TACP training, what's it like?

Question

How hard is it? Whats the washout rate? Are they considered special ops? any info would be greatly appreciated

Answer 1

It is certainly more intensive than standard AF training as you must be able operate with your Army brethren.  The emphasis is on physical fitness, weapons familiarity as well as your JTAC responsibilities.  You will train as hard as the Army unit you are assigned to-as it should be.

They are not considered Special Operations Forces-even if you end up working with SOF (a possibility), but "Battlefield Airmen" in current AF-speak.

Answer 2

A TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) is team of 4-5 people that control indirect fires (mortars, aircraft ordnance, artillery, navy guns) for ground forces. One of that team's members is the FAC/JTAC. I'm guessing you wanted to know about the FAC/JTAC.

A FAC is an aviator, where as a JTAC is not, but has an in-depth combat arms background. Regardless of title that person performs the same job. Since JTACs don't walk in to training with the benefit of having flown a plane, spoken pilot-to-pilot lingo before, or dropped ordnance off a plane, their training is a little more in-depth than a FACs. Aside from that there is no difference.  A JTAC can be as skilled as a FAC when it comes to controlling aircraft, or better, or worse. It all depends on how smart that person is.

The training isn't hard if you are descent at multi-tasking and handle moderate levels of stress well. You're essentially an air traffic controller de-conflicting aircraft and possibly coordinating the dropping of aircraft ordnance in support of ground forces. Being a FAC/JTAC does not make you spec ops, however, spec ops likely employes people with that skill set. That person could be in spec ops team, a normal infantry unit, or standing a watch position dealing with aviation (usually someone whose filling the role for a 2d+ time).