Joint Forward Air Control Training and Standardisation Unit

During the First World War, troops on the ground would use flares, ground markers and flags to guide pilots in on targets. The difficulties in actual communication between the air and the ground meant that real time information was lost. By the time of the Africa Campaign in 1941, man portable radios were available for troops on the ground to brief aircrew.{{sfn|Quinn|2012|p=118}} This lead in turn to the establishment of Forward Air Support Links (FASL) (or Rover Parties) which involved soldiers and airmen of RAF Desert Air Force.{{cite web|title=JFACTSU|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafleeming/aboutus/jfactsuhome.cfm|website=Royal Air Force Leeming|publisher=Royal Air Force|accessdate=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322173219/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafleeming/aboutus/jfactsuhome.cfm|archive-date=22 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

After the Second World War, the lessons learned were taken forward into the Air Land Integration policy of the School of Land-Air Warfare (SLAW) which taught formal FAC training at RAF Old Sarum in Wiltshire. When flying ceased at RAF Old Sarum, the FAC training moved on as part of the Joint Warfare Establishment, firstly to RAF Chivenor, then to RAF Brawdy.

When RAF Brawdy was decommissioned as an RAF base and handed over to the army, JFACTSU moved to RAF Finningley in South Yorkshire. Finningley then closed just two years later and in 1995, JFACTSU moved to its present location at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire as the Joint Forward Air Control Training and Standardisation Unit.

British Forward Air Controllers have been deployed into many conflicts and operations such as Korea, Malaya, Suez, Indonesia, Aden, Oman, Falklands, Operation Granby, Operation Agricola, Operation Telic and Operation Herrick.

File:Army Gazelle helicopters carrying trainee Forward Air Controllers (FACs) at RAF Spadeadam, Cumbria MOD 45148269.jpg consulting a map, while calling in the coordinates of a potential target.]]

JFACTSU have two Hawk aircraft and two pilots on their staff who are overseen in flying matters at the adjacent hangar on RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire.{{cite web|title=Saying 'Yes' the Name of the Game for RAF's 'Aggressors'|url=http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/63940/raf-details-%E2%80%9Caggressor%E2%80%9D-squadron-activities-(oct-26).html|website=defence aerospace.com|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=5 July 2016|date=October 2005}}

Students on the course are taught how to request, plan, brief and execute close air support operations. Students also have the opportunity to fly back seat in one of the Hawk aircraft, to experience first hand what the pilot will be seeing and hearing.{{cite journal|title=Air controllers' training rated as best in the world|journal=RAF News|date=2 March 2001|issue=1018|page=8|issn=0035-8614}} The four to eight week course (depending on the specialization and security restrictions){{cite web|title=Forward Air Controllers|url=http://www.eliteukforces.info/forward-air-controllers/|website=Elite UK Forces|accessdate=5 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=International Defence Training – Forward Air Controllers 4704|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/idtraf/courses/4704.cfm|website=Royal Air Force|accessdate=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190353/http://www.raf.mod.uk/idtraf/courses/4704.cfm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} culminates in a training exercise held at RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria,{{cite web|title=Forward Air Control|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafspadeadam/aboutus/forwardaircontrol.cfm|website=Royal Air Force Spadeadam|publisher=Royal Air Force|accessdate=5 July 2016}} where the students call in mock attacks from the Hawks.{{cite journal|title=New FOBs, New Courses, New Toys!|journal=RAF Leeming Excalibur|date=November 2011|pages=22–23|oclc=498874569}} Training can also be delivered via a state of the art iCASS (Immersive Close Air Support Simulator), that was purchased for JFACTSU in 2014.{{cite web|title=iCASS system purchased by the Joint Forward Air Control Training and Standardisation Unit (JFACTSU), UK MoD|url=http://www.closeairsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/PR_CAS_JFACTSU_12_2014_PREVIEW.pdf|website=Close Air Solutions|accessdate=5 July 2016|date=1 December 2014}}

Forward Air Controller training can also be conducted at Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. This range is open to all UK and NATO allied forces.{{cite web|title=DTE Pembrokeshire|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43344/dte_info_leaflet_pembroke.pdf|website=gov.uk|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=15 July 2016|page=2}}

It is noted as being a centre for FAC training and has in the past trained students from Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United States. Many of these were trained as NATO allies and some (Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland) were trained before they became NATO partners and allies. Prince Harry is among the British graduates of training courses conducted by the JFACTSU.{{cite news|title=Prince Harry provided air support for UK troops|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1580114/Prince-Harry-provided-air-support-for-UK-troops.html|accessdate=9 July 2016|work=The Telegraph|date=28 February 2008}}

After training, RAF FAC personnel (mostly from the RAF Regiment) operate from a central pool at RAF Honington in Suffolk.{{sfn|Quinn|2012|p=119}}

Since its inception, JFACTSU have utilized two types of airframe for initial training; Hawker Hunters at Chivenor and Brawdy{{cite journal|journal=Quarterly and Defence Journal 1976|title=Joint Commands|date=1976|volume=106|page=168|issn=0004-2552}} and BAe Hawks at Finningley and now Leeming.{{cite book|last1=Coupland|first1=Peter|title=Straight & True|date=1997|publisher=Leo Cooper|location=London|isbn=9781473818644|page=114}}

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• {{cite book |last1=March|first1=Peter R.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1996|year=1996|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=Fairford, UK}}
• {{cite magazine|last=Quinn|first=S.|title=Forward Air Control...with the RAF Regiment|journal=The Royal Air Force Official Annual Review 2013|date=2012|publisher=Key Publishing (UK MoD)|location=Lincolnshire, UK|issn=1758-9681}}

Category:Education in North Yorkshire

Category:Joint military units and formations of the United Kingdom

Category:Military history of North Yorkshire

Category:Organisations based in North Yorkshire