Special Tactics Teams

720th Special Tactics Group insignia

Special Tactics Teams (STTs) are elite USAF special operations units who operate on the ground, often alongside other SOF such as Rangers, Special Forces and Navy SEALs. Wether they are calling in air strikes, marshalling special ops aircraft, recovering downed operators or collectiing mission critical weather data, STT personnel have played a role in the majority of US special operations in recent times.

Special Tactics Teams include:

• Air Force Combat Controllers (CCTs)
• Pararescuemen (PJs)
• Special Operations Weathermen (SOWT)

Special Tactics Organisation

Special Tactics Teams belong to Special Tactics Squadrons (STS) and are part of Air Force Special Forces Command (AFSOC). An umbrella organization, the 720th Special Tactics Group, trains, organizes and equips the 800 or so CCTs, PJs and SOWT operators within the various squadrons.

Special Tactics Combat Controllers at a landing zone during relief operations in Haiti, 2010.
view fullsize photo

Current active Special Tactics Squadrons:

• 21st Special Tactics Squadron (21st STS)
  Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
  
  
• 22nd Special Tactics Squadron (22nd STS)
  Hulbert Field, Florida
  
  
• 23rd Special Tactics Squadron (23rd STS)
  JBLM McChord Field, Washington
  
  
• 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24th STS)
  Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
  (part of JSOC)
  
  
• 123rd Special Tactics Squadron
  Kentucky Air National Guard
  
  
• 125th Special Tactics Squadron
  Oregon Air National Guard
  
  
• 320th Special Tactics Squadron
  Kadena Air Base, Japan)
  
  
• 321st Special Tactics Squadron
  RAF Mildenhall, England
  

Since October 2008, the 720th Special Tactics Group has included a dedicated TACP Squadron, in the form of the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron.

Trainee Special Tactics personnel operate a M240 machine gun during training at the 720th Special Tactics Training Squadron

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter/Released

Special Tactics trainees fire M4 carbines with attached M203 grenade launchers.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter/Released

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