Which entity processes air support requests, coordinates flight sorties, and manages aircraft in assigned airspace?

The Air Support Operations Center (ASOC) is specifically designed to manage and facilitate air support for ground forces. Its primary responsibilities include processing air support requests, coordinating flight sorties, and managing aircraft within assigned airspace in direct support of tactical operations. The ASOC acts as a critical link between ground forces and air assets, ensuring that requests for air support are accurately relayed, prioritized, and managed efficiently to maximize effectiveness and response time during operations.

This functionality is tailored towards direct support roles, allowing the ASOC to work closely with various military units on the ground to assess their needs and coordinate the appropriate air support assets. By overseeing the integration of air power into ground operations, the ASOC enhances operational effectiveness and situational awareness.

Other entities mentioned have different roles; for instance, the Wing Operations Center (WOC) typically focuses on broader wing-level operations and does not directly handle air support requests. The Control and Reporting Center (CRC) is involved more with tracking aircraft and providing airspace management, while the Air Operations Center (AOC) primarily focuses on the command and control of all air operations at a higher operational level, rather than direct support coordination.