Pentagon to deploy A-10 Squadron to the Middle East

"The Pentagon is deploying 300 airmen and 12 A-10 combat jets to the Middle East in early October, according to the Indiana Air National Guard.
The six-month deployment from the 122nd Fighter Wing is not specifically part of President Obama’s fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but the airmen and jets could provide air support to troops battling ISIS on the ground."

Just wanted to get some thoughts from the RP crowd on this....Are the 300 Airmen in this Squadron "Boots on the ground"? My reason for bringing this up is that these aren't "Air Strike" aircraft per say. These are Close Air Support aircraft.