USAF Mod/AFSOC
Air Force Special Operations Command
United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is the special operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force
component command to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. AFSOC provides
AF Special Operations Forces (SOF) for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified commands.
AFSOC was initially established on 10 February 1983 as Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF), a subordinate numbered air force of the Military Airlift Command (MAC), with its headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Florida. On 22 May 1990, 23 AF was redesignated as AFSOC and became a separate United States Air Force (USAF) major command (MAJCOM) responsible for all USAF special operations forces (SOF), aircraft and personnel in the Regular Air Force, and the operational "gaining command" for all USAF SOF, aircraft and personnel in the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG).
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Special_Operations_Command
Combat Control Teams (CCT)
United States Air Force Combat Control Teams, singular Combat Controller, (CCT) (AFSC 1C2X1) are ground combat forces specialized in a traditional pathfinder role while having a heavy emphasis on simultaneous air traffic control, fire support and command, control, and communications in covert or austere environments.
Assigned to Special Tactics Squadrons, Combat Controllers are an integral part of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the Air Force component of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Combat Controllers are often assigned individually or as a team to Army Special Forces, Army Ranger, and Navy SEAL teams to provide expert air support coordination and communications capabilities.
Combat Controllers are FAA-certified air traffic controllers and maintain proficiency throughout their career. Many Combat Controllers also qualify and maintain proficiency as joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) where they call in and direct air strikes, close air support and fire support during battle.
Combat Control, like all U.S. special operations forces career fields (e.g., Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, etc.), is male-only. Out of the five Air Force Crosses awarded since the Global War on Terror started in 2001 three have been awarded to Combat Controllers for extraordinary heroism in combat.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usaf_combat_controller
http://specialoperations.com/803/combat-controllers/
http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104592/combat-controllers.aspx
Combat Rescue Officer (CRO)
Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) is a career field in the United States Air Force. Its Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) is 13DXA and it was created to strengthen USAF personnel recovery capabilities. The CRO specialty includes direct combatant command and control of Combat Search and Rescue CSAR) operations. They plan, manage and execute the six tasks of CSAR: prepare, report, locate, support, recover, and reintegrate isolated personnel and materiel. CROs conduct strategic, operational and tactical level planning, provide battle staff expertise, manage theater personnel recovery operations and conduct combat operations.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Combat_Rescue_Officer
Pararescue (PJ)
Pararescuemen, also known as PJs (Pararescue Jumpers), are United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) operatives tasked with recovery and medical treatment of personnel in humanitarian and combat environments. These special operations unit s are also used to support NASA missions and have been used to recover astronauts after water landings. They are attached to other SOF teams from all branches to conduct other operations as appropriate. Of the 22 enlisted Air Force Cross recipients, 12 are Pararescuemen. They wear the maroon beret as a symbol of their elite status, and to symbolize the blood shed by past PJs, as well as the blood current PJs are willing to shed to save lives. Part of the little-known Air Force Special Operations community and long an enlisted preserve, the Pararescue service began commissioning Combat Rescue Officers early in the 21st century.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Pararescue
http://specialoperations.com/808/pararescue/
http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104514/pararescue-1t2x1.aspx
Special Tactics Officer (STO)
A United States Air Force Special Tactics Officer (AFSC 13DXB) is a United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) officer who manages the training and equipping of U.S. Air Force ground special operations. Special Tactics Officers deploy as team leaders or mission commanders in combat, seizing and controlling airstrips, combat search and rescue, guiding airstrikes and fire support using air assets for special operations and tactical weather observations and forecasting.[1] Special Tactics Officers are not pararescuemen or Combat Controllers, but they lead the Special Tactics Squadrons and Groups and thoroughly understand how to conduct, manage, and provide these special operations missions to both conventional and joint special operations missions needed within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Special_Tactics_Officer
Special Operations Weather Technician (SOWT)
Special Operations Weather Team (SOWT) (AFSC 1W0X2) specialists are tactical observer/forecasters with ground combat capabilities and fall under the 720th Special Tactics Group within the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The mission of a Special Operations Weather Team Specialist is to deploy by the most feasible means available into combat and non-permissive environments to collect and interpret meteorological data and provide air and ground forces commanders with timely, accurate intelligence. They collect data, assist mission planning, generate accurate and mission-tailored target and route forecasts in support of global special operations, conduct special weather reconnaissance and train foreign national forces. SOWTs provide vital intelligence and deploy with joint air and ground forces in support of direct action, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance, special reconnaissance, austere airfield, and combat search and rescue.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Special_Operations_Weather_Technician
http://specialoperations.com/922/combat-weathermen/
Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)
A Joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) is the term used in the United States Armed Forces for a qualified military service member who, from a forward position, directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive air operations.
The term used in other countries, previously in the US and in the relevant NATO standard is Forward Air Controller. The term became effective in the US on 3 September 2003 with the publishing of Joint Publication (JP) 3-09.3 Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) for Close Air Support.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_Air_Control_Party
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Tactical_Air_Control_Party