Annual TAOCO (COL) Refresher Training: 300 Practice
Questions
1. What is the primary mission of TAOCO (Tactical Air Control Operations)?
A) Logistics support
B) Close air support coordination and airspace control
C) Medical evacuation
D) Cyber defense
Answer: B – TAOCO focuses on integrating air power with ground maneuver, including close air support
and airspace deconfliction.
2. Who is the senior TAOCO officer responsible for overall air control at a COL (Colonel)-level command?
A) Air Liaison Officer (ALO)
B) Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Commander
C) Senior Air Director (SAD)
D) Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)
Answer: B – The TACP Commander at COL level oversees TAOCO functions, though JTACs execute
terminal control.
3. Which radio frequency band is most commonly used for line-of-sight air-to-ground coordination?
A) HF (3-30 MHz)
B) VHF (30-300 MHz)
C) UHF (300-3000 MHz)
D) SHF (3-30 GHz)
Answer: C – UHF is standard for military air-to-ground (e.g., 225-400 MHz) due to reliability and
resistance to atmospheric noise.
4. When a JTAC says “Cleared hot,” what action should the pilot take immediately?
A) Abort the attack
,B) Enter a holding pattern
C) Engage the designated target with weapons
D) Check fuel status
Answer: C – “Cleared hot” is the final authorization to employ weapons on the specified target.
5. What does the acronym COL stand for in TAOCO context?
A) Combat Operations Leader
B) Colonel (rank level for training audience)
C) Coordination of Logistics
D) Combined Operational Level
Answer: B – Refresher training is aimed at Colonel-level command and staff, though the term often
denotes the command echelon.
6. Which document outlines the rules of engagement for TAOCO operations?
A) NATOPS manual
B) ROE card approved by the Joint Force Commander
C) Air Force Instruction 11-2
D) Tactical Air Control Procedures (TACP) handbook
Answer: B – ROE cards are mission-specific and legally binding; all TAOCO personnel must carry and
understand them.
7. What is the minimum safe altitude for a fixed-wing aircraft conducting a strafing pass in a non-
populated area?
A) 500 feet AGL
B) 1,000 feet AGL
C) 1,500 feet AGL
D) 2,000 feet AGL
Answer: B – For strafing, minimum altitude is typically 1,000 ft AGL per military training regulations
(exceptions for combat).
,8. A JTAC reports “No track, no mark, no talk.” What does this mean?
A) Target lost, no laser spot, radio failure
B) All systems nominal
C) Target destroyed
D) Abort mission immediately
Answer: A – “No track” = cannot see target; “no mark” = laser not visible; “no talk” = communication lost
– critical situation.
9. Which type of ordnance is most appropriate against a moving armored column?
A) General-purpose 500 lb bomb
B) Laser-guided hellfire missile
C) Cluster munition
D) 20mm cannon from high angle
Answer: B – Laser-guided missiles (e.g., AGM-114 Hellfire) track moving targets; dumb bombs are
ineffective.
10. What does “IP” stand for in air strike planning?
A) Initial Point – the reference point where the attacking aircraft begins final run-in
B) Impact Prediction
C) Interdiction Point
D) Ingress Parameter
Answer: A – IP is a geographic point used to align the aircraft for the target run.
11. How many seconds of talk-on should a JTAC provide for a pop-up target under 9-line format?
A) 0 seconds (use only 9-line)
B) 5-10 seconds of continuous talk-on
C) 30 seconds minimum
D) 1 minute
Answer: B – After 9-line, JTAC may give “talk-on” corrections (5-10 sec) to steer pilot visually.
, 12. Which sensor is most effective for identifying camouflaged enemy artillery during night operations?
A) Visible light camera
B) Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR)
C) Radar altimeter
D) Laser rangefinder
Answer: B – FLIR detects heat signatures, revealing concealed vehicles and personnel.
13. What does a “troops in contact” (TIC) priority mean for TAOCO?
A) Air support is rerouted to the most critical ongoing firefight
B) All aircraft land immediately
C) Focus on logistics resupply
D) Cease all offensive operations
Answer: A – TIC overrides other missions; CAS assets are diverted to support friendly forces under fire.
14. Which of the following is a proper 9-line CAS brief item number 5?
A) Target elevation
B) Description of target
C) Location of target (e.g., grid coordinates)
D) Marking method
Answer: C – Standard 9-line: 1. IP, 2. Heading, 3. Distance, 4. Target description, 5. Target location
(coordinates), 6. Elevation, 7. Mark, 8. Friendlies, 9. Egress.
15. What action should a JTAC take if the attacking aircraft reports “Winchester”?
A) Request battle damage assessment
B) Direct the aircraft to return to base
C) Clear the aircraft to continue with remaining fuel only
D) Order a re-attack with different weapons
Questions
1. What is the primary mission of TAOCO (Tactical Air Control Operations)?
A) Logistics support
B) Close air support coordination and airspace control
C) Medical evacuation
D) Cyber defense
Answer: B – TAOCO focuses on integrating air power with ground maneuver, including close air support
and airspace deconfliction.
2. Who is the senior TAOCO officer responsible for overall air control at a COL (Colonel)-level command?
A) Air Liaison Officer (ALO)
B) Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Commander
C) Senior Air Director (SAD)
D) Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)
Answer: B – The TACP Commander at COL level oversees TAOCO functions, though JTACs execute
terminal control.
3. Which radio frequency band is most commonly used for line-of-sight air-to-ground coordination?
A) HF (3-30 MHz)
B) VHF (30-300 MHz)
C) UHF (300-3000 MHz)
D) SHF (3-30 GHz)
Answer: C – UHF is standard for military air-to-ground (e.g., 225-400 MHz) due to reliability and
resistance to atmospheric noise.
4. When a JTAC says “Cleared hot,” what action should the pilot take immediately?
A) Abort the attack
,B) Enter a holding pattern
C) Engage the designated target with weapons
D) Check fuel status
Answer: C – “Cleared hot” is the final authorization to employ weapons on the specified target.
5. What does the acronym COL stand for in TAOCO context?
A) Combat Operations Leader
B) Colonel (rank level for training audience)
C) Coordination of Logistics
D) Combined Operational Level
Answer: B – Refresher training is aimed at Colonel-level command and staff, though the term often
denotes the command echelon.
6. Which document outlines the rules of engagement for TAOCO operations?
A) NATOPS manual
B) ROE card approved by the Joint Force Commander
C) Air Force Instruction 11-2
D) Tactical Air Control Procedures (TACP) handbook
Answer: B – ROE cards are mission-specific and legally binding; all TAOCO personnel must carry and
understand them.
7. What is the minimum safe altitude for a fixed-wing aircraft conducting a strafing pass in a non-
populated area?
A) 500 feet AGL
B) 1,000 feet AGL
C) 1,500 feet AGL
D) 2,000 feet AGL
Answer: B – For strafing, minimum altitude is typically 1,000 ft AGL per military training regulations
(exceptions for combat).
,8. A JTAC reports “No track, no mark, no talk.” What does this mean?
A) Target lost, no laser spot, radio failure
B) All systems nominal
C) Target destroyed
D) Abort mission immediately
Answer: A – “No track” = cannot see target; “no mark” = laser not visible; “no talk” = communication lost
– critical situation.
9. Which type of ordnance is most appropriate against a moving armored column?
A) General-purpose 500 lb bomb
B) Laser-guided hellfire missile
C) Cluster munition
D) 20mm cannon from high angle
Answer: B – Laser-guided missiles (e.g., AGM-114 Hellfire) track moving targets; dumb bombs are
ineffective.
10. What does “IP” stand for in air strike planning?
A) Initial Point – the reference point where the attacking aircraft begins final run-in
B) Impact Prediction
C) Interdiction Point
D) Ingress Parameter
Answer: A – IP is a geographic point used to align the aircraft for the target run.
11. How many seconds of talk-on should a JTAC provide for a pop-up target under 9-line format?
A) 0 seconds (use only 9-line)
B) 5-10 seconds of continuous talk-on
C) 30 seconds minimum
D) 1 minute
Answer: B – After 9-line, JTAC may give “talk-on” corrections (5-10 sec) to steer pilot visually.
, 12. Which sensor is most effective for identifying camouflaged enemy artillery during night operations?
A) Visible light camera
B) Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR)
C) Radar altimeter
D) Laser rangefinder
Answer: B – FLIR detects heat signatures, revealing concealed vehicles and personnel.
13. What does a “troops in contact” (TIC) priority mean for TAOCO?
A) Air support is rerouted to the most critical ongoing firefight
B) All aircraft land immediately
C) Focus on logistics resupply
D) Cease all offensive operations
Answer: A – TIC overrides other missions; CAS assets are diverted to support friendly forces under fire.
14. Which of the following is a proper 9-line CAS brief item number 5?
A) Target elevation
B) Description of target
C) Location of target (e.g., grid coordinates)
D) Marking method
Answer: C – Standard 9-line: 1. IP, 2. Heading, 3. Distance, 4. Target description, 5. Target location
(coordinates), 6. Elevation, 7. Mark, 8. Friendlies, 9. Egress.
15. What action should a JTAC take if the attacking aircraft reports “Winchester”?
A) Request battle damage assessment
B) Direct the aircraft to return to base
C) Clear the aircraft to continue with remaining fuel only
D) Order a re-attack with different weapons
