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| Danger Close: Tactical Air Controllers in Afghanistan and Iraq (Texas a&M University Military History) | 
 enlarge | Author: Steve Call
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $18.74
You Save: $11.21 (37%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (6 reviews)
Sales Rank: 22827
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.4 x 1
ISBN: 1585446246
Dewey Decimal Number: 956.7044348
EAN: 9781585446247
ASIN: 1585446246
Publication Date: November 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"America had a secret weapon," writes Steve Call of the period immediately following September 11, 2001, as planners contemplated the invasion of Afghanistan. This weapon consisted of small teams of Special Forces operatives trained in close air support (CAS) who, in cooperation with the loose federation of Afghan rebels opposed to the Taliban regime, soon began achieving impressive--and unexpected--military victories over Taliban forces and the al-Qaeda terrorists they had sponsored. The astounding success of CAS tactics coupled with ground operations in Afghanistan soon drew the attention of military decision makers and would eventually factor into the planning for another campaign: Operation Iraqi Freedom. But who, exactly, are these air power experts and what is the function of the TACPs (Tactical Air Control Parties) in which they operate? Danger Close provides a fascinating look at a dedicated, courageous, innovative, and often misunderstood and misused group of military professionals. Drawing on the gripping first-hand accounts of their battlefield experiences, Steve Call allows the TACPs to speak for themselves. He accompanies their narratives with informed analysis of the development of CAS strategy, including potentially controversial aspects of the interservice rivalries between the air force and the army which have at times complicated and even obstructed the optimal employment of TACP assets. Danger Close makes clear, however, that the systematic coordination of air power and ground forces played an invaluable supporting role in the initial military victories in both Afghanistan and Iraq. This first-ever examination of the intense, life-and-death world of the close air support specialist will introduce readers to a crucial but little-known aspect of contemporary warfare and add a needed chapter in American military history studies.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Amazing! June 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a member of our USAF and knowing several TACP Airmen, this book really put into light what exactly TACP's really are. So many people forget about how Air on Armour happens and its about time the ROMADS get the credit they rightfully deserve.
Awesome Book March 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
So, I bought this book for a friend who is a ROMAD. He recently crossed trained into the job and thought it would be an interesting read since he will be deploying overseas in the future. I hadn't planned on reading the book myself. But as soon as I got it, I couldn't help but open it up and read it, and I'm glad I did. This book is awesome. It has helped me understand what he's doing and what he's talking about when we talk about his job. It makes me realize what a great asset he is to the military and how special he is to be doing what he always wanted. This book shows the obstacles and triumphs that TACP has had to overcome over the years. I have true appreciation for thier duties. I totally recommend this book!
All about TACP's January 8, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Okay, it looks like I'm the first to review this thing and it's a pretty good read. As a younger TACP, I found this book very informative. The author is a former Air Laison Officer. The author briefly talks about our "twilight worlds" where we're "held at arms length by the Air Force" and "not fully embraced by the Army" that we live with everyday. This book, at times, reads like a collection of events from the initial invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq told by TACP's in their own words. Among the numerous topics covered are the virtues of Close Air Support, the difference CAS makes on the battlefield, how TACP's are often misused by the Army, how reluctant the Army is to use TACP's, how CAS has saved the Army numerous times, and how TACP's always improvise and overcome obstacles to do our job. It talks about our fallen brothers and their sacrifices. It addresses the problems within the job and how in the past of TACP's, we were largely ignored before the war and how the future needs to be better as the battlefield evolves into the Joint atmosphere. There're about 2-3 years of war covered in the book, so it's a lot to address here. If you're a TACP, ALO, Army officer, or anyone curious as to what TACP's are or have done in the last two wars, buy this book. The book doesn't really offer any real solutions to the TACP problems it mentions, but I guess if you you at least identify the problem, that's a good start.
Quiet Professionals December 21, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This was an exellent look into an Air Force most Airmen do not even know about. The book was well written and provides a look at how all of those bombs fall on time on target.
The TACP's are smart, dedicated, Airmen that find ways to get air cover over our ground forces and save counless lives. More books like Danger Close need to be written about our forces that show the heroes that our men really are.
Great Book October 30, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is really a great book, hard to put down at times. You can see the battles through the eyes of the people that were there. You also get their perspective as well as the importance of the techniques that they are using, and in some cases developing for the first time. This is a must have for anyone interested in knowing the real story behind the overwhelming success in the initial days of Afghanistan and Iraq.
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