U.S. Air Force Airmen zero weapons during Exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more Allied Strike information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Till Schanz, 4th Air Support Operations Squadron power productions, Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim, Germany, attempts to complete an obstacle during exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
A U.S. Air Force Airman attempts to complete an obstacle during exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more Allied Strike information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Till Schanz, 4th Air Support Operations Squadron power productions, Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim, Germany, attempts to complete an obstacle during exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Pepper, 4th Air Support Operations Squadron vehicle maintenance, Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim, Germany, completes an obstacle during Exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
Airmen participants complete an obstacle course during Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Airmen start an obstacle course during Exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Donald Herring, 8th Air Support Operations Squadron commander support, Aviano Air Base, Italy, attempts to complete an obstacle during exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, attempt to complete an obstacle during exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ronnie Wright, 435th Security Forces Squadron medic, Sembach Annex, Germany, and U.S. Army Sgt. Derrick Alford, Headquarters of Headquarters Company combat medic, Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg, Germany, provide medical care to Senior Airman Joshua Romero, 1st Air Support Operations Squadron radio maintenance, Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany, after completing an obstacle course during Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. ALLIED STRIKE is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more Allied Strike information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Airmen pick-up rifle ammunition prior to weapons qualifying during Exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Jose Cadelina, 4th Air Support Operations Squadron fighter duty officer, Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim, Germany, zeros in his M-4 rifle during Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers test their skills of directing combat aircraft onto enemy targets and providing close air support to units during exercise Allied Strike 10, Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 23, 2010. Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support (CAS) exercise, held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training that helps build partnership capacity among allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations and joint services while refining the latest operational CAS tactics. For more ALLIED STRIKE information go to www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)
by Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
7/25/2010 - GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Air Force, Army and NATO joint terminal attack controllers and tactical air control party members joined together here to participate in exercise Allied Stirke 10 July 23 to Aug. 5.
Allied Strike is Europe's premier close air support exercise, which is held annually to conduct robust, realistic CAS training. The training also assists in building partnership capacity among allied NATO nations and joint services that helps refine the latest operational CAS tactics.
"Allied Strike is the only joint /combined multi-national, combined cast, focused event like this in Europe," said Lt. Col. Jon Berry, 4th Air Operations Support Group director of operations and Allied Strike 10 exercise director. "This event allows us to bring all these entities together and focus on graduate level tactics training and procedures."
The NATO countries participating in the event are Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal.
The first of nine training days and four live-fly days kicked off with Air Force members competing in an obstacle course and then transitioned into M-4 rifle and M-9 pistol training before the opening day came to an end.
The first part of the exercise allows Airmen to become familiar with each other and fine tune their combat skills before advancing to the second portion of the training, where Army and NATO members will be introduced to the scenarios.
During the joint/combined multi-national training, JTACs and TACPs from all participating nations will be integrated into an organization modeled after the structure of ongoing contingency operations in Afghanistan. In order to benefit from the shared experiences of all the participants, each member will take part in all aspects of the exercise.
To ensure a smooth operation between countries in forward-operating locations, the events were intended to imitate the tactical air control system, Army air ground system, and digital command and control structure from platoon to battalion operating in Afghanistan. The scenario being replicated trains JTAC and TACP members to conduct close air support missions, while supporting Army units in a counter-insurgency operation.
Building stronger partnerships allow the nations to work as one cohesive unit here or while deployed.
"We share ideas with each other that allow us to approach something from a different angle that we may not have thought of," said Capt. Todd Judice, 4th ASOG assistant director of operations and Allied Strike 10 deputy exercise director. "Almost everyone here will be going to Afghanistan at some point, and it's important we replicate real world scenarios."
Personnel receiving training and opposing forces will be equipped with different training munitions to replicate actual conditions faced on the ground during urban, dismounted, and convoy operations. These include small-arms marking rounds, as well as simulated rocket propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices, booby traps, and man portable air defense systems.
"We hope, when they leave, they think it's the most realistic training they ever had and say, 'I'm ready,' when they are deployed," said Captain Judice. "We are not going to fail them. If they don't get it right, we will make them do it until they do."
Although the persistence and toughness of the training may never match the real conflict, it is about realizing the seriousness of the mission.
"I would like all the participants to take away an understanding and appreciation for the criticality of what this mission set is about," Colonel Berry said. "I want to provide them with the very best training venue possible and ensure they leave here with a positive experience."
For more AS10 information, visit www.usafe.af.mil/alliedstrike.asp.
