This is the USAF special forces
Air Force Special Tactics (also known as Air Force Special Forces)
are commandos of the United States Air Force under the Air Force
Special Operations Command or AFSOC, a branch of the United States
Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The 720th Special Tactics
Group is responsible for all Special Tactics personnel and consists
of six operational squadrons and numerous supporting
organizations.
There are five types of air commandos: Combat Controllers (CCTs),
Pararescuemen (PJs, AKA Pararescue Jumpers or Parajumpers), Special
Operations Weather Technicians (SOWT), Combat Rescue Officers
(CROs), and Special Tactics Officers (STOs). CROs and PJs share a
separate pipeline from STOs and CCTs (who also share a pipeline).
SOWT personnel do not attend either the Pararescue or CCT pipeline,
but attend a separate weather school and receive Basic Airborne
qualification from the U.S. Army's Airborne School at Ft.
Benning.
They typically operate in close cooperation with other special
operations units, such as the Army Rangers, Army Special Forces,
and Navy SEALs.Contents [hide]
1 Combat Control
2 Pararescue
3 Special Operations Weather Technician
4 Special Tactics Officer (STO)
5 Combat Rescue Officer (CRO)
6 Unit Formations
7 History
Combat Control
The Combat Controllers (Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 1C2X1) are
ground operators certified to act as air traffic controllers such
as those found at any major airport, but with a few added duties.
They can take over or construct an airstrip, set up navigational
equipment, and direct airplanes and helicopters to a safe landing
without the use of a tower or elaborate communications system. They
also control air attacks of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft from
all military services.
Their training includes Air Traffic Control School at Keesler AFB,
Combat Controller School at Pope AFB, U.S. Army Basic Airborne
Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, AFSOC Advanced Skills Training at
Hurlburt Field, Florida, U.S. Air Force Combat Dive Course in
Panama City, Florida, U.S. Army Military Freefall School, and U.S.
Navy Underwater Egress Training at NAS Pensacola.
Combat controllers are a part of the 720th Special Tactics Group
and are assigned to 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 123rd Special
Tactics Squadron. They can be distinguished by their scarlet
beret.
Their motto is "First There".
Pararescue
Pararescuemen (AFSC 1T2X1) have what some consider to be the most
difficult job in all of the armed forces—combat search and rescue,
typically of (but not limited to) downed pilots. They are trained
and able both to fight with virtually any special operations unit
and are paramedics on the battlefield.
In addition to the initial training listed above they must pass an
indoctrination course. The goal of the indoctrination is to weed
out all of those who are not physically and mentally fit enough to
be pararescuemen. A 24-week Paramedic Course at Kirtland AFB,
Albuquerque, New Mexico to attain EMT-Paramedic certification, a
20-week Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course (for integrating what
they have learned in the pipe-line training; i.e. combat tactics,
advanced parachuting, helicopter insertion and extraction,
mountaineering, and field tactics training), U.S. Air Force Combat
Dive Course in Panama City, Florida (open and closed circuit), and
Underwater Egress Training at Spokane, Washington. Their training
pipeline is sometimes referred to as "Superman School". On average,
eight out of every ten trainees fail to graduate.
Their motto is "That Others May Live".
They wear maroon berets and many tattoo green footprints on their
body. The green feet originated in Vietnam due to a tradition of
calling the helicopters used "The Jolly Green Giant".
Special Operations Weather Technician
Special Operations Weather Technicians (special duty AFSC 1W0X1C)
are airmen that gather and interpret meteorological and
oceanographic information, as well as act as forward ground
combatants. Their primary mission is collecting and disseminating
forward observations in denied, hostile or otherwise data-sparse
regions. They are a critical element in mission planning and work
mostly with Army Special Operations. Recruits must score high to
meet the entrance score requirement, and must already be in the
weather career field.
In addition to weather technical school and the initial training
listed up top, selected trainees attend the final two phases of
AFSOC Advanced Skills Training which includes modes of employment,
weapons training, small unit tactics, advanced communication,
navigation, et al.
Special Operations Weather Technicians are a part of the 720th
Special Tactics Group and are assigned to the 10th Combat Weather
Squadron, 24th, 320th, and 321st Special Tactics Squadron. They
wear grey berets.
SOWT is an acronym referring alternately to both Special Operations
Weather Technician and Special Operations Weather Team.
Their motto is "Coela Bellatores" or "Weather Warriors".
Special Tactics Officer (STO)
Special Tactics Officers (AFSC 13DXB), formerly known as Combat
Control Officers, are commissioned officers whose primary
responsibility is to manage and lead Special Tactics Teams (STTs)
comprised of, but not limited to, the three AFSCs specified above.
Because their training mirrors that of the CCT pipeline, they can
function on a team as mission commander or direct combatant or they
can serve on battle staffs to provide expertise in terminal
control, reconnaissance, and personnel recovery operations.
Combat Rescue Officer (CRO)
In 2000 the Air Force, recognizing the importance of the personnel
recovery mission, created the Combat Rescue Officer career field
(AFSC 13DXA). CROs are commissioned officers whose primary duties
are to manage and lead personnel recovery teams as well as serve on
battle staffs to provide expertise in command and control and
personnel recovery operations. Their training pipeline mirrors that
of the Pararescue pipeline.
