VarSity

-{SpoonmaN}-'s post got me thinking about a career I have been looking into myself, however as yet I have not been able to talk to anyone because when I went down to my local careers office the sodding RAF guy (who I was told to talk to) wasnt there

I have been thinking about the forces for a while now, and have actually started a fair amount of training even though its very early stages for me.

One job I am very interested in is Forward Air Control. From what I can work out this is carried out by the RAF Regiments TACP's and the Royal Arty.
What I am looking to find out is:
A) Is this a role that you can join as right off the bat?
B) Has anyone here has any experiance working in or with such a role?
C) Any other info really on what the role involves. I can more or less work out the basics, get on the radio, tell Pilot boy to drop bombs on X Y and Z (more detailed than that I know), but is there more to this role?

glyn

[quote=VarSity;445413]-{SpoonmaN}-'s post got me thinking about a career I have been looking into myself, however as yet I have not been able to talk to anyone because when I went down to my local careers office the sodding RAF guy (who I was told to talk to) wasnt there

I have been thinking about the forces for a while now, and have actually started a fair amount of training even though its very early stages for me.

One job I am very interested in is Forward Air Control. From what I can work out this is carried out by the RAF Regiments TACP's and the Royal Arty.
What I am looking to find out is:
A) Is this a role that you can join as right off the bat?

Absolutely not!

B) Has anyone here has any experiance working in or with such a role?

Me. It is one of the most important tasks undertaken by the Army Air Corps where you are identified on radio as 'Lingo Dog'.If the stores are not laid on target, guess who gets the blame?

C) Any other info really on what the role involves. I can more or less work out the basics, get on the radio, tell Pilot boy to drop bombs on X Y and Z (more detailed than that I know), but is there more to this role?

One teensy-weensie thing to be kept in mind is the proximity of the enemy, who would like to kill you, so you are close to the FEBA, very low, usually slow and acting like an infanteer utilising all possible means of cover, popping up and skylining yourself as little as possible to aquire/confirm targets (and never re-appearing in the same place twice). Oh, and practice, practice and practice with different types of aircraft with differing warloads. It is demanding work but there is considerable satisfaction when everything works out.

__________________
Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.

VarSity

Thats what I am looking for.

With reagards to it not being something to join right off that bat, I assume its something you apply for once your in your Corps. I understand this is the way with alot of specialisations and I am fine with that, but does anyone have an idea of the minimum time frame? Im guessing a few years?

glyn

VarSity

Will have to look at the AAC, I was under the impression the Army side was done by The Royal Artillary but thats more than likely just to fill gaps.

The other lot I know who do FAC is the RAF Regiment so I will look into both.

GAU-8

A) Is this a role that you can join as right off the bat?
B) Has anyone here has any experience working in or with such a role?
C) Any other info really on what the role involves. I can more or less work out the basics, get on the radio, tell Pilot boy to drop bombs on X Y and Z (more detailed than that I know), but is there more to this role?

I can give you a little perspective from the U.S. forces point of view. I was an airborne FAC in two squadrons and did my share of ground duty. Doing the job from the ground and the air is very important.

The most critical element in becoming an effective FAC is to have an aerial perspective. You need to fly, see things from the air and understand the three-dimensional aspects of aerial operations. You don't have to be a pilot to develop this. Many of our enlisted FACs aren't pilots and they are superb. Extensive weapons inventory knowledge and weapons effects knowledge is essential as well. Most FACs I knew enjoyed this side of the job. You'll learn not only the inventory of your country but those of your allies as well. You will become very flexible in your tactical thinking--because you'll never know what weapons the fighters you're about to work with are going to show up with. When they check on the radio, they'll tell you and you'll have about 20 minutes to brief them, organized the attack, guide the attack and send them away--because the next formation of fighters is about to check in. You'll have to match their weapon's effects to your target set and tactical situation. At first, it's mind-boggling.

Although controlling fighters gets a lot of attention, there's an aspect of being a FAC that is just as much fun: Calling in artillery is a hoot!

The training and experience program that you'll have to travel to become a FAC in your armed forces will provide you with the experience and perspective that you need. Go after it and stick with it. Becoming and being a FAC is incredibly rewarding. Never in any endeavor, have I learned so much about task management. In later years, when you're not busy blowing things up anymore, you'll still use the task management and task prioritizing skills you learned from your years as a FAC.

There is far more to this role than just getting iron on target. Your fellow FACs will be some of the best friends you'll ever meet and some of the most professional experts you'll ever learn to respect.

Go for it and keep us posted on your progress.

Oh, and don't forget to call in hot.

__________________
When a prang seems inevitable, endeavor to strike the softest, cheapest object in the vicinity, as slowly as possible. --WW II RAF Instructor Pilot

JCT

[quote=glyn;445430]And don't forget, you are surrounded by the radios which are your tools of the trade, but mark you as a target worth shooting!

glyn

[quote=JCT;445693]It's nearly 28 years since I retired from uniformed service and I expect virtually everything has changed during that time. When the AAC was formed early in WW2 it was purely for artillery correction. AOP as it was called was still of importance when I joined the AAC in the 1960s but the Corps remit had widened. FAC was number one then but the days of the unmanned aerial vehicle are with us and it would be wise to use them for high-risk sorties. There are plenty of other tasks to keep the AAC from getting bored!

sappersgt

In training I remember setting up an OP on a forward slope with good visibility. Running commo wire over the crest, down the backside to ravine where a low watt directional transmitter was aimed at the receiver a mile or so away, tucked away in a low saddle where two hills met. The idea being to (hopefully) mask the transmission so as not to have the enemy get a fix on you. I asked how effective it would be and was told, "moderately effective", as long as the enemy didn't have a satellite overhead. The estimated life expectancy in combat was sobering. Makes you feel sorry for the other guys!

__________________
Reddite igitur quae sunt Caesaris Caesari et quae sunt Dei Deo
(Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things which are God's)

JCT

Yeah, I always tried not to have my radio operator stand right next to me...