An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 10, 2023

Wisconsin Air Guard Unit Masters New Air Control Tactics

By Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

MADISON, Wis. - More than 120 members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Control Squadron recently spent two weeks at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in lower Michigan, learning how to integrate a more lightweight, scalable and mobile air traffic control management system in the field.

Historically, units such as the 128th Air Control Squadron manage aircraft from existing structures with large control room floors and other amenities in the rear of a combat zone. But the changing dynamics of the modern battlefield have increased the importance of mobility.

“Mobility helps us disperse and deploy our capabilities faster and more efficiently in combat zones to meet any potential threat on any terrain,” said Lt. Col. Shonn Breton, 128th Air Control Squadron commander. “As a result, our forces are more dynamic and able to withstand and counter assaults from enemy threats.”

During the first week of the training mission, the team established a main operating base and focused on weapons familiarization, establishing and fortifying field operations, proper radio and communications etiquette, and training in chemically contested environments. This was refresher training for most Airmen in the unit, but it improved the unit’s overall readiness in the Air Force’s new 24-month rotational deployment readiness cycle.

The 128th Air Control Squadron spent the second week establishing multiple forward operating locations about two hours away at Michigan’s Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center. Unit members learned to operate the new organic Tactical Operations Center-Light equipment, facilitating better air traffic control from a lightweight, scalable, distributed battle management system.

“These [agile combat employment] skills are imperative for the unit to prove their ability to conduct rapid and dispersed deployment requests by higher headquarters within a highly contested environment at a moment’s notice,” Breton said.

Each forward operating location organized a team of operators and maintainers who quickly established radar and communications. The teams explored managing air traffic with off-the-shelf equipment from the back of a government passenger van. They also evaluated the connectivity power of two internet service providers in a field-based location to view and manage overhead aircraft via radar. They also used a unit member’s 3-D printer to create equipment to help visually detect aircraft using automatic dependent surveillance broadcast beacons.

On average, it took 10 to 20 minutes to set up at the forward operating location — a fraction of the time typically required to establish visual radar and communications equipment. 

The unit realized a 100% success rate integrating this forward-deployed equipment with A-10 Warthogs from the 107th Fighter Squadron out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base, northeast of Detroit. The forward-based teams of the 128th ensured the A-10s safely entered the airspace, then handed control of the aircraft to Special Operations Command Joint Terminal Attack Controllers to conduct strafing runs on simulated locations where notional U.S. ground troops encountered enemy forces and required air support.

By learning to operate this new equipment in forward locations, the 128th is helping the U.S. Air Force establish air superiority anywhere, any time.

“I could not be prouder of the men and women of the 128th Air Control Squadron,” Breton said. “The [agile combat employment] and rapid deployment skills conducted were a complete success and served as a proof of concept as the unit transitions into preparing for the next fight against a peer competitor.”

The unit experienced a training first by convoying more than 500 miles in a single day in 14, 5-ton vehicles to Alpena CRTC.

The 128th also spent a day in downtown Alpena performing community service tasks such as painting fire hydrants and conducting repairs at the city marina.
 

 

 

Related Articles
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing flies Aug. 9, 2024, during the Northern Lightning exercise at Volk Field, Wisconsin. Training between fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft ensures the Air Force meets near-peer warfighting needs.
Northern Lightning Exercise Concludes at Volk Field
By Airman 1st Class Josh Kaeser, | Sept. 3, 2024
VOLK FIELD, Wis. - More than 1,000 service members from nearly 25 units nationwide conducted Northern Lightning, a two-week joint-training exercise held annually at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center. This year’s...

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Maya Warren, an IT specialist with the 123d Air Control Squadron, troubleshoots a network Aug. 7, 2024, with Master Sgt. Jarno Maasing, Estonian Defence Forces, during Exercise Northern Lightning on Volk Field, Wisconsin. Northern Lightning strengthens allied interoperability and bolsters defense capabilities in the face of evolving threats.
Ohio Air Control Squadron, Estonian Support Northern Lightning
By Staff Sgt. Constantine Bambakidis, | Aug. 9, 2024
VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wis. - U.S. Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard 123rd Air Control Squadron participated in exercise Northern Lightning alongside a member of the Estonian Defence Forces Aug. 8.Master...

U.S. Air Force Col. Charles C. Merkel, 128th Air Refueling Wing commander, discusses pallet training with 128th ARW leadership at Volk Field Air National Guard base, Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, July 17, 2024. As part of the agile combat employment (ACE) training, Airmen were trained in different areas of their job operations to ensure multi-capability, interoperability, and efficiency during deployment and wartime situations.
Wisconsin Airmen Train on Agile Combat Employment Concepts
By Airman 1st Class Cynthia Yang, | Aug. 1, 2024
MILWAUKEE, Wis – As part of the agile combat employment exercise, 128th Air Refueling Wing Airmen performed training to improve and learn different parts of their job functions to become multi-capable, interoperable, and...