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Soldiers stitch together air, ground fight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joshua King
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Each branch of the United States armed services has their distinctive roles and capabilities, but work together seamlessly when deployed overseas.

Ground liaison officers are a big part in ensuring this seamless interaction. They are the link between Soldiers on the ground and the Airmen in the skies.

GLO's embed with Air Force units and brief pilots on enemy locations and strength, friendly forces and ground based threats for their aircraft before every mission, and then receive new information in the post-mission briefs to prepare the next sortie with this new information.

They are in up to the minute communication with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers on the ground who relay timely information to pilots prior to take off. They also explain scheme of maneuver, so pilots understand how friendly forces will be moving.

"Many times the jargon between branches is different," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Roca, 11th Ground Liaison Detachment. "One of our responsibilities is to make sure everything is understood and passed on correctly."

Sgt. 1st Class Roca is a GLO stationed at JB MDL from the 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment assigned to support the 305th Operations Support Squadron, and works with the 305th Air Mobility Wing Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape office, where he conducts training and pre-mission briefs for aircrew.

Being a special duty in the Army, any Soldier can become a GLO by applying for it and going through the training.

"I recommend this job to everyone," said Roca. "You get the opportunity to go through different training and broaden your skill set as a Soldier."

Roca is currently preparing to deploy as a GLO for the third time and final time. When he returns he will return to his career field as a Fire Support Sergeant.

"Sgt. 1st Class Roca represents the finest attributes of an Army NCO, he is first and foremost a true professional who is highly capable, motivated, and truly cares about the people he works with," said Capt. Ari Perril, 305th AMW Operations Support Squadron. "He has become an integral part of the 305th team and will be missed while he is away."