New TACP squadron arriving at Aviano

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Colleen Wronek
  • Colleen Wronek
Aviano Air Base, Italy --  Aviano is receiving a new squadron of warfighters from Caserma Ederle, Vicenza.

Soon to be activated as the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron, the airborne- qualified unit will remain aligned under the 4th Air Support Operations Group in Germany. 

The highly-decorated unit is transforming from a detachment into a squadron and needed additional space that Vicenza couldn't provide. Aviano took on the new addition which comes with 40 personnel, 15 Humvees and three government vehicles. 

The unit is refurbishing the former 510th Fighter Squadron building and will have its assumption of command ceremony at 3 p.m. Aug. 25 in Hangar One.

The 8th ASOS is a tactical air control party squadron. Their main mission is to advise Southern European Task Force and the 173rd Airborne Brigade on the use of air power and provide precision terminal attack guidance of close-air support aircraft. 

"Our training and day-to-day operation is centered on support to the ground commander, and having a co-location with fighter squadrons will vastly improve the support we provide" said Maj. Richard Beavers, 8th ASOS brigade air liaison officer. "It's good to be at Aviano for the increased potential training - for us and for the fighter pilots we work with.

"Here, when the mission is done, we can walk into the fighter squadron and exchange feedback on what went well and what didn't," he said. "It's much more efficient to do in person, rather than on the phone." 

Part of the squadron's mission is to support the ground commander in theater conflicts. "When ground units go out on missions, we are right there with them," Major Beavers said. "We accomplish the integration required for close air support, relaying important information to pilots such as coordinates and potential threats." 

Along with being assigned to conventional airborne units, 8th ASOS Airmen are also attached to special operations forces as communications experts and precision air strike controllers.