CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – Radio communication has been established between the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Air Force here after a morning of testing the airways from aircraft to ground vehicles Aug. 11.
Although the weather prevented the two services from conducting their original training mission, the day was a big success, according to Maj. Lee Dewald, an air liaison officer with the 84th Expeditionary Air Support Operation Squadron, Multi-National Division – South.
At the start of the day, the plans were to have the Iraqi Army personnel train in ground operations while the air force provided an “eye in the sky” to help them track the objective.
“For two months, we have been training the Iraqi Air Force to be able to work with ground forces effectively,” said Lt. Col. William Iuliano, 84th EASOS commander. “We have taught them how to work with the ground forces by showing them how to be the eyes in the sky for them.”
“Today, since weather didn’t permit,” continued Iuliano, a Boise, Idaho native, “we worked on getting their comms set up.”
Most of the IAF radio devices are not compatible with the IA’s, said Iuliano. The morning was spent finding a way to get the two services linked so they can effectively communicate with each other during operations.
After an hour configuring frequencies both communication devices could read, communication had officially been established between the ground forces and the pilots.
“Just to get them to be able to communicate with each other using the different systems was a huge success,” said Dewald. “Now that has been established, we need to teach the guys on the ground what airborne eyes can do for them.”
Some of the advantages the eyes in the sky will provide are real time updates of the battlefield, route reconnaissance, assistance in pursuing a fleeing target and helping detect an ambush. “They have gotten to the point where they need a tactical capability now that they are taking over their major cities,” said Iuliano, “and we have been able to give them that by teaching them how to work together.” “Though there have been problems in the past with communication,” said Lt. Col. Adnan Mansour, chief engineer for Squadron 70 of the Iraqi Air Force, “they have done a great job setting it up and getting it working so communication will be effective in the future.”
During operations, Mansour explained these benefits will ultimately help make ground forces more effective in battle by having someone in the sky directing them away from danger and any other obstacles.
