Purpose of TACPs

1. Designated under callsign 1-8.

• TACPs are in charge of airspace, terminal control, IDF fire missions, and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. 

• TACPs work as up to a four-person team (1-8, 1-8 Alpha, 1-8 Bravo, 1-8 Charlie) in direct support of PL and subordinate squads.

Operations

• Platoon TACPs must monitor TAD Net 70 and Platoon Net 72 at all times.

  • Other elements may use TAD net 70 to contact TACP to relay information or give intel for fire mission.

• Additional Short Range internal frequency for TACP if needed 44.

• TACPs will coordinate call for fire missions on Net 71.

• TACPs are not a direct combat unit and must prioritize asset control over combat involvement.

• 1-8s have the capability of forward observing (JFO), air traffic control, and close air support (JTAC).

•  Close air support (CAS) duties include:

  • Designating battle positions and reference points

  • Assigning aircraft to engagement zones

  • Maintaining and communicating status of airspace

  • Providing grid reference and laser designation to deploy munitions

• While 1-8s maintains tactical control over the airspace in the AO, it is still the responsibility of pilots to ensure the safety of their airframe.

• 1-8s must be familiar with all rules of engagement for Air and Artillery assets, and other Platoon Asset units they interact with.

Platoon TACPs- Controlling Support Elements

• Internal Control:

  • Platoon 1-8s follow priority missions designated by 1-6.

  • 1-6 may override priority and ROE.

  • 1-8s and all Support Elements must monitor TAD net 70. Assets will then be tasked to one of the TAD nets 70.5/71/71.5, for the duration of that mission.

• Air Traffic Control:

  • 1-8s are responsible for evaluating possible safe landing zones (LZ) in response to environment and hostile threat concerns and provide LZ briefs for inbound rotary assets.

  • LZ briefs should include:

    • Ingress/egress direction

    • Obstructions/terrain  

    • Direction of threats (if any) and distance

  • 1-8s will monitor the status of Air units to ensure the safety of the assets, promoting communication and awareness of hostile threats.

  • All aircraft must remain within the map boundaries.

• 1-8s will task CAS assets considering the following guidelines:

  • CAS assets may be assigned various battle positions to operate from as reference points:

    • Hold Point (HP) - A safe location outside of engagement range for all CAS assets to loiter at prior to target assignment.

    • Battle Point (BP) - A location for standoff assets to engage from distance within weapons range.

    • Ingress Point (IP) - A designated entry point for a linear gun or rocket attack runs for strike assets.

  • While we do not enforce the use of full 9 Line reports, calls for CAS must include the following information at a minimum:

    • Location of target (Grid reference, map markers)

    • Target type (be as specific as possible)

    • Munitions type

    • Distances to nearest friendlies or civilian targets

    • Readback for Confirmation

  • Lasers/Sparkles:

    • • Laser code change request must be conducted by the TACP in order to ensure a successful "spot lase" within the terminal cycle.

• 1-8s will task IDF support and must provide at a minimum:

  •  Target location

  • Target description

  • Munition 

  • Type of fire and control 

Disclaimer:

• CAS assets are not to be used for transportation. 

• Platoon TACP roles are permission-based and must be applied for.

• If you are disconnecting while the only TACP, you MUST advise other assets that you are doing so.

• Platoon TACP are not administrators and must follow the Server Rules and Standard Operating Procedures, failure to do so may result in loss of perms and/or further administrative actions.

• 2 strikes equals a loss of Platoon Leadership Elements permissions. {you may later reapply again for reinstating of permissions at the review of Community Staff}

• Admin Team may remove your permissions at any time if they feel you are not performing well enough as a leader.

• Platoon TACP roles bridge together several important elements of the Platoon. If you do not feel capable in the roles, seek out guidance from other permission holders in the Server and Discord, and utilize the Training Server to practice with the equipment available.

• Platoon TACPs (1-8) can operate without PL.

• CAS can only be coordinated when a TACP is present or by the Platoon Leader.

• Terminal clearance must be given for every engagement and aircraft must ensure they are engaging targets that have been cleared by TACPs.

• Platoon TACPs (1-8) will need to understand support element SOPs  (Rotary and fixed wing CAS/Transport, Merlin, Stalker, Anvil, Panther). Failing to implement assets within respective SOPs will result in administrative actions against the asset AND the TACP.