Seems to be a lot of confusion with the announcement of a new figure.
JTAC (Joint Terminal Air Controller) is a certification/qualification. These individuals are trained to plan and control close air support. They support both the conventional and SOF communities. In fact there are more supporting the conventional side than the SOF side. Many CCT or combat controllers are also JTAC certified (but not necessarily).
TACP is a Tactical Air Control Party. A TACP is generally a two-airman team, working in an Army ground unit and directing close air support firepower toward enemy targets on the ground. TACP is technically what they do, not who they are though the term has taken on that use confusing the discussion..
TACP’s generally consist of ALOs (Air Liasion Officer), JTACs and ROMADs (Radio Operator Maintainer and Driver). At certain levels (Division and higher) there can be support guys in the TACP.
The primary difference between JTACs and ROMADs is a JTAC is certified to say “CLEARED HOT” directing aircraft to use munitions on a target. ROMADs do talk aircraft into position and then hand control to a JTAC who may be miles away (essentially relying on the ROMAD to do his job). The JTAC clears the aircraft hot and then goes back to the task at hand often directing CAS where he’s at which may be the TOC.
CCTs (Combat Control Team) are basically combat air traffic controllers. They have the skills to run a control tower and the aircraft flowing into and out of newly seized airfields. Over the last decade they have been pressed into providing CAS.
When necessary, troops on the ground often request, direct and release CAS when JTAC'S, TACPs or CTT's are not present.
JTAC (Joint Terminal Air Controller) is a certification/qualification. These individuals are trained to plan and control close air support. They support both the conventional and SOF communities. In fact there are more supporting the conventional side than the SOF side. Many CCT or combat controllers are also JTAC certified (but not necessarily).
TACP is a Tactical Air Control Party. A TACP is generally a two-airman team, working in an Army ground unit and directing close air support firepower toward enemy targets on the ground. TACP is technically what they do, not who they are though the term has taken on that use confusing the discussion..
TACP’s generally consist of ALOs (Air Liasion Officer), JTACs and ROMADs (Radio Operator Maintainer and Driver). At certain levels (Division and higher) there can be support guys in the TACP.
The primary difference between JTACs and ROMADs is a JTAC is certified to say “CLEARED HOT” directing aircraft to use munitions on a target. ROMADs do talk aircraft into position and then hand control to a JTAC who may be miles away (essentially relying on the ROMAD to do his job). The JTAC clears the aircraft hot and then goes back to the task at hand often directing CAS where he’s at which may be the TOC.
CCTs (Combat Control Team) are basically combat air traffic controllers. They have the skills to run a control tower and the aircraft flowing into and out of newly seized airfields. Over the last decade they have been pressed into providing CAS.
When necessary, troops on the ground often request, direct and release CAS when JTAC'S, TACPs or CTT's are not present.