I have not been able to find much information on this possible duty of an Air Battle Manager. I have done a good bit of research and don't quite see the correlation between ROMAD, TACT, and JACT. What is the combat role of a TACT member and how does an officer fit into that equation as the ALO? What is the training like after commissioning (ROTC) and what is it like living, eating, sleeping, and training with an Army unit? (or any other ground force you may be attached to)
I think you mean TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) and JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller).
ROMAD is a sort of nickname for TACP. Radio Operator, Maintenance And Driver. Since the move from the ALO's radio man to actual controller, it is now commonly defined as Recon, Observe, Mark And Destroy. Those ROMADS (TACP members) who are actually certified to control air are called JTACs. (note: Combat Controllers also send members to JTAC school to be able to control air as well, but it is a tool in their toolbox..CAS is TACP's bread and butter). As far as ALOs go, currently I believe only pilot rated officers can become ALOs. While non-rated positions are being debated over, nothing certain is on the horizon. There is no career track for ALOs like there is for CROs and STOs. Their piece of the puzzle between ROMADS and the supported Army unit still is a little grey to me. I know ALOs can be JTACs, but from what I understand, they are normally in the operations center as liasons between the maneuver units and the big brass. I imagine I'll get spun up on that pretty decently when I go to tech school this Sept. I've never seen an actual ROMAD post here, so I would head over to www.romad.com if you need more information than that.
To be an ALO one has to be a rated officer. However, the Guard allows enlisted TACPs who are E-6, have 3 years of JTAC experience, and have a bachelor degree to become a 16G/Non-rated ALO. This is only being done in the Guard at this time, and only about 6-7 people have done it since they began allowing this. There will be many changes to this position in the future as we are fighting to bring it to the active duty side as well.
So in a Guard TACP unit, not all the O's are ALO's correct? If your not a pilot and are still interested in serving with a NG TACP unit, what if any opportunities are there?
Our SMSgt just told us today that it's been decided to start letting enlisted, active duty ROMADs become ALOs, making a new, non-rated, officer career field.
No idea when it'll actually start, but the decision has been made to go in that direction.
