Forward Air Controller

A Forward Air Controller (FAC) is a liaison between the Ground forces (a Platoon or Company) and their supporting Aircraft. He relays information between these two forces, makes judgments about the assigning of different aircraft to different targets, and helps locate suitable Drop Zones and Landing Zones when necessary. Although he is not strictly the commander of the Aircraft, his input is extremely valuable to them, and their effectiveness is greatly diminished without a FAC to direct them.

The FAC is normally attached to the highest command element in the ground forces, e.g. the Platoon HQ or Company HQ, and will travel close together with them. This gives the FAC a relatively safe position on the ground, and also allows him to quickly and easily confer with the ground commander - by Voice - on matters relating to the activities of the aircraft. As a member of a command element, the FAC isn't expected to fight, but is equipped to do so in an emergency situation.

Aircraft are very autonomous and can operate without a FAC to guide them - coordinating directly with the ground forces - but they are significantly less effective when doing so. When a FAC is killed, the ground force commander (Platoon Leader / Company Commander) will typically take on the responsibilities of the FAC, though again this is somewhat less effective than having a separate player focused entirely on this role.

Equipment
A FAC carries an Assault Rifle or equivalent weapon, as well as a Grenade Launcher. He also carries a quantity of launched or hand-thrown Smoke Grenades and/or Flares, which he uses to mark targets and landing zones for aircraft. He is also outfitted with a pair of high-magnification Binoculars, to help him spot and pinpoint targets.

Primary Weapon
The FAC typically spends his time on the ground, together with the infantry. Therefore, he is outfitted with a basic infantry weapon to defend himself and the Platoon HQ or Company HQ in case of unexpected contact with the enemy. This weapon is typically an Assault Rifle or equivalent weapon, of the same model as carried by a Rifleman.

An Assault Rifle is good against enemy infantry at medium and close range. It is typically fed with 30-round magazines, and can fire in both semi-automatic and fully-automatic modes.

In order to avoid giving away his position and the position of his Command Element, a FAC will generally refrain from opening fire on enemies unless they are a direct threat to himself or to nearby friendlies.

Grenade Launcher
As with all other officers and leaders, the FAC carries a Grenade Launcher, usually as an under-barrel attachment on his Assault Rifle (see above).

Instead of anti-infantry grenades, the FAC mostly carries either Smoke Grenades or Flares (or both) for this launcher (see below).

Signalling Grenades
Although the FAC remains in constant contact with the aircraft, calling out the positions of enemy units and the locations of landing zones on the Air Net, verbal communications and even map markers may be too inaccurate to guide an aircraft onto its target. When precision is required, FACs can use various types of signalling grenades to mark specific positions so that aircraft can see them from far above. The FAC typically carries one set of hand-thrown grenades, and another set for his Grenade Launcher (see above).

During daytime, Smoke Grenades are typically issued. He can use grenade-launched smoke to mark enemy targets far away from his position (up to a few hundred meters), or hand-thrown smoke to mark a nearby target or landing zone. FACs are typically outfitted with several different colors of smoke grenades, allowing them to use different colors to mark different targets. Red smoke is typically used to mark enemy positions, as it is clearly visible. Green is often used for landing zones. White grenades usually mark the position of friendlies, and is sometimes deployed for concealment as well as marking. The FAC will always inform the aircraft which color of smoke he is using to mark the target, so as to avoid confusion.

During night-time, smoke is significantly less visible. Instead, FACs will use Flares to mark their targets and landing zones. Once again, the FAC typically carries both hand-thrown and launchable models, for use at different distances. Hand-thrown flares generally create a somewhat smaller light radius. Different colors can be used to mark different targets, just as with smoke grenades. Because flares can blind an incoming pilot, their use in marking landing zones is trickier than smoke. Occasionally, both flares and smoke will be used to mark a landing zone at night.

Binoculars
The FAC carries a pair of high-magnification binoculars, similar to those carried by a Platoon Leader. They are powerful enough to spot targets a long distance away, and can be crucial in spotting and pin-pointing targets for aircraft.

Laser Designator
A particularly well-equipped FAC, especially during a night-time mission, may be carrying a Laser Designator with which to mark targets for aircraft. The device is often attached to a pair of binoculars, allowing the FAC to observe the enemy at a great distance and shine a laser on them when the aircraft are close enough to see it. The impact point of some laser designators can be seen with the naked eye at a very long distance. Other versions shine an infra-red beam, making the impact point visible only to soldiers using goggles (this prevents the enemy from noticing that they are being targeted).

Depending on the types of aircraft participating in the mission, the FAC's laser designation may even be able to guide air-launched munitions towards their targets.

Radio and Map
The FAC carries two sets of 148/152 radios. One of these radios is set to the Air Net, and allows the FAC to converse with aircraft directly. The other radio is set to the Platoon Net or Company Net, allowing the FAC to converse with the ground forces.

A FAC typically also carries a 343 short-range radio, which will be set to the channel of the Command Element he is attached to. This allows him to keep contact with other members of the element in case the FAC strays away from their position.

Role
The Forward Air Controller is a liaison between Ground and Air forces. His primary job is to keep track of the position and situation of both forces, and ensure that they are coordinated in their actions towards completing the mission goals. He relays information between the two groups over their respective 148/152 radio nets, and confers with both the pilots and the ground leaders about the best course of action at any given time. Although aircraft are largely autonomous, they rely on the FAC to provide them with accurate target positions, inform them of threats that they can't immediately detect themselves, and even suggest which weapons and vehicles they should use at different times during the mission.

Whether the aircraft are providing Close Air Support or Air Transport, it is the Forward Air Controller who is generally the best place to make decisions regarding which target to attack, or which landing zone to use. The FAC prioritizes targets for aircraft, weighing target threat values and ensuring that friendlies will not be endangered by any attack or maneuver. When it's time to select a Landing Zone, Drop Zone or Pickup Zone, the FAC will usually be the one visually inspecting the terrain for suitable zones and selecting the best one.

Finally, a FAC can decide to leave the ground and board one of the aircraft in order to survey the battlefield from above. While this is very rare, in some situations it can make his job somewhat easier, and provides an extra pair of eyes up above with which to spot incoming threats.

Relaying Information
The Forward Air Controller carries two different 148/152 radios, each set to a different channel. One radio is set to the Platoon Net or Company Net and allows listening in to ground units conversing with one another, providing the FAC with a good understanding of what is happening to each ground unit. The other radio is set to Air Net, and allows listening in to chatter between aircraft as well as conversing with the pilots.

Pilots and co-pilots often listen on both of these radio nets as well, but will typically pay more attention to Air Net (they may even lower the volume of Platoon/Company net so as not to be distracted). It is the FAC's job to ensure that any information received on Platoon/Company Net that has any relevance to the aircraft - such as incoming threats - will also be repeated on Air Net. If a specific aircraft needs to be made aware of that information, the FAC will address that specific aircraft on Air Net.

Conversely, aircraft will typically report incoming threats or other situational information on Air Net only, and the FAC will then need to re-transmit this information on Platoon/Company Net so that all ground elements can be made aware of it. This refers particularly to incoming threats that the ground forces are going to have to prepare to meet - such as Vehicles and large concentrations of Infantry headed their way. Aircraft can also spot static defenses and report them to the FAC this way.

Aircraft will periodically report their remaining ammunition count to the FAC on Air Net. If an aircraft's munitions are running low, the FAC will need to make the ground commander aware of this. If aircraft don't report this themselves, the FAC will periodically ask them to do so - particularly when ground forces are preparing to advance. If an aircraft is running too low on ammunition, the FAC will confer with the ground commander and may give that aircraft an order to Return to Base to rearm and/or refuel.

Finally, when the time comes to extract one or more ground units, the FAC will collect information about how many infantrymen are awaiting pickup, and confer with the pilots on Air Net to determine whether they have sufficient room for all of these passengers. In the event of a deficiency, the FAC may order a pilot to return to base and pick up a larger aircraft.

Note that pilots do occasionally transmit on Platoon/Company Net without the FAC's assistance, even if he is still alive. This is done when the aircraft need to make the ground forces - usually a very specific ground element - aware of an immediate threat. It can also be done when the pilot needs to coordinate an action with a ground element at a high degree of precision, e.g. when making an attack run very close to friendlies. However, this is a rather rare occurrence - the FAC should normally be the one to coordinate such things.

Tasking Aircraft
Aircraft have no specific objectives like Ground forces do. Instead, aircraft provide support for the Ground forces, protecting them from threats and providing them with transportation. Micro-managing an aircraft like a ground unit would be impossible, since an aircraft does not have one static position or direction of movement. Instead, each aircraft or group of aircraft is given a generalized "task" to perform, and the aircraft have a lot of leeway in deciding the best way to perform that task.

The FAC has the responsibility of assigning those tasks to aircraft. Tasks may include things like attacking a specific target, patrolling a general area, or (for Air Transport helicopters) landing or dropping equipment. The FAC must choose the correct aircraft for the task, based on his knowledge of each aircraft's current status, distance from the target, and capabilities. He also needs to clarify the position of the target, which can be done with map markers, signal Smoke/Flare on the target itself, or a combination of both. The FAC will directly transmit the tasking to the correct aircraft over Air Net.

The FAC must keep track of which aircraft is currently working on which task, and which aircraft are available for new tasking. Pilots may also actively request a new tasking when their previous one has been completed (or no longer seems relevant), though pilots can also "default" to simply orbit the area and look for targets when they have no other specific tasking. When an aircraft is working on a task, it may take them some time to switch to a new one, and the FAC must take this into account as well.

Along with the target / target area / landing zone selected for a tasking, the FAC can also add his suggestion of ingress and egress routes - i.e. which direction the aircraft should approach the target from, and which way it should leave after the attack/landing. This is done to help the aircraft avoid fire from enemy forces on the ground as they come in and leave, and (when giving CAS tasks) to prevent aircraft from accidentally firing on friendly forces. Pilots generally rely on these suggestions, because the FAC tends to have good awareness of where friendlies and enemies are at any given time.

Finally, the FAC can order (or authorize) an aircraft to Return to Base (RTB) to rearm/refuel, if he feels that an aircraft has become ineffective due to dwindling ammunition. This is usually done during a period of lull in combat, or as the ground forces make preparations for the next phase of their operation. It is also the FAC's job to keep track of which aircraft are currently on their way back to base or back to the battlefield, and he must inform the ground forces when aircraft go "on and off station" in this way.

Choosing Landing Zones
When the time comes for an Air Transport helicopter to land - whether picking up troops, unloading troops, or dropping an ammunition crate - the FAC's job is to select the best landing zone. He will often go personally to inspect the terrain for potential landing zones, and select the one that is most suitable. A good landing zone is exposed to as little enemy fire as possible (preferably behind hard cover), has a safe ingress route leading into it, and is wide enough for the helicopter's rotor blades with plenty of room for error. The FAC may consult with the Platoon Leader or Company Commander to make sure that the best zone will indeed be selected. If the FAC cannot visually inspect the landing zone, they can choose one based on inspecting the map only - but this is more risky.

Once a landing zone is selected, the FAC will contact the appropriate aircraft and inform them of the location of the zone, as well as any considerations that must be taken into account during the landing (e.g. tight spaces to navigate around/through or threats to avoid). He will also mark the zone on the map with as much precision as possible. Again, the FAC can add suggestions about ingress and egress routes that will help the helicopter avoid concentrations of enemies - particularly enemy Vehicles.

As the aircraft approaches the landing zone, the pilot will inform the FAC how far it is from the zone (usu. reported in seconds, e.g. "1 minute out", "30 seconds out"). The FAC must inform the ground troops about this so that they can get ready to board (if extracting) or resupply (if the helicopter is making a drop). As the aircraft comes into visual range, the FAC will often deploy Smoke and/or a Flare to make the exact landing zone more visible to the helicopter. If the landing zone is tricky, the FAC may maintain continuous radio contact with the aircraft to guide it down.

The FAC must be constantly aware of enemy threats as the helicopter comes in, and will "wave off" the aircraft if the threat becomes too risky at any time. It is then up to him to determine when the threat has been dealt with sufficiently to try again - or cancel the landing altogether and go look for a different, safer landing zone.

Aerial Reconnaissance
On very rare occasions, the FAC may prefer to ride as a co-pilot or passenger in one of the aircraft instead of accompanying any command element on the ground.

Up in the sky, the FAC has a better vantage point from which to survey the terrain and to spot large incoming enemy forces. On the other hand, this "disconnects" him from the ground forces, making it harder for him to understand the situation on the ground. It is also quite difficult to spot infantry from above, particularly in heavily-forested areas.

Overall, putting the FAC in the sky is not necessarily advantageous, and is not encouraged during most missions. As such, it has only been seen in a handful of videos over the past decade, and is not to be expected.

Chain of Command
Although the Forward Air Controller is an important soldier and seemingly possesses a great deal of authority, he is not in line to inherit any command position, and it is unlikely for anyone to actually replace him if he is killed.

On a Forward Air Controller's death, the Platoon Leader or Company Commander will often take on the FAC's duties of controlling aircraft. However, his job as commanding officer of ground forces takes significant precedence, and therefore he will continue to concentrate primarily on that job. Pilots are aware that the ground commander will not give them as much attention as the FAC did, and will take on more initiative as a response - relying less on constant coordination with the ground forces as a result. Although they will still report major information to the commander over the Air Net, the amount of comms traffic between them and the ground forces will diminish greatly.

Simultaneously, one of the more experienced pilots will often compensate for the FAC's death by taking some semblance of leadership over other aircraft. He will help solve conflicts between aircraft, advise them on best courses of action, and may even distribute taskings to them. Again, because a pilot's actual job (flying his own aircraft) is more critical than coordinating other aircraft, this will never be "as good" as having a dedicated FAC.

A Platoon Sergeant (if one is present) can much more effectively inherit a dead FAC - and may or may not even begin to refer himself as "FAC" on the Air Net. His original job is significantly less involved, leaving him to give plenty of attention to his new role as FAC - and thus he can be just as effective as the original FAC.

If a ground commander has taken over a FAC's duties, he will not refer to himself as "FAC". Instead, will typically refer to himself as either "Ground" or "Command", when talking on the Air Net.

Finally note that if a FAC is killed, aircraft may cease communicating to the ground forces on Air Net altogether. This is because it is less likely for ground forces to be listening intently on that net, if at all. Aircraft may instead begin transmitting more frequently on Platoon Net or Company Net, but will only do so when there is critical information to transmit to the ground forces. Nonetheless, the aircraft will continue conversing with one another on Air Net.

Map Marker
The Forward Air Controller's position is not tracked on the main map. However he has a special icon that tracks his position on the STHUD. This icon will be visible to himself and every other member of the team to which he is attached (Platoon HQ or Company HQ).

Communications
A Forward Air Controller can use all three types of communications: Voice, 343 short-range radio, and 148/152 long-range radio. He actually carries two long-range radios, in order to be able to use two different long-range channels simultaneously, constituting a major part of his role.

Voice
The FAC spends most (if not all) of his time in close proximity to the Platoon HQ or Company HQ element he is assigned to. This close proximity allows him to use Voice communications to speak with the other members of this team.

Most Voice communications from the FAC consist of conferring with the Platoon Leader or Company Commander regarding matters related to the aircraft - e.g. what they should be doing at any given time. Having such conversations by Voice, rather than on any radio channel, reduces chatter and is very efficient.

When using Voice in this way, the FAC will usually be referred to by his name.

343
A FAC carries a 343 short-range radio, which is set to a channel used by all other members of the team to which he's attached - usually the Platoon HQ or Company HQ. All members of that team can contact one another on 343 radio, as long as they are not too far away. This presents an alternative to Voice communications, whenever any of the team members strays away from the others. The 343 radio is typically assigned to the right ear, although the FAC may also be using that ear for Air Net (see below).

148/152 Air Net
One of the FAC's 148/152 long-range radios is set to the Air Net - a channel dedicated to Aircraft. All pilots and notable air-crews (co-pilots, crew chiefs) listen to this channel and may use it to transmit information amongst themselves and to the FAC. The FAC will normally assign this radio to the right ear.

The FAC uses this channel for several different purposes:


 * Tasking aircraft: The FAC distributes tasks to friendly aircraft in the area, instructing them to tackle threats, patrol for threats, or make landings. It's his job to select the correct aircraft for each mission and send the task directly to that aircraft. Beforehand, the FAC will determine where the target is, mark it if possible (on the map and/or with signal smoke or flare), and determine which avenues of ingress and egress are suitable. He will then transmit all of the relevant information to the correct aircraft.
 * Reporting threats spotted by ground units: The FAC listens carefully to Platoon Net or Company Net (see below), and is aware of any threat reported by ground units on that net. Any such threat that the aircraft should know about - whether to avoid or to attack - is then reported by the FAC on the Air Net as well. Such threats include anything from large enemy troop formations, to heavy enemy vehicles and even enemy aircraft.
 * Ascertaining the condition of aircraft: The FAC will occasionally ask aircraft to report their current status and ammunition counts - if they don't do so actively themselves.

In all cases, the FAC identifies himself by the callsign "FAC", and will address each aircraft by its own callsign. On rare occasions, when addressing all aircraft as a collective group, he will call them with the word "Air". There are many special terms used only on Air Net which are listed later in this chapter.

If anyone on the ground inherits the FAC's role after his death, they will not use the callsign "FAC" to refer to themselves. Typically, they will go by the callsign "Ground", which is also the generalized callsign for "ground forces".

148/152 Platoon/Company Net
The other 148/152 long-range radio set carried by a FAC is set to the Platoon Net or Company Net (depending on the size of the ground force). This channel is used by ground units to contact one another and their commanding officer (a Platoon Leader or Company Commander, respectively). The FAC typically assigns this channel to the left ear.

The FAC mostly listens on this channel to get an idea of what each ground unit is doing at any given time, what their condition is, and what threats they are dealing with. It also allows the FAC to understand what the commanding officer's intent is by listening to his orders for each unit, although the FAC is physically close enough to the commander to discuss these things by Voice when they are unclear.

When CAS aircraft are available, the FAC needs to pay close attention to every threat reported on the ground net, and determine whether any CAS aircraft can (or needs to) assist with any such threat. Enemy vehicles and aircraft are the primary targets for CAS assistance, followed by large groups of enemy infantry. When such a threat is reported on the ground net, the FAC will quickly determine which aircraft is the most suitable and capable of tackling the threat, and then switch over to Air Net to give the task to the appropriate aircraft.

Conversely, the FAC will use ground net to report any significant threat spotted by the aircraft. If the threat's position and direction are ascertained, he may report the threat directly to one of the units listening on ground net, in order to draw their attention specifically to a threat approaching them. Otherwise, he may make a general threat report so that all ground units listening on this channel will be aware of it.

On Platoon/Company Net, the Forward Air Controller is identified by his short callsign, "FAC". He uses the normal terminology for this channel in all of his transmissions, just like all other ground unit leaders.

Callsigns and Terminology
The following are some of the callsigns and terms used by the FAC, particularly when talking to aircraft on Air Net:

Notable Examples
FACs appear in a large number of ShackTac videos. Therefore, the list of notable exceptions below only contains videos where the experience is either filmed from the perspective of the FAC themselves, or where the FAC is somehow of notable importance above and beyond the normal.


 *  by Dslyecxi: Shown from the perspective of a FAC operating as part of an Armored Battalion, controlling a pair of AH-64 Apache helicopters.
 * ' by Dslyecxi shows a mission where the Air Support and Air Transport both belong to a different Side, having communications with the Infantry Platoon on the ground but not being directly subordinated to them -- and there is no dedicated FAC to coordinate between them (the Platoon Leader had this responsibility). The video ', also by Dslyecxi, analyzes the results of the confusion caused directly by such a situation, which resulted in several deaths that might have otherwise been avoided.