Seems a lot of those advisers sent to Iraq are indeed staying out of harms way.
usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/11/27/islamic-state-central-command-iraq-air-campaign-airstrikes/70104262
Instead of directing request directly from the ground, US advisers receive cell phone calls from Iraqi commanders.
This then has to be verified before a strike is called in.
Also apparently the US is not to keen to perform CAS in built up areas because of lack of advisers on the ground.
Little wonder that airforces don't have much to do. E.g. Canadian F/A-18s apparently have very little to do:
news.nationalpost.com/2014/11/27/with-little-for-canadian-jets-to-do-in-iraq-expanding-mission-to-syria-may-be-next
I can just see skits now:
SKIT 1
Iraqi Captain: "Quick Sgt Ali call in an airstrike on that IS position."
Iraqi Sergeant: "I can't. I'm out of phone credit."
SKIT 2
Iraqi Captain: "Quick Sgt Ali call in an airstrike on that IS position."
Iraqi Sergeant: "I'm still on hold."
Phone message: "Your call is very important to us."
SKIT 3
Phone message:
"For requesting immediate airstrike, please press 1 followed by * key
"For requesting cessation to an existing airstrike due to friendly casualties, please press 2 followed by * key.
"To speak to an operator, please press 3."
To hear all these options, please press #."
