I am learning this sim the best I can and wow there is a lot to learn. I have done all the training missions over and over and I thought I felt pretty good about things. I have been doing the CSAR mission and if it wasn't for labels I would not be able to find targets. Using the TGP is easy in training but in combat things come up fast. I can not find anything with it lol. Even with Mavericks. I have to use guns on the AA and I do drop a cluster bomb on the advancing troops. Guns on the BMP's but I know if I could just lock up some targets it would be a heck of a lot easier. Any advice is always welcome. Oh how do you center your mav. ?

Check manual pages 80-90, there should be a table of HOTAS functionality there. It'll tell you at a glance how to do most of the things you want to do.

1.) Fly the 1st (easy) instant action mission. Again. And again. And again. Use it to get comfortable with managing SPIs, using the TGP and employ guided weapons.

2.) Switch off labels. Yes, it's not easy at first, by labels IMO teach a lot of bad habits. Without labels you'll learn how to spot targets and effectively employ the TGP much faster.

Thanks guys... I will do as you all say

Yeah thanks for the pages on the manual, that's really helpful

i setup a practice mission with the mission builder, i did that over and over again.

target was an airfield with a couple of SAM sites, 3 or 4 tanks for MAV practice, and a smattering of BMP's and other light vehicles for gun and cluster bomb practice

mission had.

ramp start, 3 or 4 WP's.
JTAC.
tanker.
landing.

like everyone has said, read the manual and just practice, finding targets can be tough, i've started reading the mission briefs and make a mental note of asset locations, once the mission starts and i'm sat waiting for the EGI to align i make some mark points where i think they are, that helps a lot.

theres also plenty of guides on the main forums and loads of vids.

just keep plugging away, i've been at it since beta and i'm still terrible so you're in good company

If you arent already doing this, use the tgp's whot and bhot modes. Switch back and forth to pickup hidden targets.