During the exercise, TACP teams employed Integrated Sensing and Effects Teams (ISET), Lead C2 teams, and Distributed C2 teams to create a resilient operational framework. These elements facilitated real-time data transmission, enabling long-range targeting and the execution of both kinetic and non-kinetic effects essential for modern warfare.
“TACP’s C2 expertise was invaluable to the success of this exercise,” said Lieutenant Colonel Alex Rich, exercise manager for Bamboo Eagle 25-1. He emphasised that the teams not only supported mission success but also demonstrated capabilities critical for future Air Force operations.
Approximately 60 TACP and Special Warfare Mission Support Airmen operated from various distributed locations, testing communication waveforms and C2 resilience in a simulated non-permissive, high-threat battlefield. The exercise required real-time planning and execution, challenging the Airmen to adapt their strategies and maintain operational effectiveness.
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Johnson, commander of the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron, highlighted the evolving role of TACP in modern warfare. “We are more than just ‘cleared-hot,’ but our origins in that role allow us to operate at the tactical edge, survive, and provide the joint force with decision-making superiority,” he said.
Bamboo Eagle 25-1 simulated adversarial threats, reinforcing the necessity for C2 resilience and flexible force structures within the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) framework. The exercise underscored the importance of rapid adaptation in unpredictable operational environments.
“TACP thrives in complex and ambiguous scenarios—this has been our mission since inception,” said Major Zachary Van Cleef, Assistant Operations TACP Officer with the 19th ASOS. He described the teams as critical force multipliers, capable of integrating across joint and coalition forces to enhance battlefield effectiveness.
The training for Bamboo Eagle 25-1 spanned over six months, including preparation alongside RED FLAG-Nellis, one of the Air Force’s premier combat exercises. “Our team filled both a C2 and forward-edge targeting gap, proving to be pivotal for mission success,” Van Cleef added.
