US pilots from the 14th Fighter Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, recently trained with Tactical Air Control Party, or TACP, personnel from Fort Hood, Texas, during Exercise Diesel Weasel. The close air support exercise, held from 30 April to 17 May 2012 took place at Misawa and on the nearby Draughton Range. This exercise is designed to prepare the Misawa pilots to conduct CAS missions before participating in a upcoming Green Flag Exercise at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The TACPs are assigned to the 712th and 11th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Hood. TACPs normally run on the ground with Army and Air Force personnel to control and direct air strikes against enemy troops attacking US forces.
