TROOP DISPLAY: CCTs in Estonia

Combat controllers sprint through the small, rustic village, equipped with body armor and radios, they take cover behind buildings, input coordinates, and relay information to the ground troops commander.

The citizens turned into enemy combatants, the village houses became targets for circling A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and the cobblestone streets turned into a combat zone with devastating fire.

Fortunately, this is not an actual combat mission, but the Combat Controllers of the 321st Special Tactics Squadron simulating close air support during a flying training operation in the town of Rakvere, Estonia as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve

“We train for any environment that is difficult to operate in – rural, congested, urban, close-quarters – so our guys are prepared to fight anytime, anywhere and maintain the highest standard to ensure we are the best the Air Force has to offer,” said the Weapons and Tactics NCO of the 321st STS. “We train in this non-permissive urban airspace because it is highly likely that will be the environment our team is in when we are deployed.”

Combat Controllers are a highly trained special operations unit that integrates air forces into ground combat and typically operate in teams with Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, or Marine Raiders.

In this scenario, the team is integrating A-10s from the 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard into the ground maneuver scheme – just as it would be in a real-world operation.

“It is as realistic as you can simulate a fight,” said Maj. Daniel Griffin, an A-10 pilot from the 175th Wing. “You can hear the CCT instructors on the ground getting the adrenaline running, pushing the soldiers to move and making the scenario more challenging.”

Throughout the exercise, the instructors inundate the CCTs with information and chaos – constantly moving through the town and coordinating the attacks with the A-10s above.

“We wanted to put our younger CCTs in a high-stress situation and expose them to what they will actually see in a real-world scenario,” said the NCOIC for Weapons and Tactics of the 321st STS. “It is an overwhelming scenario full of tasks to accomplish. All of this requires the controllers to maintain their composure under pressure.”

The team's mission is to navigate through the city and capture a high-value target while the main instructor plays the role of a ground forces commander. The team faces enemy fighters, changing objectives, and the loss of team members, all for realistic training.

"You are in a crowded airspace, dealing with multiple wounded comrades, directing air and artillery strikes while under intense fire," said the NCOIC for Weapons and Tactics of the 321st STS."They must train under stress and maintain a calm, cool, and collected mind to fulfill the ground commander's intentions, prevent their own losses, and navigate the battlefield with Fog of War."

"Our Special Tactics Airmen train for the most challenging eventualities," emphasizes Col. Michael Martin, Commander of the 24th Special Operations Wing, which provides personnel and ST support to the 352nd SOW."We develop and test tactics, techniques, and procedures before anything can go wrong to achieve a truly integrated combat capability with our allies and partners."

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