Kansas, Idaho Air National Guard TACPs Conduct Joint Close Air Support Training Published Jan. 29, 2026 By 1st Lt. Samantha Root 184th Wing MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho - Amid the unforgiving buttes of Idaho, Tactical Air Control Party Airmen from the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron traveled from Kansas to execute close air support training with their counterparts from the 124th ASOS. The joint exercise, held Dec. 16-19, 2025, at Saylor Creek Bombing Range, involved A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard. The exercise was designed to enhance the joint capabilities of the Air National Guard units and provide realistic combat scenarios for the TACPs. The training kicked off with a covert long-range reconnaissance mission, placing TACPs deep behind simulated enemy lines. Their objective was to identify key targets and pave the way for a precision strike. Once targets were positively identified, the controllers coordinated with A-10s, who executed bomb lofts from a distance. On the ground, TACPs painted the targets with portable laser designators, guiding the munitions with pinpoint accuracy. After softening the objective, the team seamlessly transitioned to providing close air support for an assault force that seized the objective. "The ability to thread every form of fire from the skies into the ground forces' scheme of maneuver ensures the mission is achieved, making us one of the largest force multipliers on the battlefield," said Tech. Sgt. Jesse Drahos, a TACP with the 284th ASOS. Following a successful first day, the exercise’s next tactical challenge was not a simulated enemy, but the Idaho weather. Planned live-fly missions for Dec. 17 were canceled, grounding the A-10s. Undeterred, the 284th and 124th TACPs pivoted, turning the day into an intense mission-planning session. Extreme weather led to another cancellation for live-fly missions on the third day, but the TACPs executed the scenarios they had planned by having other TACP operators simulate the aircraft. The centerpiece of their training that day was a high-stakes scenario involving the extraction of a high-value individual. This scenario was run as a dual-TACP mission and required one controller to move with an assault force through a simulated urban village of CONEX boxes, while the other maintained overwatch from a high butte. The exercise stressed the controllers’ ability to deconflict airspace and pass target data in real-time. Detailed debriefs followed each scenario, allowing TACPs to analyze what went well and what could be improved. The debrief on the third day focused on the tactical problems unique to dual-TACP missions and the critical contracts controllers make to ensure mission success. Whether the mission is simulated or real, every moment is critical. “Seconds equal minutes, and minutes equal saving lives,” said Tech. Sgt. Joe Taylor, the Joint Terminal Attack Controller program manager for the 284th ASOS. On the final day, the skies cleared and the meticulous mission planning paid off. The TACPs executed the HVI scenario from the day before, this time with the A-10s. The controllers flawlessly guided the aircraft, applying lessons from the previous days to support the ground force. The training culminated with a final scenario that simulated absolute chaos, forcing the TACPs to manage a downed UH-60 helicopter and a high-threat environment saturated with simulated surface-to-air missiles. At the conclusion of the training, the TACPs held a final debrief with the A-10 pilots. The joint exercise provided a valuable opportunity for the special warfare operators to refine their communication, enhance interoperability and increase their confidence for critical real-world operations. TACP is one of four Special Warfare career fields in the Air Force and the only Special Warfare career field in the Kansas Air National Guard. To learn more about the path to becoming a TACP, contact the 184th Wing recruiting team.