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Joint terminal attack controllers from the 4th Air Support Operations Group in Wiesbaden, Germany, and the 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron in Vilseck, Germany participated in INIOHOS 2015, a mid-sized air exercise organized annually by the Hellenic air force (HAF), April 20 to 30, 2015, at Andravida Air Force Base, Greece.
Greek joint terminal attack controllers and U.S. JTACs from the 4th Air Support Operations Group and the 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron gather for a photo opportunity while participating in INIOHOS 2015. INH-15 is a mid-sized air exercise organized annually by the Hellenic air force at Andravida Air Force Base, Greece. Service members from the Israeli air force also participated in the exercise.
The exercise is designed to increase interoperability between the three nations and test their ability to work side-by-side in order to prepare for real world situations.
The HAF has organized the exercise since 1988, and this year marked the first time foreign armed forces, both U.S. and Israeli, were asked to participate.
“Collaboration among exercise participants on tactics, techniques and procedures is one of the main purposes of INH-15,” said 1st Lt. William Palmer, 4th ASOG unit operations training manager and officer in charge of the exercise. “It marked a milestone for being the first iteration in which the HAF has invited allied partners to participate.”
A JTAC is a certified service member who directs combat aircraft from the ground during close air support and other air operations. They fall under the Tactical Air Control Party, which advises ground commanders on the capabilities and limitations of air operations. The U.S. JTACs who participated in INH-15, along with their Greek counterparts, advised the operations of HAF F-16 and F-4 and IAF F-16 aircraft.
“Cooperating with the Greek JTACs and the Israeli pilots was an awesome experience,” said Senior Airman Luke Molidor, 2nd ASOS TACP JTAC. “We each were able to take away very valuable training and accomplished many goals from the exercise. It was a great opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the HAF JTACs and to work together as a solid team and learn from one another.”
The JTACs operated out of Kranea and Larissa, Greece, for the full duration of INH-15, while the air liaison officers, who are the senior TACP members attached to a ground unit and function as the primary advisors to the ground commander, spent the first week operating out of Andravida AFB and the following week from Kranea and Larissa.
“The event grew immensely this year and will continue to expand,” Palmer said. “As the 4th ASOG’s OIC for INH-15, I can wholeheartedly say that my NCOs and Airmen were absolutely top notch. We are grateful to have seized such an opportunity to strengthen allied partnerships.”
The exercise produced another opportunity for the IAF to work alongside allied forces for the first time.
“The IAF aircrews highlighted that INH-15 carried additional significance for them as it was their first time flying under the control of NATO JTACs,” Palmer said. “The exercise was an excellent medium in which to strengthen not only NATO capacities and interoperability, but also that between NATO and one of its major allies.”
The exercise not only helped the members build joint relationships on a professional level, but on a personal level as well.
“I hope we can continue this excellent cooperation and further strengthen our combat capabilities and partnership with the Israelis and the Hellenic air force,” Molidor said. “I will never forget the bond we were able to forge with this great group of guys.”
