Air Force Special Tactics
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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).
There are three types of air commandos: Combat Controllers (CCTs), Pararescuemen (PJs, AKA Pararescue Jumpers or Parajumpers), and Special Operations Weather Technicians (SOWT). All three types go through the same initial training, for example, they all attend U.S. Army's Airborne School at Ft. Benning, USAF Basic Survival School at Fairchild AFB, and U.S. Army's Military Free Fall Parachutist School (where they receive HALO training) at Ft. Bragg. Afterwards, the training becomes more specialized toward each commando type's specialty.
They typically operate in close cooperation with other special operations units, such as the Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, and Navy SEALs.
Combat Control
The Combat Controllers (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, GA, AFSOC Advanced Skills Training at Hurlburt Field, FL, 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 initial training listed above 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 foward 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".
Unit Formations
- Combat Controller Teams, or CCTs, consist of Combat Controllers in the role of extending the Air Force's operational reach.
- Special Operations Weather Teams or SOWT, are Special Operations Weather Technicians attached to Army Special Forces, Rangers, SOAR, or operating on their own. *Not to be confused with Combat Weather Teams or CWTs that provide meteorological support to conventional Army units without a ground combatant role.
- Special Tactics Teams, or STTs, consist of airmen from the three aforementioned careers: combat control, pararescue and SOWT. This formation allows the unit to operate as a self-sufficient unit in the commando role.
History
After the Quebec Conference in August 1943, the 5318th Air Unit was redesignated "Provisonal Composite No. 1 Air Commandos" and tasked with supporting the Chindits. Eventually they were designated the 1st Air Commando Group. The group consisted primarily of C-47 air transports but it also contained gliders, fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and liaison aircraft.[link] [link]
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