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Most folks don't realize that ALL Marine pilots go through the Basic Infantry Course, and then spend a year deployed with troops on the ground asa FAC before they go off to aviation units...It gives them a very different perspective of what the grunts go through, and also what the mission of "supporting the troops" REALLY is all about....and what the "close" in close air support really is all about....it means something special when the the officer on the ground talking to the pilot knows that the pilot has been in his position, and visa-versa...

The A-10 flies slow enouigh that it could probably take off from a carrier without a cat..though modifying it wouldn't be too much of a problem..neither would adding a tail hook..and you'd probably only need minor beefing up of the landong gear...heck.it probably lands at 70-80 mph...and with 35 knots over the deck...that's a net 40 mph llanding speed....easy.....I think, upon reflecting, that the reason the my Marines didn't push for the A-10 when it was in development was thatbat the time they were pushing for the Harrier....remember..that's the FIRST and only time the Corps got its own aircraft...and the mission/profiles of the two planes were pretty similar, and the Harriers are faster, and can land/take-off from the assault ships...which lets them operate as part of a self-contained MEU...

and then spend a year deployed with troops on the ground asa FAC before they go off to aviation units...

Incorrect. After The Basic School, where every zero learns to command a platoon of grunts, aviation candidates then travel to Pensacola for flight school. Not until they've actually earned their wings, qualified in their respective aircraft and spent some time in the fleet will they then train to become either a ground or airborne FAC.

"Close air support"

In the 60's....when Marine pilots were above in response to a call for help, they would come down VERY low and slow to take a look at OUR POSITIONS.

They would literally fly through slots in the canopy or beneath it at times.
They were close enough we could see their smile and the nod of acknowledgement that he recognized the extent of our position and the location of the threat that we wanted him to address....
NO PROBLEM....Never had a "friendly fire" incident from MARINE Air...
We would stay ABOVE GROUND in the peanut gallery to watch the action if only Marine Air was attacking..

Navy air was good.....but they seemed to like flying much higher....
You had to be much more careful in your display of smoke to mark your perimeter --- and to identify location of threat.
We would stay in our open positions, but close to deep cover....

Air Force ---- above..
We would ALWAYS retreat to the deepest bunkers available and pray....

Semper Fi