

Master Sgt. Lemley praised the Estonian FACs for their role in the training, and believes they're ready to make vital contributions to the ISAF mission.

According to a NATO news release, part two of the training, titled BRTE IV Bravo, will be conducted Sept 22, and will consist of NATO fighter aircraft flying a long range tactical force package as part of the exercise BOLD AVENGER 2009. The flight route will lead through Lithuanian and Latvian airspace. The goal of the event is to provide training to NATO Air Surveillance and Air Policing assets in the area and to familiarize aircrew with the airspace specifics of the Baltic region.

NATO's CC-Air Headquarters, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, plans, tasks and executes BRTEs to enhance Air Policing and Air Surveillance training. The program assists Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and neighbouring NATO countries also in their efforts towards interoperability and integration of air assets in line with existing NATO standards.