Holloman teams up with Army Soldiers for Operation Pecos Strike

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John D. Strong II
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  
The 7th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOC), from Fort Bliss, Texas recently visited Holloman for the first time in support of Operation Pecos Strike.

Operation Pecos Strike is a joint force operation pinning Army soldiers from Fort Bliss together with the 7th ASOC's Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs) to help the 7th ASOCs prepare for an upcoming deployment.

"The purpose of Pecos Strike is to train battle field Airman (TACPs) for digital close air support operations using GPS, moving map imagery and air support requests," said Master Sgt. Timothy Pachasa, 7th ASOC superintendent.

However, TACPs teaming up with the Army isn't a new concept. TACPs are Air Force members who are assigned to Army units to call in air strikes from the field.

"Since we have both Airman and Soldiers, holding joint operation exercises shows and teaches them how to integrate successfully for ground operations, ground to air operations and giving them a form of interoperability to make sure this isn't the first time they are seeing the guys they will be fighting with down field," said Sergeant Pachasa.

The Pecos Strike was divided into different sub operations to include: air strikes, high value target hits, downed helicopters, Army close air strikes, rescuing hostages, meet and greet with foreign nationals, cordon search of buildings, contact and react to contact scenarios.

Approximately 60 Air Force personnel were involved with Operation Pecos Strike in addition to 26 Soldiers from Fort Bliss.

"This has been a great exercise; our Soldiers have gained a lot of knowledge. This exercise has been a great way to integrate the Army and the Air Force and I hope we can do this type of training again, said Army Capt. Adrian Jesso, 1-77th Armor, 4th Brigade, 1st Armor Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, commander.

"I think we have a great Air Force support with the 7th ASOC, and even though the Air Force is blue outside we notice they bleed green on the inside," said Army Major Evan Wollen, Brigade Fire Support Office for 4th Brigade 1st Armor Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

At the Centennial Range, Soldiers of the HHC 1-77th armor, 4th Brigade, 1st Armor Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, trained along side the 7th ASOC, TACPs in a mock deployed environment.

"Having been deployed before, the training here is very realistic, the only thing different was the use of blanks, everything else felt real," said, Army Spc. Wayne Hand 1-77th Armor.

Specialist Hand said he was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in the exercise and work with the Air Force.

Holloman was used as 7th ASOC's base of operations, while the Red Rio Range was a munitions drop site. Alamogordo, being no stranger to military activity, was also involved in the exercise serving as the urban area of operation.

"The support we got from Holloman was nothing short of fantastic, this is the best supporting agency we have ever seen, everyone has bent over backward to help us out. We couldn't have done this operation without the support of Holloman," said Sergeant Pachasa.