Close Air Support

Front 1

CAS is conducted when and where

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friendly combat forces are in close proximity to enemy forces.

Front 2

Fixedwing CAS sorties are normally flown in

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sections (two aircraft) or divisions (four aircraft).

Front 3

Rotary-wing aircraft providing CAS are typically tasked and employed

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sections, divisions, or flights (two or more divisions).

Front 4

Both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft are normally assigned as part of the

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ACE of a MAGTF.

Front 5

When referring to aircraft flights, the
lead aircraft is referred to as __. The second and subsequent aircraft
are referred to as __.

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“lead” or “dash-one”
“dash-two,” “dash-three,” etc

Front 6

At the battalion level, the TACP is also used to provide

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terminal control for CAS aircraft.

Front 7

The battalion TACP consists of

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3 aviators and 12 radio operators.

Front 8

The senior officer is the air officer (AO), who acts

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dual capacity as special staff officer to the battalion
commander for all aviation matters and as the officer in charge of the TACP.

Front 9

Each of the other two aviation officers is a

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forward air controller (FAC) and the leader of a forward air control party.

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TACPs

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Tactical air control parties

Front 11

The AO advises the ground unit
commander on

Back 11

CAS employment and works in the Fire Support Coordination Center (FSCC) as the battalion’s air representative.

Front 12

The duties of the FAC include 6:

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• Knowing the enemy situation, selected targets, and location of friendly units
• Knowing the supported unit’s plans, position, and needs
• Locating targets of opportunity
• Advising the supported company commander on proper air employment
• Requesting CAS
• Controlling CAS
• Performing battle damage assessment (BDA)

Front 13

FAC (Forward air controller)

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An officer (aviator/pilot) member of the tactical air control party who, from a forward ground or airborne position, controls aircraft in close air support of ground troops (JP 1-02). A Marine aviator with the secondary MOS of 7502.

Front 14

Terminal controller

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Personnel with the authority to control the maneuver of and grant weapons release clearance to attacking aircraft. A terminal controller is not necessarily a FAC or JTAC but simply whoever is controlling the aircraft and has been granted weapons release authority by the ground commander.

Front 15

FAC(A)
Forward air
controller
(Airborne)

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A specifically trained and qualified aviation officer who exercises terminal control of aircraft engaged in close air support of ground troops. The forward air controller (airborne) is normally an airborne extension of the tactical air control party. (JP 1-02)

Front 16

DASC

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Direct Air Support Center: is the principal air control agency responsible for the direction of air operations that directly support ground forces.

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TACC

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Marine Tactical Air Command Center

Front 18

TADC

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Tactical Air Direction Center

Front 19

C3

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Command, Control, and Communications

Front 20

SEAD

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Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses

Front 21

Techniques for improving responsiveness include:

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• Using forward operating bases (FOBs) or forward operating locations near
the area of operations.
• Placing aircrews in a designated ground or airborne alert status.
• Delegating launch and divert authority to subordinate units.
• Placing JTACs and other air personnel to facilitate continuous
coordination with ground units, communication with aircraft, and
observation of enemy locations.

Front 22

Control Points

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Control points route aircrews to their targets and provide a ready means of conducting
fire support coordination. Control points should be easily identified from the air and should support the MAGTF’s scheme of maneuver. The senior FSCC and the ACE
select control points based on MAGTF requirements.

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CP

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Contact Point
A CP is “the position at which a mission leader makes radio contact with an air control agency” (Joint Pub 1-02). Normally, a CP is outside the range of enemy surface to air
weapon systems and is 15-30 nautical miles (NM) from the target area. During ingress,
the aircrew contacts the terminal controller at the CP. A CP allows coordination of final plans before entering heavily defended airspace. By convention, CPs are named after states, i.e., “TEXAS.”

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IP

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Initial Point
The initial point is “used as the starting point for the bomb run to the target.” (Joint Pub 1-02) An IP is:
• Easily identified (visually or electronically)
• Located 5-15 NM from the target area (ideally 8-12 NM)
• A reference point for the pilot to gain target acquisition
Terminal controllers and aircrews use IPs to help position aircraft delivering ordnance. By convention, IPs are named after car makes, .e., “CHEVY.”

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Rotary-Wing Control Points

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Holding area (HA)
Battle position (BP)

Front 26

Check-in procedures (6)

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1. Identification/Mission Number:
2. Number and Type of Aircraft:
3. Position and Altitude:
4. Ordnance:
5. Time on Station:
6. Abort Code:

Front 27

For fixed-wing aircraft, The distance is given in

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NM and should be accurate to a tenth of an NM

Front 28

For attack helicopters, the distance is given in

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meters from the center of the BP and is accurate to the nearest 100m

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Target elevation Given in:

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feet above mean sea level (MSL).

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Mark

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An effective mark is within 300 meters of the target

WP and other indirect marks should be on the deck 30 seconds prior to TOT

Illumination on deck should land 45 seconds prior to TOT

Front 31

The “Cleared Hot” call can be made only after the
terminal controller confirms the aircraft is

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• On the proper attack heading
• Wings level
• Pointing at the correct target

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“Cleared Hot”

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Term used by a terminal controller granting weapons release clearance to an aircraft attacking a specific target.

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Call Continue

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Continue the pass. You are not yet cleared to release any ordnance.

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Call Abort

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Abort the pass. Do not release any ordnance.

Front 35

Call Cleared Hot

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You are cleared to release ordnance on this pass.

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Call Continue Dry

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You are cleared to proceed with the attack run, but you may not release any ordnance.

Front 37

The terminal controller must direct CAS aircrews to abort if:

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• Any portion of the CAS brief is not understood
• Any unsafe situation develops
• Clearance criteria not met