Air Controller: A Vital Component in Modern Warfare

The Marine Contracted Air Services Program currently supports adversarial and close air support training in the U.S. Army, with Combat Control Airmen and JTAC Marines playing a crucial role in calling in air support in hostile environments. The 320th STS and III MEF regularly train together to maintain an understanding of each other's practices and capabilities.

As highlighted by recent events, Marine joint terminal attack controllers from the 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force, successfully called in close air support during a training exercise at the Irisuna Jima Training Range, Okinawa, Japan. This demonstrates the importance of JTACs and forward air controllers in modern warfare.

The U.S. Marine Corps is currently exploring options to expand its means of generating the necessary capabilities provided by JTACs and FACs (Forward Air Controllers). To meet operational demands, the Corps requires a total of 597 JTACs and forward air controllers spread across active and reserve Marines. This translates into an annual requirement of producing 279 JTACs.

The demand for JTACs and forward air controllers is likely to continue growing, particularly as these skills have been identified as integral to the Corps' future force designs to counter rising near-peer adversaries. The aviation plan detailed by the Corps highlights the importance of these roles in modern warfare.

Currently, the Corps has 392 active JTACs and 847 active forward air controllers. However, not all Marines holding these jobs are currently certified, while some possess high-demand occupations or senior rank that limit their ability to serve as tactical air controllers. Despite this, the Marine Corps is employing its current inventory of JTACs and forward air controllers in a manner that continues to meet operational requirements for deploying units.

In conclusion, air controllers play a vital role in modern warfare, providing critical support to ground forces in hostile environments. The Marine Corps' efforts to expand its capabilities and train more JTACs and FACs demonstrate the importance of these roles in maintaining operational readiness.

Air controller