Air Commando Journal (Winter 2011-12)

Air Commando JOURNAL Winter 2011/12
Vol. 1, No 2
8
Dawn of Air Force CCT
13
CCT’s First KIA
19 32
CCT In Vietnam: First There - Last Out
A Sailor’s Appreciation of
Special Tactics
23
TACP: Mastering the Basics
4
Foreword:
25 Paul V. Hester General (Ret) USAF
Special Operations Weather Teams
Quietly Serving for 70 Years 5
Chindit Chatter: Editorial
29 7
Pararescue Hotwash: Letters & Comments
12
ON THE Flying for Vang Pao
COVER 48
40 Technology At the Tip of the Spear
SPECIAL 53
TACTICS Air Force Cross Recipient
Send Me!
57
Cover photo provided by Black Diamond Advanced Technology
McCoskrie Threshold Foundation
www.aircommando.org Winter 2011/12 │ Air Commando JOURNAL │ 3

FOREWORD
On a chilly day in December 2001, we drove through the gates of Hurlburt and opened an
Air Force door that was unknown to us. For the next 2 ½ years, my pride grew everyday at the
opportunity to be a part of the Quiet Professionals and to tell your story when and where it was
appropriate.
What could not be seen at that moment was the growth spurt
that the Commandos and all of SOCOM were going to experience.
Nor the closeness we would draw to our Air Force conventional
forces. Yet, it was you, the one with the mission in this now War
on Terror, who set the requirements…trained and taught those who
came to help and in doing so, exposed a greater audience to the
professionalism of your Command. None of this came as a smooth
road, for change is never easy…yet, persistence found a better way to
do our Nation’s business and Air Commandos, recognized as never
before, found themselves leading and serving all across our Air Force
and DoD. It has now become the norm to find Air Commando Airmen
at every level of NCO and Officer Leadership. The challenge is to
keep that professionalism every day on the top shelf in both staff and
field operations. This new magazine affords you the place and space
to offer thoughtful and questioning discussions on the issues of yet
more change. Use it to your benefit!
As an example, in this issue, is a terrific article by former Secretary of the Air Force, Dr James
Roche, on the growth of Special Tactics. It is but one example of how vision and hard work can make
change a reality. If you need more visuals, go to the Hurlburt Field or Cannon AFB flight lines.
Lastly, the holiday season we just completed from Thanksgiving through Christmas to New
Year’s Day is often the highlight of the year for American families. Each day gave us 24 hours to
focus on the blessings in our lives from where we live and the bounty of liberties…who we work and
play with…and of course, the excitement…and yes, a bit of tension, in being at family gatherings.
But this time was also a very strong reminder that the excitement is often tempered with the
everyday reality of Air Commandos and other service members deployed away from family and, too
often, in harm’s way. This in itself is yet another blessing for all Americans…that there are strong
men, women, and their families who are willing to stand for the protection of us all….it sustains us
for this New Year!
Our English language is short on gratitude expressions…so from the heart of all who walk free
in the US … THANK YOU!
PAUL V. HESTER
General (ret) USAF
AFSOC/CC 2002-04
4 │ Air Commando JOURNAL │ Winter 2011/12 www.aircommando.org

Chindit chatter
I
t is almost passé to discuss where one was when the country was attacked on 9/11. In this context
though, it sheds some light on what the country was in for and how it would respond. I was the
Director of Staff at AFSOC and one of our executive officers, Major Hardy, came in to my office
and said, “Sir, an airplane just ran into one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center.” Thinking
that was a bizarre accident, we turned on CNN just in time to witness the second aircraft plow in. It
was very apparent that this was no accident, particularly when a short time later, there was a vague
story developing that the Pentagon had also been attacked. It also became apparent that this was an
event that would shape history and launch the US into a new and different kind of warfare.
The nation’s response was swift and lethal, and AFSOC’s role was key
to the very early successes the nation enjoyed in Afghanistan. Special
Forces coupled with the use of conventional airpower, quickly routed the
Taliban and hit Al Queda particularly hard.
This new kind of warfare spawned a bunch of American heroes that

heretofore were relatively unknown and were truly Quiet Professionals.
Accompanying those Special Forces were Air Force Special Tactics
(ST) specialists. Those ST specialists’ agility on the battlefield and
their ability to call in precision air strikes quickly became legend. It
was also apparent that this was a new kind of warfare when one of
the first requests from our forces forward was to airdrop saddles. We
had airmen on the ground who were going into harm’s way on horses
and the Afghan saddles, which were made of wood, were particularly
uncomfortable! (The photo of combat controller MSgt Bart Decker,
mounted on a nostrils flared steed is legendary.)
In addition to those brave airmen, Pararescue specialists (PJs), Special Operations Weather Teams
(SOWTs) and Tactical Control Party (TACP) airmen all played, and continue to play, significant roles
in the global war on terror. Collectively they have become known as Battlefield Airmen. Together,
they make up the Special Tactics Squadrons (STS). No other members of AFSOC nor the Air Force at
large, with the exception perhaps of the Explosives Ordinance Disposal specialists, have made greater
sacrifices nor garnered more well deserved medals and awards than this group of special airmen.
This edition of the Air Commando Journal (ACJ) is dedicated to those brave young men. The reader
will find that these groups all have significant and, perhaps heretofore unknown, storied backgrounds.
ACJ is particularly grateful to former Secretary of the Air Force, the Honorable James Roche, who
has written a very compelling piece on his involvement with Special Tactics in the aftermath of 9/11.
Col Dennis Barnett USAF (ret)

ACA Vice President and Editor In Chief

Air Commando
JOURNAL
Publisher
Richard Secord
Editor in Chief
Dennis Barnett
Contributing Editor
Rick Newton
SMSgt (ret) Pete Riley CTS, Ed.D
Public Affairs/Marketing Director

Shannon Pressley
shannon@aircommando.org
Graphic Designer
Jeanette Moore
jeanette@aircommando.org
Air Commando Association Board of Directors

Maj Gen (ret) Richard Secord, President
Col (ret) Dennis Barnett, Vice President
Col (ret) Paul Harmon, Treasurer
CMSAF #9 (ret) James Binnicker, Director
Col (ret) Thomas Bradley, Director
Maj (ret) David Freeman, Director
MSgt (ret) Joe D. Harris, Director
Maj Gen (ret) Clay Mccutchan, Director
CMSgt (ret) Robert H. White, Director
Lt Gen (ret) Michael Wooley, Director
CMSgt (ret) Micheal Wright, Director
Air Commando Association

P.O. Box 7, Mary Esther, FL 32569
Telephone: (850) 581-0099
Fax: (850) 581-0098
Web Site: www.aircommando.org
Email: info@aircommando.org
This publication is for the information, interest, and enjoyment of our

readers. Views and opinions expressed are of the author or source of
material and do not necessarily reflect opinions, views, or endorsements
of the ACA. Material in the Air Commando Journal may be reproduced
provided the source is credited. Air Commando Journal is not sponsored
by DoD, USAF or AFSOC.

H otwash
It is our desire that readers will look Phanom. Would you please forward them my fellow Air Commando’s last week/
at the Air Commando Journal with the to him. weekend were VERY enjoyable. This was
discerning eye and keen insight that is TSgt (ret) John D. Measley my first Reunion but it certainly won’t be
inherent in the makeup of Air Commandos. Wichita Falls, TX my last!
As such, we welcome criticism that will help
An added surprise awaited me upon
us improve and any suggestions for articles
that naturally follow what we have published Dear Col Barnett, my return... my copy of Air Commando
or new topics that need exploration. We also Congratulations on your first edition JOURNAL was in my mailbox! Jeanette,
would like “Hot Wash” to become a realm of the Air Commando Journal! I really you rock! I will stay in touch!!!
for professional discussion of concepts that appreciate the mix of old and new! MSgt Steve Herberth (Ret)
are explored in the Journal. ACA reserves the
However, there seems to be a trend Louisville, KY
right to eliminate those that are not deemed
appropriate. However, we will answer each
among your authors to use considerable
jargon, acronyms and abbreviations I just received the first issue of the
and every input, whether it is placed in new journal. All I can say is WOW! It
this column or not. Thank you in advance without explanation, apparently on the
assumption that your readers will all be is extremely well done....congrats to all
for your interest in the Air Commando
Journal. Submissions can be e-mailed to familiar with them. involved!
info@aircommando.org or mailed to Air While the “modern day” Air Joe Cochran
Commando Association, P.O. Box 7, Mary Commandos may understand the current
Esther, FL 32569. acronyms and abbreviations, many of us
old timers do not. When I first joined the Maj Gen Secord,
Air Commandos in 1965 as an information Thanks much for sending subject
“A Zorro Tale” (Fall 2011) specialist I was taught to always spell out journal. Have already read it (very well
I Really enjoyed the first issue of terms before I used their abbreviations, done) and passed it to one of our Air
the Air Commando Journal; a first-class i.e., “Special Operations Force (SOF).” Commandos here. I think you have a hit.
publication. It was spelled out the first time it was Steven D. Cage
Please pass this email on to General used in the article, with the abbreviation JSOC Historian
Loy. With great surprise in the picture in parentheses. The objective of this style
of his squadron members I found Don was to always present a “reader-friendly”
Gephardt. Gep and I roomed together article.
at Willie Field as Cadets learning to fly I believe that as an editor you have
T-28s and T-33s. I have not seen him or the right to ask your writers to practice this
heard from him since our graduation in
December 1954. If General Loy knows
same technique, but when they fail to do Advertisers in this issue:
so, you can edit the article accordingly.
how I can contact Gep, I would appreciate I look forward to more interesting
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E. Loy and his recognition of the role is still the accepted norm. In the future
T-28’s played in the Viet Nam War, we will endeavor to ensure acronyms are McCoskrie Threshhold
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is the best written, giving credit to the Pioneer Technologies . ............ 35
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I was line chief for T-28’s in 1967-68 on the initial issue of the Air Commando
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Journal, what a great product!
Aderholt to the end of the world... He was Well done to all and thanks from all SSAI . .........................................18
my hero who placed his faith in his crew of us for taking that daunting task on… Special Operations Warrior
and I pledged to do my best for him. Maj Gen Otis G. Mannon Foundation ...............................2
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Brig Gen. Loy thinking he might enjoy SRA . ..........................................24
looking at them since they were the planes I wanted to take this opportunity Veteran Data Solutions.............15
he flew during the time he was at Nakhon to say that the few days I spent with

By Gene Adcock, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired
Introduction commanders elected to form their own forward operating

It has long been assumed that USAF Combat Control command and control teams, calling them Combat Control
Teams were first spawned in 1953 from the US Army Teams. The USAAF trained and outfitted the teams with
Pathfinder model. This is partially true but the whole truth air traffic control skills, and provided them state-of-the-art
was discovered in documents recently found during research navigational aids and modern communications gear.
for the book CCT @ The Eye of the Storm, a history of USAF
Combat Control Teams (CCT). The whole truth goes back to Unveiling
the closing days of the Second World War (WWII). On 8 March 1945, General Paul L. Williams, IX Troop
By 1944, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Carrier Command reported to General Lewis H. Brereton,
Troop Carrier Command (TCC) had grown weary of criticism Ninth Air Force Commander that nine, five-man gliderborne
from US Army Airborne commanders and mission planners CCTs had been specially equipped and trained to perform the
who complained of poor air drop performance at Normandy duties previously carried out by US Army Pathfinders during
and in the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden). The TCC earlier operations. Operationally, each five-man CCT could
commanders had earlier concluded the poor performance function as a completely self-sustaining unit.
was a reflection of inadequate training, and the poor quality General Williams stated that two teams would be assigned
navigation aids and communications equipment employed to each of four American Airborne Divisions to ensure
by the US Army Pathfinders. So, for the final push into reliable communications. He pointed out that in Normandy,
Europe - the 1945 airborne invasion of Germany - USAAF two out of four Pathfinder Teams were lost due to enemy

action, while during Operation Market
Garden six out of eight teams suffered
casualties and damage with three units HEADQUARTERS
completely knocked out. IX TROOP CARRIER COMMAND
2
A further reason for employing
E-HUM-6
a spare, ninth team was the fact that APO 133, US Army
all combat control personnel and SUBJECT: Airborne Invasion of Germany 23 January 1945
equipment could not be carried in a
TO: Assembled Combat controllers
single glider. This factor necessarily 1. You men gathered here today have been hand-picked from twenty-
caused a dispersal of team members. five hundred (2,500) glider pilots of this command to do your part
Under such conditions, an extra combat in a special project for the Commanding General of the IX Troop
control team would permit reshuffling Carrier Command.
2. This project is the formation and training of nine (9) Troop
of personnel on the spot and reestablish Carrier Combat Control Teams.
necessary communications in a 3. Nine (9) pilots who have a minimum of 500 hours of power time
minimum of time. and two (2) combat missions will take a course in command and
control procedures. This will complete your qualifications for
In addition to basic combat skills,
assignment as operations officers in command of a combat control
the combat control teams had been team. Your project officer is Captain Maurice M Orovitz, Command
thoroughly trained in the use of codes, Flying Control Officer.
ciphers, and the maintenance of their 4. Twenty-six (26) glider pilots will be trained in code, ciphers,
maintenance, operation of 299, 183 and 522 communications sets,
radio equipment. cryptographic and air coordination procedures. Your project officer
Under the plan outlined by General will be Capt G. W. Powell of the Communications Section.
Williams, two combat control teams 5. The ranking officers of each group will be in command and
were scheduled for assignment to responsible for the control of all personnel in his training
class.
XVIII Corps (Airborne) during the first 6. It cannot be overemphasized at this time that all members of
phase of Operation Varsity. D-Day was Combat Control Teams must devote their efforts 100% to learning
scheduled for March 24, 1945. The all they can while they are here. It will be too late to try to
learn on the battle field. Absenteeism will not be tolerated.
second phase was scheduled for the
7. All personnel will report to Billeting Officer in Building B-26
following day. for assignment to quarters at this station.
8. The Troop Carrier Command Officers Club is available for your
use and bus transportation is provided each night between 1800 and
The Tasking 2300 hours.
A broad range of responsibility 9. Mess facilities are provided on this base at the Officers’ Mess.
was delegated to the teams which 10. A combat control team and equipment schematically shown aboard
were to establish themselves with the CG-4A glider follows:
XVIII Corps headquarters for the Original Signed
purpose of coordinating all outgoing Glynne M. Jones
messages through the Corps or Division GLYNNE M. JONES, Colonel,
GCS, Asst C/S, A-3
commander. Further coordination was
to be established with Corps G-3 to
arrange glider pickups from combat
landing zones if emergencies dictated
Operations order tasking the newly formed Combat Control Teams.
such measures. In preparation for such

USAAF Combat Control Team
Shown here, left to right are:
Tech-4 Neil R. Long
F/O Lawrence E. Moyer
1st Lt. Norman C. Wilmeth (Commander)
2nd Lt. William D. Fasking
F/O Leon V. Rounds.
Wilmeth commanded the first CCT deployed in

support of Operation Varsity, phase one, launched on
24 March 1945.
(Photo from Norman C. Wilmeth files)
a contingency, necessary pickup ropes and stations would be contribution to Operation Varsity was also viewed as a major
sent in with the combat control teams. Both IX Troop Carrier success and a dramatic improvement over previous US Army
Command and XVIII Corps had agreed upon the desirability of Pathfinder operations. But alas, within months World War II
such action if permitted by the tactical situation. ended and the Combat Control Teams were lost during the
In line with this procedure, 16 gliders committed for the post-war draw down of forces.
movement of a medical Battalion were equipped with litter
straps in the event it was considered practicle to evacuate Birth of the USAF
patients by glider. The decision to make such a pickup was The United States Air Force (USAF) was formed as a
reserved for General Williams. If the method was directed to separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under
be employed, the glider pickup location would be designated the National Security Act of 1947. Under terms of that Act, the
by the grid coordinate system. Previously, two gliders loaded Air Force was assigned the responsibility for manning, training
with wounded had been ‘snatched’ very successfully from the and equipping the forward air traffic control teams required to
Remagen bridgehead and TCC was prepared to evacuate large support the aerial delivery of US Army troops, equipment and
numbers of patients by glider in Operation Varsity under the supplies. At the time, the Air Force intention was to support
direction of a combat control team, if conditions warranted. the aerial delivery mission with automated navigation and
For the CCTs, two gliders were normally adequate to lift communication systems.
the necessary personnel and equipment of each team. In order
to accomodate the medical evacuation potential, an additional
two gliders were assigned to the CCTs to haul the special
pickup apparatus for both teams, bringing the total number
of CCT gliders to six. Every effort was being made to insure
the operational success of the combat control teams, General
Williams stressed.
The Mission
As previously stated, TCC had begun in January to
organize five-man combat control teams from its glider pilots
and enlisted technicians on the basis of two teams for each
American airborne division. During Operation Varsity two
teams, one a spare in case of accidents or casualties, were to
be landed at opposite ends of LZ N to operate several assault
zones for XVIII Corps.
For the invasion of Germany, a total of four American and

one Canadian Airborne division drops were scheduled for two Operation Varsity invasion map shows the drop and landing
separate operations; Varsity and Arena. For these operations, zones (near Wesel, Germany) used by the Combat controllers;
the IX TCC tasked two CCTs for each of the four US Airborne the American and Canadian Airborne divisions.
Divisions, plus one spare. Two separate Operation Varsity
drops were planned just across the Rhine River, along with two From 1947 through 1952, the Air Force did little to support
additional drops for Operation Arena - over 100 miles deep into the forward air traffic control responsibility and the automated
Germany. The second Varsity Drop in both Arena Drops were systems never materialized. After several heated exchanges
canceled by General Eisenhower after the resounding success between General officers in the Army’s XVII Corps and the
of the first phase of Operation Varsity. The USAAF CCT USAF’s Eighteenth Air Force, action was initiated to form

Members of the first US Air Force Pathfinder Team; the name was changed in March 1953 to Combat Control Team. The photo was taken
on the day the team was officially formed – 15 January 1953. Shown (L to R) are TSgt Alcide S. “Bull” Benini – first NCOIC, A1C Ray Litz,
SSgt Robert Combs, A2C Joe Hunnicut, A2C Frank Barrett, Major General Robert W. Douglass, Jr., - 18th Air Force Commander, A3C Lonnie
Walker, Captain Richard Baker, - 18th Air Force Pathfinder Project Manager, A3C Mavon Jernigan, A2C Dennis Mazakowski and A1C James
McElvian. (Air Force Photo)
USAF Pathfinder teams. attempt in Iran, and the global war on terror were a catalyst
for service-wide acceptance and respect. Today, sister-service
Activation of the Pathfinder Squadron SOF often call upon USAF Special Tactics combat controllers
In anticipation of an influx of trained pathfinder to augment high-risk missions and covert operations.
personnel, the Eighteenth Air Force activated a Pathfinder
Squadron (Provisional) at Donaldson AFB, SC on 15 January
1953. This was the first step toward implementing Air Force
About the Author: CMSgt Gene Adcock retired as Chief Combat
responsibilities in pathfinder activities.
Control Inspector, Military Airlift Command, Office of the Inspector
It was anticipated that this organization, attached to General on 31 January 1977. As a combat controller he deployed
Headquarters Squadron Section, Eighteenth Air Force for to Vietnam in 1965 and three times during the period 1969 - 1971
administrative and logistical support, would be the forerunner to Laos in support of Project 404. He was awarded two Bronze
of a Table of Organization unit. The Eighteenth Air Force had Stars, the AF Meritorious Service Award, six Air Medals and the AF
forwarded a proposed pathfinder squadron table of organization Commendation medal with Combat “V”.
to higher headquarters as early as December 1952. Premised During his second career, he was instrumental in the
on this expectation, action was initiated in January to recruit introduction of specialized SOF equipment to DOD and allied
Army personnel to man the new unit. Included in those military forces. Adcock is the author of CCT @ The Eye of the Storm
– a history of combat control teams; President of the Combat
requirements was a request for 1 officer and 13 enlisted men
Control School Heritage Foundation and a member of the ACA Hall
from the airborne.
of Fame, Class of 2010.
Credits: 1. Most of the information in this article was
CCT Morphs in the new Millennium extracted from copies of original documents sent to the
From inception, Combat Control Teams prospered and author by Mr. Norman C. Wilmeth, the commander of the
expanded while skills and capabilities grew exponentially. first Combat Control Team. 2. Editing assistance provided by
Lessons learned during the Vietnam War, the hostage rescue Wayne Norrad, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired.

Flying for
Vang Pao
By Darrel Whitcomb, Raven 25 1972-1973
Photo by John Dominis / Time Life Pictures / Getty Images
Earlier this year (2011), General Van Pao died. His honored us Ravens for putting in those strikes. Such was war
passing triggered a powerful memory buried in my personal in Northern Laos - no quarter given nor asked. This part of the
past. During the long war in Southeast Asia – vice Vietnam, he war rarely made the national news.
was a key leader of the Hmong tribes, strongly anti-communist My last sortie was on 22 February 1973, when we were
forces in northern Laos, a theater of operations little known ordered to stop flying because of the overall conflict cease-fire.
or appreciated in the larger story of that war. As a young Air As we were returning from that last sortie, the ground teams
Force forward air controller (FAC), I served with the general were in heavy enemy contact and calling for “Any Raven” for
and his troops – then covertly – and provided direct air support immediate air strike support. We could no longer help them
as his forces fought the invading North Vietnamese and their – those radio calls linger as bitter memories for us Ravens.
Laotian allies. Our all-volunteer program was called Project Vang Pao and his forces fought on without us until they were
404, and we were known as the Raven FACs. overwhelmed by the unrestrained forces of North Vietnam.
After six months as an OV-10 FAC in Thailand, I applied Several years after returning from the war, I traveled to
for and was selected for the program. I went up to the Ravens Santa Ana, California, to visit with Vang Pao. He was there
in September 1972, and became Raven 25 – a moniker I still with several thousand of his countrymen who fled in 1975,
proudly carry. After quickly qualifying to fly the smaller O-1 when Laos was given up to the communists. We had a nice
aircraft, I flew all of my missions over the Plain Des Jarres or talk and he shared several memories of the Ravens with me. I
PDJ as we called it, and its environs. Most were either direct apologized to him for the fact that in their hour of greatest need
support missions with ground forces in contact with enemy our country abandoned him and his people and all of the others
elements, or interdiction sorties where we intercepted and with whom we had stood and fought in all of the countries of
destroyed enemy forces infiltrating from North Vietnam. Southeast Asia. I asked him about the impact of the “Yellow
While I was a Raven, John Carroll, Hal Mischler, and Skip Rain,” the chemical mycotoxants which had recently been
Jackson were shot down and killed. Several more of us were used against his people. His light-hearted demeanor changed
also shot down and/or wounded. It was an incredibly violent to sorrow. He cupped his hands and said in his choppy English,
time as American blood was shed to support those who so “I had the Yellow Rain in my hands. I took it to the people in
wanted to remain free of the heavy yoke of communism. your Congress. They laughed at me.”
I directly worked with Vang Pao several times. Most That is a hard memory to carry, but one that lingers from
occasions were at operational briefings or meetings. He my youth. I would bet that all Air Commandos have memories
especially thanked me for finding and killing several 130 like this in some form. ‘Tis the nature of the business.
mm long-range artillery guns which were bombarding his Publishers note: I was in Laos in late 1966 when the Raven
forces and villages. The day I was shot down he also came program was conceived. Air Commandos manned this unique
out and welcomed me back. He was a tough field general and operation until the US withdrew from the war in SE Asia in 1973.
aggressively fought the invading North Vietnamese and their Col Whitcomb has captured a sense of the poignancy we all felt for
Laotian allies. In January 1973, the general took a bunch of our comrades, the Hmong and Gen Vang Pao. - General Secord
us up to Boum Long, one of his northern-most outposts - a
About the Author: Darrel Whitcomb is the author of: The Rescue
fortress really - to celebrate their successful defense against
of Bat 21 (1998), Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm
numerous enemy attempts to overrun it. While there, he took (2006), Call Sign - DUSTOFF: A History of US Army Aeromedical
us on a long tour of the outer defenses. He specifically pointed Evacuation from Conception to Hurricane Katrina (2011), and On
out the bodies of several North Vietnamese soldiers who had a Steel Horse I Ride: A History of the MH-53 Pave Low Helicopters
been caught in the barbed wire and killed by our air strikes. He in War and Peace (2011).

CCT’s first KIA
By Gene Adcock
CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired
Combat Control Team (CCT) NCOs

Harry Genes and James Procter
control follow-on, main-force
parachute assault by Vietnamese
paratroopers in April, 1966. This
was the first combat jump made
by CCT personnel. (USAF photo)
Editor’s note:
In the early 1960s, the US armed
forces were developing units specifically
designed to counter guerrilla warfare.
The first unit in the USAF of this nature
was the 4400th Combat Crew Training
Squadron code named “Jungle Jim” that
was later renamed the 1st Air Commando
Group after the same unit who served
in the China-Burma-India theater during
World War II. In October 1961, John F.
Kennedy authorized the deployment of a
detachment of Air Commandos to South
Vietnam. The 4400th CCTS headed from
their home at Hurlburt Field to SE Asia.
Their mission was to train the Vietnamese
While the aircraft involved in the Farm Gate operation were often piloted by Air Force using older aircraft. Crews were
American “advisers,” for training purposes, it was required by Washington that a trained to fly the T-28 Trojan, C-47 Dakota
South Vietnamese national be part of the crew aboard any combat missions. In the and B-26 Invader. The codename for the
event an aircraft did get shot down in hostile territory, the presence of an Asian 4400th CCTS and the mission was Farm
crewman would be enough to dodge any accusations of Geneva Accord violations. Gate.
The interpretation of this regulation was somewhat liberal however. The following
is a dialogue between three commandos who were participating in Farm Gate when
the first recorded combat controller was killed.
The following are excerpts from an informal after-action report titled The Buon Enao Project
authored by the team of Art Fields, Bill Chambers and Charlie Jones. The paper was written
in the 2002 timeframe, long after the Vietnam War ended. It was an attempt by the authors to
pull together the facts concerning the loss of three special operations warriors on 15 October
1962. The complete article was released to the author by Art Fields in 2008 for inclusion in the
book CCT@The Eye of the Storm. NOTE: Charlie Jones was a long-time combat controller, the
NCOIC at the 1st Air Commando Wing, England AFB, LA (1967-1968); past-president of the
Combat Control and the Air Commando Associations. He is a member of the Air Commando
Association’s Hall of Fame, Class of 1969.

ART FIELDS (MSG, US Army Special Forces): My team
from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was stationed
on Okinawa. We were sent to Vietnam on a special mission
to expand the Buon Enao Project in August 1962. Teams back
then wore civilian clothes and carried special ID. Our primary
weapon was the newly acquired AR-15.
Our base camp was located in the Rhade (Montagnard) village

of Buon Tah Mo, Darlac Province, South Vietnam. My job
on the team, as a Master Sergeant, was Team Sergeant for
Operations and Intelligence.
The Buon Enao Project as we knew it, was formally named

The Tribal Area Development Program, then the Village
Defense Program and finally the Civilian Irregular Defense
Group or CIDG). There were four A-detachments deployed on
the mission. My team - from B-Company and three teams from
C-Company, 1st SFG were assigned to relieve Captain Ron
Shackleton’s team -- which had set up the initial base at Buon
Enao. he vast majority of the work of training and securing the
villages, as well as patrolling, was done by the outlying and
unheralded A-teams.
Crude airfield “control tower” in Southeast Asia manned by Air
Commandos. (Photo credit: Charlie Jones) Upon arrival, we loaded our gear and supplies on our vehicles.
With a small, lightly armed group of Rhade we set out through
the jungle for the village. There were no roads, so the going
15 October 1962 - BAN ME THOUT (BMT) was slow and rocky as we hacked our way through the jungle.
The Rhade had no vehicles and therefore needed no roads.
SOUTH VIETNAM
Foot and animal paths worked for them. Upon arriving, we
The first combat controller killed in action in SE Asia was built our team house, communications bunker, ammo storage
TSgt Richard L. Foxx, a seasoned combat controller with more bunker, infirmary, and other facilities that were needed. We did
than 15 years experience. this in conjunction with training the men of the village in the
use of weapons and tactics. We also trained and armed a strike
On 15 October 1962, Sergeant Foxx was killed while
force battalion.
performing Forward Air Control (FAC) duties in a U-10 Helio
Courier. The South Carolina native was a pioneer in the enlisted
forward air control program. TSgt Foxx’s plane was shot
down near the village of BMT, Vietnam, while controlling air
strikes in support of US Army Special Forces A-teams. Special
Operations CCTs (SOCCT’s) performed as either airborne or
ground FACs, depending upon the assigned mission. For more
than five years, Air Force combat controllers operated as FACs
in South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
The following is a recorded discussion between three of

the participants involved in the operation and recovery. It
documents the events surrounding the loss of combat controller
Dick Foxx and two others.
PERSONAL NARRATIVES
CHARLIE JONES (SSgt, Air Commando CCT): There
were three SOCCTs assigned to the Buon Enao Project. We
were assigned as FACs and provided air support for the Special
Forces (SF) team in the Buon Enao Project; TSgt Dick Foxx,
SSgt Charlie Jones, and A1C Charles “Lucky” Luckhurst. We
worked very closely with Art Fields, an SF Team Sergeant.

Next, we started reaching out and bringing in the surrounding to happen. The U-10 and crew was also sitting on the ground,
villages. We trained and armed them and then sent them back just waiting for some word from the field that they had contact
to their villages, along with strike forces to defend them while with the bad guys. The SF Captain Cordell said he was sure he
they fortified their villages and made them secure. All the while could find some targets for us and he went up with Capt Booth
we kept up our patrols in ever increasing range, using secured and Sgt Foxx in the U-10. They were going to make contact
villages as patrol bases in a stepping stone fashion. with the forces on the ground and find some targets.
As we went along, we had to develop new techniques and

tactics. As we advanced toward the Cambodian border, the VC
started emptying out the villages that we had not yet reached
-- taking the villagers into the jungle and going underground.
We discovered the VC had established a training camp in the
foothills of the Cu Ken Mountains near Ban Don along the
Song Srepok River. This VC base stood between us and Ban
Don, so we decided to take it out. We cleared a landing zone at
our primary base in Buon Tah Mo and readied our Strike Force,
equipping them with German 9mm MP-40 submachine guns,
new web gear, black uniforms, bush hats and Batta boots. The
plan was to hit and destroy the VC training camp and then one
company would sweep north in a “U” and the other company
would sweep south in a “U”, with both companies returning
by foot back to base camp at Buon Tah Mo. There were no U-10 Super Courier by the Helio Aircraft Company, Pittsburg,
officers on the ground for this operation. The code name and Kansas. Approximately 100 were purchased for Special
Operations Forces operating in Vietnam.
my call sign for this operation was Powder Blue.
For air support, we had one A-26 bomber and two Farm Gate We planned to follow the U-10 about 30 minutes later. The
T-28s. The aircraft involved in this operation were: assigned CIA agent was going to fly in the back seat with me,
but the night before, he had finished off too many bottles of gin
1. Three H-21C Shawnee helicopters which flew two lifts each
and could not even climb up on the wing of my aircraft. We
to bring troops into the battlefield.
decided he could fly with me later; that was one time a bottle
2. One Douglas A-26 Counter Invader bomber which flew air of gin may have saved a life.
cover and dropped bombs on the VC complex. The pilot was
CHARLIE JONES: We sporadically made contact with Art’s
Captain Van Hovel.
SF troops who had moved in by helicopter across a ridge west of
3. Two Farm Gate T-28 Trojans aircraft which flew air cover us. We talked to the U-10 (Foxx was working on the FM radio)
for the operation. The pilots were Captain Bill Chambers that over flew us in preparation of air strikes by Commando
and Captain Robert Walker. Chambers was shot down on the T-28’s. Soon we received a single radio transmission that the
morning of 16 October 1962. U-10 was hit, on fire and was going down. We could not raise
anyone on the radios; so Helmick and I set out on foot toward
4. One U-10 Helio Super Courier. the crash site.
BILL CHAMBERS, Air Commando PILOT: Bob Walker BILL CHAMBERS: When I arrived, I remember seeing
and I were getting bored sitting around waiting for something your orange smoke on the ground. We had been briefed that
T
partnered with:
www.vetds.com

you would mark your position with smoke. Too bad our hands over my ears as though placing headsets. I wanted to
communications were so bad - maybe I would have avoided try, against all odds, to see if you could contact us on the pitiful
being shot down. I also remember being briefed that if you PRC-10 (FM) set we were using. I remember the one low pass
needed air support you would lay down panels on the ground you or Walker made at your own risk to check us out and I’m
with an arrow pointing in the direction of the target with strips probably alive today because (1) you made a low-pass and saw
indicating distance to the target. we were Caucasians and not Asians, and (2) flying cover over
us till dark.
CHARLIE JONES: I also used those marker panels, with holes
cut in them for the Rhade to wear like a capes so you could ART FIELDS: In the early morning of 15 October 1962, three
see us. I was scared you guys would shoot at us. One or two H-21C Shawnee helicopters flew in. The first lift was quickly
of the Rhade kept saying, “We must run, airplane shoot!” I loaded and the helicopters departed immediately.
kept yelling, “No, no! If we run we are dead!” I finally told
my interpreter, Peter Gunn, to tell them that I would shoot the I was standing in the door of the lead chopper and it was
first man to run myself. They calmed down after you guys flew struggling with the heavy load. All of a sudden the door
down and inspected us and continued to make low passes as filled with tree branches and leaves, I thought we were going
we moved. down for sure, but the pilot gave it full power and quickly
lifted us above the treetops. When we landed at the objective
BILL CHAMBERS: Charlie, I wondered about them wearing we immediately captured two VC. The VC prisoners were
orange with the VC around, but it sure made it easy for us to brought over to me and upon questioning them, my interpreter,
see you. They looked like they were moving very orderly. I pointing to the jungle, said to me, “Many VC, many VC!” I
remember some of you waving at us. I sure wanted to have threw a smoke grenade toward the VC encampment and the
radio contact with you. A-26 started its run, dropping bombs and strafing the area. Not
all the VC in the camp had small arms and those that were not
CHARLIE JONES: My waving included me clasping my killed scattered into the thick jungle. They were in small groups
that we encountered during the remainder of the
operation. We had to be careful of the women
and children that were with them.
By the evening of 15 October 1962, we had

destroyed the VC training camp and were
securing the objective. I was in communication
with the senior Special Forces commander,
CPT Terry Cordell, coordinating the resupply
of ammo and supplies in order to continue
the mission. My radio operator was up in a
tree putting up the jungle antenna for better
communication. CPT Cordell was in the U-10
observation aircraft, flying overhead -- low
and slow. I was speaking with him on the FM
radio (PRC-10) and suddenly he went blank.
My radioman shouted, “Look, look!” I looked
up and saw the aircraft going straight up with
fire coming from the front. It looped over and
started spiraling down into the jungle. On board
the plane were CPT Terry D. Cordell and two
USAF personnel, Capt Herbert W. “Willoughby”
Booth Jr., the pilot, and TSgt Richard L. “Dick”
Foxx, the combat controller. All were killed in
the resulting crash.
CHARLIE JONES: As night fell we came upon

a small, unoccupied grass hut. We torched it to
generate smoke, expecting this would aid the
anticipated arrival of T-28s the next morning.
At about the same time, Art’s group was
approaching from the west toward the crash
site. We soon joined them.
Art’s group got to the downed U-10 first. All

aboard were dead and very badly burned; the aircraft was a total
loss. Art was the ranking man and he immediately took charge
of the crash site. We had a weak defense in terms of numbers
and under Art’s command we decided not to try to outshoot
the VC. They probed us all night, and sounded trumpets or
whistles. Helmick and I pulled the horizontal stabilizer from
the wreck and propped it up so we could lay on it during the
long night.
ART FIELDS: It was late and very dark in the deep, thick
jungle when we reached the crash site. The Viet Cong were
also trying to reach the crash site and we killed a few in the
process of searching for the wreckage. When the plane went
down through the jungle trees, the left wing had broken and
Picture of Jim Betts with Charlie Jones. It is believed they are at
folded over the cockpit. I found all three aboard dead with their the hill top village of San Tiau with local villagers. (Photo submitted
bodies severely burned. by SrA Andrew Powell, 700AS Loadmaster.)
I set up a defensive perimeter around the crash site to keep the

VC from the bodies and the still smoldering wreckage. Since
I had no way of knowing for sure if there were VC within the of the wreckage alive. I almost lost some of our people looking
perimeter, so I gave the order that anything that moved within for the second pilot before we realized there was none. The
or outside the defensive position would be shot. Luckily we had pilot had taken off without his Vietnamese counterpart. A short
sealed off the area before the VC had penetrated it. I radioed time later an H-21 came wobbling in and we placed the badly
my coordinates and called for a chopper to evacuate the KIAs. injured Capt Chambers aboard for evacuation.
I was told that the chopper would be coming from Pleiku and
Later that day we tracked down the group of VC that had shot
would arrive early in the morning. We left the bodies in the
down the two aircraft. They were hiding in a straw shack at the
wreckage overnight. The VC probed our defenses all night
edge of a rice-field. We surrounded the hut and engaged them
with sporadic small arms fire, bugles and whistles.
in a firefight. They were all killed. As we were mopping up, we
At daybreak I sent out a party to search for a clearing to be used discovered that the weapon used to bring down the aircraft was
as a landing zone (LZ) for the incoming chopper. A clearing an American BAR, probably left over from the French Indo-
was found, it was checked for obstacles and colored panels China War.
were placed to mark the landing area. It was later verified from
BILL CHAMBERS: Yes, I did fly air support on 15 October,
the air that the clearing we had marked for the LZ was in fact
but we didn’t expend any ordnance. We saw you on the ground
the only clearing for miles. First to arrive was an unannounced
but you had not made contact with the VC. It may have looked
C-47 and H-34 helicopter. The C-47 made a couple of passes
like there was only one aircraft; you probably never saw us
over the crash site and flew off toward BMT. The H-34 with
close together as we always flew a wide-spread formation.
USAF Air Commandos Lt Col Mike Doyle (CO), TSgt Hap
But, we always flew a two aircraft mission. I’m not sure of the
Lutz (medic) and SSgt William Cody (combat controller)
A-26 pilot, but I think it might have been Capt Van Hovel from
aboard landed at the LZ we had marked. The H-34 was flown
our unit. We were the only ones flying A-26s and T-28s at that
by an American with a Vietnamese adviser in the other seat. The
time. I was told that the A-26 later finished off my T-28 with
H-34 came under fire and lifted off. It went around a couple of
bombs. I learned later that they found only one bullet hole in
times before it could land.
the aircraft - right in the carburetor. What a lucky shot.
About that time, we had extracted the bodies from the wreckage
CHARLIE JONES: First one of the wobbly H-21s came, then
and loaded them on stretchers. When the H-34 finally touched
the beautiful T-28s. Then, the Air Commando Commander
down again we quickly loaded the remains, along with the
Lt Col Miles Doyle and TSgt Hap Lutz arrived in either an
recovery team. It immediately lifted off heading for Ban Me
H-19 or H-34. It was piloted by an American Army advisor,
Thout where a C-47 was waiting to take them to Saigon.
a Vietnamese observer and the American crew chief. It came
Just as the H-34 was lifting off, a Farm Gate T-28 came in under fire and went around once or twice. Doyle wanted to
low and slow and was shot down. It came screaming into the see the crash site, so we had to move him along the trail to
ground and almost hit us. People were running for cover. I am the site. We finally got the bodies positioned on stretchers to
sure that it was one of the same planes that provided air cover place aboard the chopper, when I heard the sounds of gunfire
the previous day. The crashed T-28 was fully loaded and ammo I thought it was a fifty-cal. Art later said it was a BAR. We
was exploding like the 4th of July in the burning wreckage. had Billy overhead flying cover for us. The saddest thing in
Despite exploding ammunition and ordnance shrapnel set off cases like this is the lack of communication. I could not tell
by the intense heat and thick smoke from the devastating fire Billy what I was hearing, to warn him, and sure enough, he was
of the burning aircraft I got the pilot, Capt Bill Chambers out downed, almost crashing into us as the H-19 lifted off.

fight it out. We had been told by our Intel Officer that the VC
would capture you if you could walk, otherwise they would
put a bullet in your head. Almost immediately, I saw the H-21
coming into the landing. A crewman was standing the doorway
with a machine gun. I stood up as much as I could and waved
my arms and started moving toward the chopper. The guy in
the chopper waved for me to stay put. Unknown to me at the
time, the Rhade Montagnard Strike Force under the command
of Art Fields had secured the clearing. It was the only clearing
around. It was to be used as a landing zone for the H-21 flying
in from Pleiku to evacuate the bodies of the three KIAs. Art
Fields and some of his troops got a stretcher from the chopper,
placed me on it, and then loaded me on the H-21 for evacuation.
The H-21 took me to the Ban Me Thuot airfield where a C-47
was standing by to fly me out. I know this has been windy, but
I wanted to tell you everything I remembered. An interesting
note: While I was in the hospital at Clark AFB having X-rays
taken, I was visited by a CIA agent. He wanted to let me know
Air Commando Charlie Jones in 1966. (Photo submitted by SrA what to say if anyone asked me questions. I was to say that I
Andrew Powell, 700AS Loadmaster.)
did have a Vietnamese in the back seat with me. As you know,
I can’t verify any of what he told me but he told me they had
BILL CHAMBERS: We took off and tried to contact the U-10 captured two Chinese advisors. He further said that the CIA had
on the radio and could not raise them. We called the camp to turned the interrogation of the two over to a French team.
see if they had contact with them -- they didn’t. Bob and I flew
ART FIELDS: An H-21 helicopter was called in to take out
around in the area looking for them. Finally we saw smoke
the KIAs, however they had already been evacuated aboard
coming up from the ground and it was their aircraft. One wing
the H-34 before it arrived. Since Bill Chambers T-28 had just
was folded over the cockpit.
crashed, we placed him aboard the H-21 and it took him to
The next morning Bob and I were flying cover for the recovery Ban Me Thout where the C-47 was waiting to fly them all to
team, which included Lt Col Miles Doyle, our commander Saigon. I returned to base camp, at Buon Tah Mo with over
from Bien Hoa who had flown in the night before. We had four hundred villagers that we had liberated from the VC. We
contact with the recovery team on the ground and they reported were greeted by the brass from Saigon who debriefed us. So far
no contact with hostile forces. I was making passes over our as can be determined this was the first helicopter assault of the
people, really just showing the Eagle to try to keep the VC Vietnam War led by an American.
from attacking. I was in the middle of a pass when my engine
In the meantime, we continued to train villagers and kill VC
lost power and smoke started streaming out of it. I didn’t know
until we deployed back to Okinawa in February 1963.
whether I’d blown a jug or what.
I let Walker know I was going down and apparently the Chopper CHARLIE JONES: We flew the bodies to a one room masonry
was on our frequency and took off immediately. I was too low structure and posted a Vietnamese guard outside. We re-boarded
to bail out, had no ejection seat and had to ride it in. About the chopper to return and try to get Billy out. Art and an H-21
all that was left of the T-28 was the cockpit laying on its side. had extricated him; an event unknown to us until we landed
I couldn’t get the canopy open more than about one third. I back there. It was back at the village, Buon Enao, when I was
remember when the aircraft finally stopped, I tried to blow the questioned closely by some regular US Army Colonels about
canopy but it wouldn’t move; since it used compressed air to the previous actions. I also discussed with Doyle who sent me
blow back the canopy and the air line was apparently ruptured. back to Bien Hoa for even more reports. We were all worried
I then moved the canopy handle to manual and tried to pull it about the possible consequences of not having a Vietnamese
open. It opened a few inches, enough to get part of my shoulder adviser aboard either the T-28 or the U-10.
on it. I finally got it opened enough to try to squeeze out, but the
shoulder holster hung up on the railing. I had to get back inside About a week later, we stood in formation as the bodies were
and move the holster under my armpit, then was barely able to loaded aboard a C-123 for the flight to the Philippines, to be
get out. Had the gin-drinking CIA officer been aboard, I would further processed for shipment home.
never have been able to get out of the back seat.
This is my abbreviated story of the events surrounding the
I then moved, bent over because my back was injured and I actions of Art and his life-saving actions of Billy Chambers and
couldn’t stand up, to the nearest undergrowth and prepared to facts concerning the first FACs to be KIA in the SEA war.

COMBAT CONTROL
first there
last out
Compiled using published data in CCT’s historical archives
by Gene Adcock, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired
One C-130 was hit by ground fire on landing. It lay crumpled on

the side of the runway. The runway and camp were strewn with
the wreckage of helicopters, bulldozers, vehicles and other
aircraft. (DOD Official Photo)
INTRODUCTION: 1st Air Commando Wing (Jungle Jim) Special Operations Combat Control Teams
(SOCCT) operated in Vietnam as early as 1961 and soon thereafter were in Laos. The following is one story
of conventional CCTs that were first introduced to Vietnam during President Johnson’s build-up of forces in
July 1965. The first conventional CCT to arrive was deployed TDY from the 7th Aerial Port Squadron (APS),
headquartered at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan. The 7APS and Detachment 1, 7APS CCTs rotationally shared
the combat mission from July to December 1965. In December 1965, a new CCT was formed at the 8th Aerial
Port Squadron, Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam. The new CCT would be responsible for all in-country operations
until the evacuation of Vietnam in 1975. True to their Vietnam-era motto, an 8th APS CCT, led by MSgt Lew
Brabham, would be the last American airmen to leave Vietnam on 29 April 1975.

November 1968 Gone were the sounds of aircraft landing left among us and we were going to take
Combat controllers TSgt Mort and taking off. Gone was the evacuees’ as many of them with us as we could.”
Freedman and Sgt Jim Lundie and their high-pitched banter as they waited to “I told Lundie that if he made it and
airlift mission commander, Maj John be picked up. The combat control radio I didn’t, to be sure to get my wallet so
Gallagher, lay in a ditch along what was jeep had been destroyed in preparation those bastards wouldn’t take it.”
left of the Kham Duc runway. Sweat for a quick air evacuation. The survival The C-123 crew had seen them, but
poured from their dirt-caked bodies and radio was also out. Everything was gone. was too far down the runway to stop. And
etched tiny rivers of grime down beard- Everything, that is, except the three soon another C-123, piloted by Lt Col
stubble faces. Flak vests and steel helmets Americans; and the North Vietnamese Joe Jackson and Major Jesse Campbell,
provided protection on the outside but soldiers who were closing in around landed in a barrage of enemy bullets and
kept the heat on the inside swirling into the camp. The three men could see the mortar shells, screeched to a stop long
a built-in steam bath. They had been this figures darting back and forth between enough for the combat controllers and
way for three days. There was no hint gun emplacements, waiting for the order their mission commander to jump in, and
of the typical, spit-and-polish, combat to charge down and take the camp. took off trailed by the “biggest hail of
control image. No starched fatigues It was normal for the combat tracers you’ve ever seen.”
topped with a blue beret nattily cocked to controllers to be the last out of a camp.
one side. Not that it mattered now. They were always the first in and the last
They squinted hard into the glare out, according to their unofficial motto.
of the Vietnam day, searching for some But where was that last plane, the one
sign, any sign, of a rescuer who would that was to take them out? Have they left
pluck them from this nightmare. us? Have we been forgotten?
Then, the sound of airplane engines,
Kham Duc the greatest sound in the world, snapped
Until a week earlier, it had been them back to reality. A C-123 swooped in
just one of many Special Forces camps low and touched down. The three airmen
dotting the Vietnamese countryside. Now sprang to their feet and made a dash to
it was destined to capture the attention of the taxiing plane. Enemy automatic
the entire country. weapons blazed away. Tracers lighted
For two days, the two combat a deadly path toward the moving plane.
controllers had labored under a fierce Mortar rounds were landing all around
barrage of enemy mortar fire, directing Air the aircraft.
Force C-130 Hercules, C-123 Providers, Then, airplane picked up speed. It
C-7 Caribous, and even Army Hueys into wasn’t stopping!
and out of the airstrip. Their MRC-108 Lundie and Freedman yelled at the
tops of their voices, but it was to avail. Lt Col Joe Jackson, 311th Air Commando
radio jeep had been peppered by deadly Squardon, who was awarded the
shrapnel when the jeep’s generator trailer Their pleas were lost in the thunderous
Congressional Medal of Honor for his
was completely destroyed by a mortar roar of the engines and jet boosters. actions that day as the pilot of the C-123
round. During the attacks they had “They didn’t see us. They didn’t see us,” that saved the three airmen at Kham
dragged wounded from exposed areas cursed Lundie. Duc.
to cover where they could give first aid. North Vietamese tracer bullets from
They had even directed fighter strikes on machine gun emplacements at the end
enemy positions around the perimeter of the runway followed the C-123 as it Mort Freedman and Jim Lundy’s
until an airborne forward air controller climbed out of range. Quickly the enemy experience at Kham Duc is by no
(FAC) arrived overhead. gunners pivoted back down on the runway means “all in a day’s work” for combat
It was coming to a foreboding climax. where the three lonely figures stood, their controllers; but it serves to underscore
They had come close to death during hopes of rescue now dashed. And just as the combat in combat control. Vietnam
the past two days. Now, they thought, quickly, the controllers bolted for the provided CCTs with their first real test
their time had indeed come. Earlier that relative safety of the ditch, firing their under fire since becoming part of the Air
afternoon, the entire camp had been M-16s from the hip as they ran, silencing Force in 1953.
evacuated in one of the most harrowing at least one of the guns. “Our purpose for being, as planned
and spectacular airlifts ever carried out. “That was really it,” Freedman in 1952, and as practiced in Vietnam,
One C-130 was hit by ground fire on recalled later. “They sent in a plane, but is basically unchanged,” explained
landing. It lay crumpled on the side of the pilot saw no one left on the ground, so Maj Robert Barinowski, head combat
the runway. The runway and camp were he took off. No one would come back. At controller in Vietnam. “We’ve had a few
strewn with the wreckage of helicopters, that point we had two choices. Either be variations in theme, but our primary task
bulldozers, vehicles, and other aircraft. taken prisoner or fight it out. There was is still that of performing as air traffic
Now the relative silence was deathly. no doubt about it. We had 11 magazines controllers in a forward, austere airstrip

or drop zone.” times that number. In the beginning, varied. Like a one-day air traffic control
The need for the combat control we had many air traffic control (ATC) job at a remote airfield guiding in airlift
teams surfaced in World War II when, in missions, because control towers had not C-130s, C-123s or C-7s laden with badly
Sicily, Army paratroopers were scattered yet been constructed at various remote needed supplies; or accompanying the 1st
all over the countryside because no one airstrips.” Air Cavalry Division tramping through
was controlling the drops from the ground. “But today many of those strips have the jungles for 30 days, providing
The dispersal of men and equipment permanent towers and some navigational necessary control for emergency airdrops
made the airborne force ineffective as a equipment. As a result, our ATC of ammunition, rations, and fuel. The
combat unit. mission has decreased and our role as operating conditions vary, too--from the
Since the end of the Second World a field extension of the airlift command relative quiet of nearby outgoing friendly
War, Air Force combat controllers had and control system has become more artillery, to the terrors of “incoming
been a part of US troop deployments to prominent.” rounds of a Kham Duc or Khe Sanh.”
meet crises in Lebanon, the Congo, and Using high-frequency radios, the Between field missions, the combat
the Dominican Republic, and were put combat controllers fed vital data from controllers went through numerous
on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis remote airstrips back to the 834th Air standard checks at their Tan Son Nhut
in 1962. During troop and cargo airlifts, Division Airlift Control Center at Tan Son home station, maintaining proficiency
they are always the first deployed to an Nhut, the nerve center for all in-country in air traffic control procedures,
airstrip or drop zone to survey the area, airlift operations. packing parachutes, performing radio
set up marker panels and the portable “Also during the first year, we had maintenance, cleaning their weapons
communication and navigational gear very few rocket and mortar attacks to (the M-16 and the shortened version,
necessary to accurately guide the main hinder our job,” Sears continued. “That the CAR-15 used in parachute jumps)
wave of airlift aircraft in. sure has changed! Now we’re always and honing their shooting skills on the
But never had the combat control team sandbagging the radio jeep and always weapons range.
concept and the mettle of the controllers digging a foxhole on the DZ for the Perhaps the clearest image of what
been tested like it was in Vietnam. And, combat controller.” a combat controller’s life in Vietnam
as the nature of the Vietnam War was one At the peak of their activity in was all about is found by snatching
of constant change in tactics and strategy, Vietnam, combat controllers were glimpses of experiences during various
so it followed that combat controllers had deployed throughout the country by the operations.
to adapt and innovate with the shifting Airlift Control Center. The men were Since most of the CCT was at Khe
priorities. divided into three teams, each headed Sanh at one time or another during the
One combat controller who speaks by an officer and consisting
with great authority on the job of the of air traffic controllers and
Blue Berets in Vietnam is Capt Hayden F. radio maintenance specialists.
Sears, Jr., who had been in country since One team was always on alert,
1965, longer than any other controller. ready with jeep and portable
“When I arrived we had 24 men and navigational aids to deploy by
were housed in a shack here at Tan Son airlift in as little as 15 minutes.
Nhut,” he recalls. “Now we are three Their missions were
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78-day siege, that operation, in which over the drop zone for emergency More Than Guts and Glory
8 controllers received Purple Hearts, drops of ammunition, rations and fuel. But, combat control was more than
provides a good look. During the same operation, SSgt Robert the guts and glory of combat. It took
Jim Lundie was there, crouched in Mahaffey withstood five straight hours a special breed to overcome all the
a foxhole, directing aircraft in and out of enemy shelling to perform the combat obstacles set in the path of earning and
of the airstrip on February 23, when the control mission. keeping the combat controller’s blue
NVA fired over 1,000 artillery rounds On one of the rare airborne beret. In addition to jump school, combat
into the combat base, or the equivalent of operations, Capt Danny M. Pugh, a controllers attended other schools: control
nearly one round a minute. He’ll never 19-month Vietnam veteran, led his tower, combat control, survival, tropical
forget that day. It was his 21st birthday. 8-man team in combat control’s classic survival, arctic survival, water survival,
Following the crash of a Marine role, support of a mass parachute assault. amphibious training, High Altitude Low
helicopter, Capt Sears and his team Jumping 30 minutes ahead of a 1,000- Opening, parachute rigging, and radio
of SSgt Jimmy Grishom, Sgt Arthur man Vietnamese paratroop formation at maintenance. And what’s more, failing
Hosey, Freedman and Lundie, ignored Van Kiep, the CCT was dropped short any one school meant elimination from
the possible explosion of the helicopters of the drop zone. Realizing the error and combat controller training.
fuel and incoming mortar rounds to pull realizing the potential disaster if the mass “In Vietnam, in a given month, we
the crew members out of the burning formation was also dropped short, Pugh worked more airfields than drop zones,”
wreckage. Although two were already said Maj Barinowski. “Consequently, I
led his team at a rapid clip, overland,
dead, the third was saved by their action. placed heavy emphasis on proficiency in
through enemy territory. They found the
TSgt Thomas Monley and his air-landing techniques; operating three
DZ, set up communications equipment,
team of Sgts David McCracken, Erwin or four radios, proper voice procedures,
and guided the formation in right on
Rhodes, and Walter Smith were awarded stacking airplanes, and on two other tasks
schedule. There was no doubt about which have become part of our mission
Silver Stars for moving a burning pallet
the value of combat controllers on that in Vietnam, coordinating artillery firings
of mortar rounds away from Khe Sanh’s
occasion. with landings of aircraft and installation
populated bunkers.
During another operation the 1st On another jump, Capt Sears, who and maintenance of the Ground Proximity
Air Cavalry Division pushed into the A had four combat jumps to his credit Extraction System, a method used by the
Shau Valley, an enemy stronghold. TSgt (more than any other controller at the C-130s to delivery bulky cargo loads to
Richard Taylor, SSgt James Philpot, time), parachuted into a drop zone in the the ground forces.”
and Sgts Gary Brock and Michael Northern II Corps Tactical Zone. But no matter what role combat
Welding went into the valley’s thick, “We jumped from about 800 feet,” controllers performed, one fact was
jungle carpeted floor with the first wave he said, “and immediately could hear certain: they were a vital part of the airlift
of assault helicopters, which received ground fire coming up at us. All of a effort in Vietnam. It doesn’t really matter
some of the heaviest enemy antiaircraft sudden, I felt something, and looked up to whether they were the first in and last
fire of the war. Once in the valley, the see two bullet holes in my ‘chute. When out. It’s what they did while they were
CCT marked the assault landing strip for we hit the ground, we started receiving a there that counts. And that added up to
C-123s and C-7s and directed C-130s lot of sniper fire.” quite a lot.
8th Aerial Port Squadron, Combat Control Team (Circa 1968 USAF Photo)

SSgt Luke Brackett gives TACP Candidates instructions
on portable radio operations. (US Air Force Photo)
Mastering the Basics

By Tech Sgt William Shepherd
Advise, Assist, Control has been the primary and relatively students learn to establish and maintain communications under
unchanged mission of USAF Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) less than ideal situations. Students are constantly drilled on the
for over four decades. TACPs are aligned with every form importance of effective communication through multiple training
of maneuver unit to include Infantry (Airborne, Air Assault, exercises and performance-based examinations. Instructors
Light, Mechanized), Armor, Rangers and Special Forces. Every emphasize strict standards to ensure students understand their
ground commanding officer has and continues to count on the communications link to multiple, forward-based, warfighting
Close Air Support (CAS) employment expertise that every nodes is essential for mission success. Students spend a great
aligned TACP possesses. This expertise does not come quickly deal of time studying radio frequency propagation theory and
or easily. Training to support these units begins at Hurlburt concepts so they can apply what they have learned to actual
Field where every TACP begins their career as a student at the operations. Bottom line: No comms, no bombs!
TACP Schoolhouse. Students then move on to learn basic field skills, ranging
TACP candidates begin their training at Hurlburt Field, from field hygiene to foot navigation to ambush techniques.
where over the course of 84 training days, students get a snapshot During this phase, students learn the requirement to properly
of their future. Holding steady at an average of 65% graduation prepare and ensure their equipment is functional in order to
rate, the TACP Apprentice Course produces approximately 250 execute the upcoming tasks. Students also gain an appreciation
graduates per year. Students learn a multitude of job specific tasks for the equipment, while accomplishing performance-based
that will prepare them for the critical mission they will perform objectives. The old saying, “Take care of your equipment, and
during combat operations. Before their combat experience it will take care of you” - drives home an entirely new meaning.
begins, every TACP must first master the basics. This means Those students who neglect their equipment, typically find
becoming an expert communicator, a sound operator in austere themselves repeating the training or are washed back to day
environments, and an expert in CAS procedures. one.
The foundation for learning combat skills begins during The field-training block of instruction is immediately
the first block of instruction. During this block of instruction, followed by the CAS phase of training. Students are instructed

on CAS aircraft capabilities, assisting radio operator and communicator to
the Joint Terminal Attack Controller JTAC is seamless. The importance of
(JTAC) with planning the CAS mission, this transition was made very clear for
and providing final control to the strike 2 TACPs over the course of a 13-hour
aircraft. This process most often occurs battle in Afghanistan.
at an incredibly rapid pace and vulnerable During a mission which was
time on the battlefield, therefore all of supposed to be a quick “meet and greet”
the necessary tasks must be seamlessly with village elders… 18 controls, 14
executed. airframes and several thousands pounds
With a pronounced sense of of ordnance later, every coalition member
accomplishment and pride, those walked away, while over 200 enemy lay
candidates who reach graduation receive dead. The ability to seamlessly transition
the coveted black beret, flash, and crest from radio operator and communicator to
Left to right: MSgt Rob Lee, SrA Michael
McCaffrey, and TSgt Tavis Delaney pictured
of the TACPs. Though they have proven CAS controller was a result of mastering
in Afghanistan following their 13-hour they have what it takes to comprehend the basics.
combat mission. (US Air Force Photo) and apply the apprentice course material, According to an article written by
3-Level TACPs will not begin their JTAC Scott Fontaine in the Air Force Times,
upgrade training for at least another 18 dated 19 August 2011, TSgt Tavis Delaney
in CAS procedures and the identification months. Until that point, TACPs train and SrA Michael McCaffrey received less
of battlefield weapon systems. The to become experts on all CAS mission than 1 hour of notice to board a CH-47
instructors familiarize candidates with the related equipment, so when they are that would fly them to a village. The
process of advising ground commanders on the battlefield the transition from TACPs were told to prepare for a three-
day mission, with less than one hour of
notice. Applying the skills they acquired
at TACP Apprentice School, both TACPs
were able to meet the short notice task.
When their unit arrived at the landing
zone, a deadly battle began. Delaney
described the engagement as, “…seven
hours of full blown, slug fest, back-and-
forth….” The landing zone was at the
base of a valley with steep terrain on both
sides. The TACPs relayed a request for
CAS aircraft. Moments later two F/A-18
Super Hornets responded to the request,
but due to the high terrain, the TACPs
were unable to effectively communicate
with the F/A-18s. The TACPs knew that
communication was critical and, in this
case, could be the difference between
life and death. Using skills learned
through years of training and multiple
deployments, the TACPs were finally
able to establish communications to
engage and neutralize the combatants.
For his actions that day, Delaney was
recommended to receive the Silver Star.
TACPs are able to perform in
extreme and deadly situations that
demand flawless execution of their duties.
That demand can only be met when the
repetitive nature of training gives way to
the mastering of a skill.
About the Author: Tech Sgt. William

Shepherd is an instructor at the Tactical Air
Control Party at Hurlburt Field, FL.

Keith Grimes (pictured
center), considered to be
the grandfather of Special
Operations Weather
Quietly Serving for 70 Years
By Captain Charles R. Cunningham and SMSgt Christopher M. Decorte
Special Operations Weather Teams

The roots of today’s Special observation duties. Each hour he sent clandestine weather observation networks
Operations Weather Teams can be back present weather, wind direction and and transmit information back to weather
traced back to World War II when the speed, visibility, ceiling and cloud heights, collection centers. These observations
Office of Strategic Services (the CIA temperature, and dew point data with his proved very useful in improving weather
predecessor) trained 36 volunteers VHF radio to headquarters elements. On forecasts briefed to aircrews operating
from the 19th Weather Squadron. These 21 June, he was evacuated to the hospital against the Ho Chi Minh Trail and North
weather volunteers were trained in in Bouteville for treatment on a knee Vietnam. In 1966, the 10th Weather
parachuting, close quarters combat, injury he sustained during the airborne Squadron was reactivated (the 10th
escape and evasion, and advanced insertion on D-Day. Weather parachutists Weather squadron had originally been
weapons qualifications. Armed with also participated in follow-on operations activated in 1942 and then deactivated
these advanced skill sets, the intent was in both the Netherlands and Yugoslavia. after the war) at Udorn Royal Thai Air
to deploy these “Weather Commandos” These ‘Combat Weathermen’, as they Force Base in Thailand and subsequently
as part of the Allied Forces’ first wave became known, had also participated played an important role in the Son Tay
of the Normandy invasion in order to in the Pacific theater against Imperial rescue attempt (Operation Kingpin) in
collect forward weather observation data. Japanese forces, developing austere 1970. Combat weathermen provided
Perhaps the best historical account is that weather networks in 1942. observations and weather forecasts that
of SSgt Robert A. Dodson. At 0230hrs In the 1960’s, members of facilitated the main body rotary wing
on June 6th, 1944, Sergeant Dodson Detachment 75, 5th Weather Wing, insertion of US Army Special Forces
jumped with Force “A”, a small Air established austere weather networks 56-man assault force. Of note, Maj Keith
Support Party from the Ninth Air Force in Vietnam and Thailand. Combat Grimes was attached to the raid planning
attached to Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Weathermen operated in remote hostile staff where his first-hand expertise in
Division onto a field of grazing cattle just areas for extended periods to train foreign Southeast Asian weather forecasting and
northeast of St. Mere Eglise, France. For forces and indigenous weather personnel working with the US Special Forces to
the next 15 days, he conducted weather to collect environmental data, establish establish weather observation links at

various outposts known as “Lima” sites impossible to provide accurate and time- 2008, the special operations weather
proved invaluable during the planning sensitive weather information to combat community finalized the stand-up of the
stages of the operation. Maj Grimes forces throughout the AOR. In 2005, Special Operations Weather career field
was able to bridge the gap between the SMSgt (Ret.) Kellerman was inducted and for the first time ever, the Air Force
conventional weather architecture of the into the Air Commando Hall of Fame. could enlist recruits off the street directly
Air Weather Service (operating under the In March 2003 during OPERATION into the SOWT specialty instead of asking
Military Airlift Command) and the specific IRAQI FREEDOM, SSgt John “Dusty” existing conventional weather forecasters
weather forecast requirements of the Lee was instrumental in providing to volunteer for special operations duties.
operation. Joint Contingency Task Group critical weather support both at the With this came the formalization of a
Ivory Coast, the joint special operations strategic and tactical levels. SSgt Lee training pipeline necessary to provide the
task force that exectued Operation was in northeastern Iraq, near the Iranian appropriate weather skills combined with
Kingpin, was an early demonstration of border for the purpose of conducting the tactical special operations skills and
joint operating capability and, among capabilities required to become a SOF
several other key operations, was a qualified individual.
model for the later creation of United The present day pipeline consists
States Special Operations Command. of attending the Special Operations
Ultimately, Maj Grimes’ colleagues Weather Selection Course after basic
recognized his contributions to Air Force training. From there SOWT candidates
Special Operations by inducting him attend the 30-week Initial Skills Course,
into the Air Commando Hall of Fame in where they learn the academics and
1996. initial skills of weather forecasting and
After demonstrating the value observing alongside the conventional
of forward environmental collection weather trainees. However, while at the
capability during WWII and Vietnam, SSgts Lee (Left) and Galdamez (Right) are initial skills course SOWT candidates
Special Operations Weathermen have pictured in northeastern Iraq in 2003. are required to maintain high levels of
participated in most major contingencies physical fitness through a stringent daily
in modern Special Operations history, physical training regimen, in addition to
including: OPERATION URGENT chemical downwind messaging in the their rigorous academic responsibilities.
FURY (Grenada), OPERATION JUST event the Iraqis decided to use chemical After graduating the initial skills course,
CAUSE (Panama), OPERATIONS warfare against US and coalition forces. SOWT candidates attend basic Airborne
DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM Additionally, he was responsible for School, Basic SERE, water survival,
(Iraq), Task Force RANGER (Somalia), conducting forward weather observing and underwater egress schools. Next,
OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY as environmental data in that region was trainees attend the 13-week Special
(Haiti), operations in Bosnia, counter sparse. This data was critical to enabling
narcotics operations in South America, the close air support assets supporting
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Special Forces elements from the 10th
as well as present day OPERATION Special Forces Group that were linked
ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW up with the Peshmerga (armed Kurdish
DAWN. fighters), who were fighting Saddam
During the first Gulf war, Sgt Ronald Hussein’s forces in northeastern Iraq.
H. Kellerman was assigned to the 39th With the aid of Special Forces advisors,
Special Operations Wing when Iraq the Peshmerga were successful in
invaded Kuwait in August of 1990. While evicting the terrorist forces of Ansar-al-
deployed to the United Arab Emirates, Islam from the region and later fighting
he single-handedly built the largest elements of Iraq’s V Corps. SSgt Lee’s
ever weather network using HF radio element was involved in heavy fighting SSgt Gruber and A1C Graham pose after
capability. Traveling to 23 locations, Sgt on at least six separate occasions during being awarded the coveted Grey Beret, as
Kellerman worked to get other weather these series of engagements. the first graduates of the SOWT pipeline
teams on line. He acted as the “network The special operations weather in 2010.
manager” and ensured air, ground, community has experienced significant
sea, SOF, and coalition commanders, growth and development in the last in the Operations Weather Apprentice Course
and mission planners had the weather last ten years. Major highlights include (SOWAC) at the Combat Control School.
intelligence that they needed when they standing up a separate enlisted AFSC, After graduating SOWAC, they move to
needed it. Thousands of observations, 1W0X2, establishing a formal training Hurlburt Field and attend 14 weeks of
pilot reports, forecasts, and surf zone pipeline, and codifying regulations and training at the 23rd Weather Squadron
conditions were transmitted on his watch. funding necessary to resource and field where they hone their operational and
Without this effort, it would have been such a capability. Beginning on 1 October, tactical weather forecasting skills.

Finally, they get their top-off Operational on these assets is critical to mitigating risk with a 6-man combat reconnaissance
Readiness Training from the Special during the mission planning process. In patrol tasked to establish a Landing Zone
Tactics Training Squadron. After a little addition to supporting Army Ground SOF for the 173rd Airborne Aviation Brigade
over two years they are considered basic units, SOWTs are also responsible for prior to the largest airborne assault
mission qualified and are assigned to providing weather support to USASOC’s since the Panama invasion in 1989. He
the 10th Combat Weather Squadron at elite aviation units. was tasked with forward observations,
Hurlburt Field, FL -- the Air Force’s only In the years since 9/11, SOWTs have limited-data forecasting and the very
Special Operations Weather Squadron. proven to be a critical SOF enabling difficult decision of finding a window of
On the officer side, the weather capability in overseas contingency opportunity despite persistent fog and low
officer career field stood up an official operations. In Iraq, SOWTs have provided cloud decks below the limits of the fifteen
career field shred (C-suffix) rather than a the full spectrum of environmental support C-17s flying non-stop from Italy. With
separate AFSC. Due to the extremely low to SOF air and ground component forces the C-17s 30 minutes out and the weather
numbers of required SOWT officers, it throughout the OPERATION IRAQI still below minimums, he used his own
was determined that a separate career field FREEDOM and now OPERATION observation coupled with the forecasts
would not be feasible in terms of offering NEW DAWN campaigns. SOWTs aided provided from Germany and Offutt AFB
appropriate professional progression in the opening of numerous airfields early to make his “go” recommendation. In
opportunities. The pipeline for officers is in the campaign. They were responsible his words, he felt he was the “man of
essentially the same as the enlisted side for placing forward weather sensors, the mission” and how this was his most
with one exception. The officers attend exponentially increasing the theater’s rewarding moment as a SOWT. His hard
the Weather Officers Course in place of weather sensing network. work in inhospitable weather enabled
the initial skills course of their enlisted SSgt Tom Dishon inserted into Iraq the successful airborne assault of 954
counterparts.
What makes SOWT unique from
the conventional weather community
is their ability to shoot, move, and
communicate with their Army and
Navy SOF counterparts. SOWTs are
able to provide valuable environmental
feedback in permissive, non-permissive,
and politically sensitive locations where
weather data is typically very sparse.
SOWTs are able to provide manual
forward weather observations, emplace
a host of tactical environmental sensors,
and use small unmanned aerial vehicles
in order to collect environmental
information. This data is shared with
the larger weather community to build a Your New Mission:
A Challenging Career at CACI
better characterization of environmental
conditions in a particular combat theater.
In addition to the tactical mission,
SOWTs are tasked with providing more CACI provides IT and professional services to the
traditional staff support roles at the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland
company, battalion, and group levels. Security, and intelligence agencies around the country.
Staff and C2 integration is where weather
input is perhaps most critical. SOWTs — Engineering — Cybersecurity
are important contributors to joint — Intelligence — Analysis
planning, where they help synchronize
— Logistics — IT & Communications
air and ground assets with forecasted
weather and environmental effects of
the battlespace. Additionally, SOWTs Continue to secure our
provide commanders with critical real- nation’s interests by making
time situational awareness when enemy CACI your new mission.
engagements require quick-reaction
forces, close air support, and/or medical Apply today.
evacuation capability. Being able to www.caci.com
CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V
©CACI 2011 · A305_1107
advise commanders of weather impacts

assess and determine the likelihood able to use this data to complement
of enemy movement and activity. The and verify model data which is used
riverine assessment capability has to produce many varieties of weather
proven valuable both tactically and support products, from large-scale
operationally. weather outlook forecasts and specific
Another typical SOWT mission was point forecasts, to mission execution
preformed during the summer of 2011. forecasts.
Coalition forces conducted a humanitarian
assistance operation to deliver 200 tons
of aid to the remote Afghan provinces
of Kunar and Nuristan. To be a success,
this operation required that a 100-vehicle
SSgt Howser conducts a river assessment in
southern Afghanistan spring of 2009. convoy negotiate a difficult route in order
to reach the isolated area. TSgt Gibson,
paratroopers into Iraq. a SOWT operator was positioned on a
In Afghanistan, known for its austere strategically important ridge overlooking
and non-permissive nature, the SOWTs the convoy route and provided continuous
capability has been called upon more real-time observations directly to higher-
than ever before. SOWTs have been echelon conventional weather units.
responsible for collecting and producing His observations were used to provide
more than 450 Terrain Reports (tactical GO/NO GO weather recommendations
environmental collection snapshots of a during 14 medical evacuations and
specific area or region on the battlefield). were communicated directly to aircrews
Terrain Reports provide a full-spectrum during 46 close air support engagements.
summary of terrain and weather effects During the 12-day operation, TSgt
for a location and considers variables Gibson and the other SOF on the ridge
such as body of water analysis, soil type/ endured persistent insurgent mortar In 2001, Gen Charles Holland presented
composition analysis, and vegetation and rocket bombardment. Additionally SSgt Craig Musselman (pictured above)
analysis among other variables. SOWTs during the later stages of the operation, the Purple Heart. SSgt Musselman was
SOWT’s first wounded in action conducting
take these data points and develop an the SOWT correctly forecast a severe
combat operations in Afghanistan. There
environmental sight picture for impacts storm that washed away much of the have been a total of four SOWT Purple
to ground operations, vehicle and foot main supply route. However, armed Heart recipients to date from OPERATION
traffic, river crossings, airdrops, and with advanced warning of the storm, ENDURING FREEDOM.
rotary wing operations. In addition combat engineers mitigated the damage
to terrain reports, SOWTs have been by pre-staging bulldozers and heavy The current day SOWT operator is
heavily tasked with providing forward equipment and rapidly repaired the road a culmination of more than 70 years of
weather observations in order to produce once the storm passed. In the end, TSgt evolution. In an age of warfare where
a better weather picture of an otherwise Gibson’s forward weather observations joint operations demand the seamless
fairly data-sparse battlefield. Forward enabled the successful delivery of the integration of maritime, air, and ground
weather observations are fed into the humanitarian aid, the safe extraction forces to operate in concert with
larger sensing network to give all weather of 106 soldiers from the exposed ridge one another, the ability to accurately
personnel operating in the theater a better under the protection of air support, and characterize and forecast the environment
characterization of the environment. the medical evacuation of 25 US and is more important than ever. The simple
In more recent years, SOWTs have Afghan casualties. fact is that wherever Special Operations
refined their ability to effectively and Drawing on their roots from Vietnam, Forces are asked to go there will be
accurately conduct riverine assessments. SOWTs operating in Afghanistan have a critical need for SOWT to provide
Augmenting human analysis with the also worked to establish clandestine meteorological support to them.
latest in sensor technology, Special weather observation networks by
Operations Weather Teams have been training indigenous personnel in basic
able to advise SOF commanders on the environmental data collection, mainly Capt Charles Cunningham is currently the
Chief of Operations and Training, AFSOC/
state of the river systems in Afghanistan. through the use of handheld weather
A3W. He has served as a SOWT Officer for
Riverine assessments are extremely sensors. Local weather observers transmit the last eight years.
critical in Afghanistan as the annual information back to SOWTs operating at
surge in enemy activity is tied to the headquarters locations. This information SMSgt Chris DeCorte is currently the
spring thaw. Armed with the knowledge is used for Terrain Report development Manager of Standards and Evaluation,
of flood plains, river levels, currents, and and for ingestion into the larger weather AFSOC A3W. He has served as a SOWT for
temperatures, commanders can better enterprise. Weather forecasters are then the last 15 years.

Written and compiled by CMSgt Lee Shaffer,
Pararescue Career Field Manager, Pentagon
In collaboration with Pararescue CMSgts (ret) Udo Fischer, Wayne Fisk,
SMSgt (ret) Robert Lapointe, and MSgt (ret) John Cassidy.
Air Force Pararescuemen, also known as PJs, are the only our brave war fighters. The Air Force holds true to this moral
Department of Defense (DoD) elite combat forces specifically imperative. Personnel Recovery is an Air Force Core Function;
organized, trained, equipped, and postured to conduct full one of twelve functions the Air Force provides the nation. The
spectrum Personnel Recovery (PR) to include both conventional PJs are the elite ground forces that provide our nation with the
and unconventional combat rescue operations. These Battlefield capability to execute this noble responsibility.
Airmen are the most highly trained and versatile Personnel
Recovery specialists in the world. Pararescue is the nation’s
Capabilites: To execute the PR mission, Pararescue
teams assault, secure, and dominate the rescue objective area
force of choice to execute the most perilous, demanding, and
utilizing any available DoD or Allied, air, land, or sea asset.
extreme rescue missions anytime, anywhere across the globe.
Their qualifications and capabilities are extensive. All PJs are
The 500+ PJs are assigned to Guardian Angel and Special
qualified experts in Advanced Weapons and Small Unit Tactics,
Tactics Squadrons throughout the Active Duty, Guard, and
Airborne and Military Free Fall, both High Altitude Low
Reserve Air Force components. They operate most often as
Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO)
independent teams but routinely serve alongside with other US
parachute operations, Combat Divers, High Angle/Confined
and Allied Special Operations Forces.
Space Rescue operations, Small Boat/Vehicle Craft utilization,
Mission: To rescue, recover, and return American or Allied Rescue Swimmers, and Battlefield Trauma/Paramedics. All can
forces in times of danger or extreme duress. Whether shot down fast rope/rappel/hoist from any vertical lift aircraft to both land
or isolated behind enemy lines; surrounded, engaged, wounded, and open ocean rescue objectives. All PJs can perform both
or captured by the enemy; PJs will do whatever is required static line and HALO jump operations utilizing boats, vehicles,
to deny the enemy a victory and bring our warriors home to or other equipment from any fixed wing aircraft. In addition, 1 in
fight another day. “Leave no Airman, Marine, Soldier, or Sailor 12 personnel are tandem jump qualified and can HALO/HAHO
behind” is our nation’s supreme promise and responsibility to both equipment and non-jump personnel into the objective area.

As required, all PJs can jump in with and China-Burma border. So remote was the Munsan-ni drop zone prior to the airdrop
utilize extrication devices to remove war crash site that the only means of getting of 3,500 paratroopers, 187 Airborne
fighters or civilians trapped in wreckage help to the survivors was by paradrop. Regimental Combat Team (RCT).
or collapse structures. PJs also utilize the Lieutenant Colonel Don Fleckinger and
latest subsurface technology to locate two medical corpsmen volunteered for
16 April 1954: Two pararescuemen
jumped to the crash site of a Navy patrol
and recover submerged equipment or the assignment. For a month these men,
bomber high on the polar ice cap. They
personnel. aided by natives, cared for the injured
landed in high winds and traveled more
until the party was brought to safety. News
Recent History: Since 9/11 alone, commentator Eric Severeid was one of
than a mile over treacherous ice ridges
these elite warriors have executed to the crash. A storm with temperatures
the men to survive this ordeal. He later
over 12,000 life saving, combat rescue below zero and winds, often times
wrote of the men who risked their lives
missions. They’ve also eliminated and exceeding 100 knots, howled around
to save his: “Gallant is a precious word;
captured numerous enemy combatants them for 11 days. On the 12th day, the
they deserve it”. This rescue mission
during the execution of these missions. storm abated and they and the bodies
was the seed from which the concept
Additionally, because of their unique (all aboard the bomber died upon
of PARARESCUE was born. From
capabilities, they have been called upon impact) were lifted from the crash site
this event the need for a highly trained
to rescue over 5,000 civilians worldwide by helicopter. Previously, no expert
rescue force was validated; Pararescue
during catastrophic natural disasters and considered military operations in the
teams where officially authorized and
other responses to include Hurricane Arctic practical or even possible on any
established on 1 July 1947. The first
Katrina and the Haitian Earthquake. significant scale because of the extreme
teams were fielded and assigned to each
cold, high winds, and difficult terrain.
Operations ENDURING Air Rescue Squadron in November 1947
This and other ice-cap rescue jumps
FREEDOM AND IRAQI to provide global rescue coverage. PJ
proved conclusively that with proper
teams were equipped and trained to jump
FREEDOM: Pararescueman have
to the aid of crashed airman in contested
expertise, minimal equipment, and
utilized every capability mentioned above “guts,” troops can survive and operate
and uncontested areas inaccessible by
during rescue missions in Afghanistan, for significant periods of time under the
other means.
Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. They’ve worst of arctic conditions.
performed numerous combat jump The history of Pararescue since 1947
operations. One of the more notable is full of heroic actions both in combat 1956: By 1956, it is estimated that the
operations was a night HALO from a and in peacetime. PJs have performed Air Rescue Service and assigned PJs
USAF HC-130 to rescue an Allied soldier rescues in virtually every corner of the rescued over 4,078 people from certain
struck by a mine. The 3 man team landed world. Below are some of the more death.
adjacent to the mine field, recovered the notable operations, but due to the NASA Support 1961 – to
soldier, and moved to an extraction site; constraints of this short article, it is not
an all-inclusive list.
present: PJs provide rescue and
30 minutes later, two USAF HH-60’s recovery support to all of the manned
exfiled the team and mortally wounded space flights from the Mercury Program
soldier. PJ’s have even performed several Korean War: Air Rescue squadrons through the 2011 Space Shuttle Flights.
dive recovery missions in both AORs, with assigned PJs were tasked to Contingency recovery operations were
under fire, to extract soldiers and aircrew rescue pilots and other UN personnel worked for manned as well as some
from wreckage in lakes, rivers, and canals. from behind enemy lines and evacuate unmanned flights. Missions of note
PJs, working side by side with their SOF critically wounded men from front line include the recovery of Astronaut Scott
brothers have executed several hundred aid stations. Air Rescue crews and PJs Carpenter and his Aurora 7 Mercury
direct action missions to eliminate or rescued 996 from enemy territory; 86 spacecraft after landing 250 miles from
capture high value targets and have from within friendly lines; and evacuated recovery ships. Two pararescuemen
engaged in hostage rescue operations. a total of 8,598, most of whom were jumped from an ARS SC-54 and secured
One of the most notable is the rescue front-line ground casualties. astronaut Carpenter and the capsule until
of Pvt Jessica Lynch. PJs execute both PJs were often required to make pickup by the USS Intrepid. During the
conventional and unconventional rescue extended excursions from the helicopters Gemini program, a three-man pararescue
missions multiple times a day across the in enemy territory to recover downed team jumped from an HC-54 and
AOR, they along side with the brave pilots. Excursions frequently required a secured the Gemini 8 spacecraft after its
rescue aircrews who fly them into hotly surface stay of 24 to 48 hours with 2 to emergency splashdown with astronauts
contested objective areas, are saving US 3 miles of overland travel. The longest Neil A. Armstrong and David R. Scott.
and Allied lives at a historic rate. known excursion, Lone Wolf, lasted 72
hours in enemy territory.
May 26, 1966: The Chief of Staff
Origin and Brief History of approved the pararescue uniform. He
Pararescue. The concept of PJs executed at least one airborne noted: “Pararescue personnel are highly
PARARESCUE began in August of 1943, operation at Suwon and Seoul. A 3-man trained specialists who perform extremely
when 21 persons bailed out of a disabled Pararescue element inserted as part of a hazardous duties demanding the very
C-46 over an uncharted jungle near the reception party, 23 March 1951, on the highest of mental and physical discipline

and thus deserve to wear the distinctive in very close proximity to the survivor. ship was a fishing vessel in the Pacific
attire consisting of maroon beret, bloused PJs also provided extensive support for Ocean off the Oregon Coast. A team of
trousers with combat boots, and special airlift and ground operations providing three PJs from Portland parachuted into
badge, both on and off base.” humanitarian relief to Kurdish refugees the Pacific. They treated the Russian
fleeing into northern Iraq. sailor for serious back and head injuries
Southeast Asia (SEA): Some of the caused by a fall. When the ship was close
most inspiring and heroic stories of PJs Bosnia Operations: PJs provided enough, a Coast Guard vessel picked
originate from the conflict in SEA. PJs 24/7 Combat Search and Rescue coverage
up the sailor and took him ashore to a
along with the valiant rescue crews of the for NATO and USAF operations in Bosnia
hospital.
Air Rescue Service risked their lives flying and the former Yugoslavia. PJs operated
over hostile territory to rescue friendly from HH/MH-60s, MH-53s, HC-130s In 1989, PJs were instrumental in
forces needing aid. Daily, PJs volunteered and MC-130Ps in support of Bosnia recovering and treating injured motorists
to ride the rescue hoist through a hail of operations. Early in the Bosnia effort, PJs at a collapsed section of highway
bullets into the Vietnamese jungle to participated in the unsuccessful CSAR following a devastating earthquake in
rescue shot down aircrews and evacuate effort for a shot down French fighter the San Francisco, California area. PJs
wounded soldiers and marines. During crew, but in 1999 they flew successful were the only rescue people “on-scene”
the SEA conflict, PJs were credited with CSAR missions to retrieve shot down who would volunteer to crawl between
4,120 lives saved, of which 2,780 were USAF F-117 and F-16 pilots. the sections of collapsed highway to
combat saves. PJs took part in the raid on access conditions and recover casualties.
Son Tay POW camp and the recovery of
Somalia: PJs were involved in the President Bush personally recognized the
struggle to capture Somalia leader heroic actions of these men. PJs recently
the SS Mayaguez and its American crew
Mohammed Fhara Aidid. Assigned jointly executed similar responses during the
from the Cambodian Khmer Rouge. The
with Army Rangers, PJs were tasked to earthquakes in Pakistan and Haiti.
Air Force awarded 19 Air Force Crosses
operate in a Search and Rescue (SAR)
to enlisted personnel during the SEA Decorations: PJs are the most highly
role on Army helicopters. After the initial
conflict; 10 of the 19 were awarded to decorated Air Force enlisted force.
assault began, two Army helicopters
PJs. Seventy-nine PJs were awarded the They’ve been awarded one Medal of
were shot down, PJs responded to the
Silver Star. Three PJs were recipients of Honor, 12 Air Force Crosses, and 105
scene to rescue the survivors. The helos
both a Silver Star and an Air Force Cross. Silver Stars.
crashed in the middle of the battle zone.
Five PJs received three Silver Stars and
The PJs, along with a combat controller Their motto, “These Things We
ten PJs received two Silver Stars. Twenty
and additional Army Rangers, were Do, That Others May Live,” affirms
pararescuemen were killed in action and
inserted into the firefight, extricated Pararescue’s dedication and commitment
two became POWs.
injured personnel from further danger to saving lives and self-sacrifice. To
1981: Air Rescue and Recovery and administered life saving emergency date: 54 Pararescuemen have paid the
Service, to which PJs were assigned, medical treatment. Many lives were ultimate sacrifice during the performance
logged their 20,000th life saved during a saved and enemy combatants eliminated of their duty. Ten pararescueman
rescue mission in the Philippines. as a direct result of their heroic actions. have been killed in action during
One PJ was award the Air Force Cross OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
Just Cause: PJs were among the and another, a Silver Star.
first US combatants to parachute into and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
Panama during Operation Just Cause Twenty pararescuemen were killed in
(1989). Their combat rescue expertise Humanitarian Rescues: Since their action during the Viet Nam war. And 24
was heavily utilized during this short, inception in 1947, PJs have performed pararescuemen have been killed during
intense operation. In fact, using specially thousands of peacetime humanitarian peacetime rescue missions or during
modified vehicles dubbed “RATT-V’s” rescue missions through the world. training incidents.
they rescued and recovered the majority They’ve rescued victims from every
of US casualties on the two Panamanian continent and every ocean following
controlled airfields that were taken by the catastrophic events. For example, in a
initial invasion forces. two week period, PJs were called upon
to aid two Russian transport merchant
Desert Storm: PJs were tasked seamen in two different areas. The first
with rescue missions involving downed mission involved a badly burned sailor on
aircrew members and injured combatants a Russian transport vessel in the Atlantic,
during United Nations Operation Desert 700 miles from the nearest land. Two PJs,
Storm. This action for the liberation of stationed in the Azores were flown to the
Kuwait again proved the value of the Russian ship. They parachuted near the
Air Force PJs. Among the missions they ship and treated the sailor until the ship
performed was the rescue of a downed reached port days later saving his life.
F-14 navigator in a very hostile area and Two weeks later another distress call from
involved the destruction of enemy forces a Russian ship was relayed. This time the

A Sailor
Special

r’s Appreciation of
Tactics
By Dr. James G. Roche, Former Secretary of the Air Force
The history of my interest in USAF if we had a ship’s picnic, Moki would

Special Tactics is convoluted. It begins arrive by parachute with streamers of
with Chief Warrant Officer Philip “Moki” colored smoke coming out of his heels.
Martin, US Navy, a SEAL still held in the Or, once when we had an officers’ picnic,
highest regard today as he was during his he emerged from the waters of Mission
active duty career. Moki was an officer in Bay in San Diego with a basket full of Former Secretary of the Air Force James G.
the engineering department of the ship I abalone because he knew that my wife Roche
commanded, a guided missile destroyer, liked abalone. Moki Martin was and is
USS Buchanan (DDG–14.) He was also a remarkable gentleman, a very stoic some Navy issued skis…. And, so, my
the first SEAL with whom I served in the individual, a wonderful military officer, interest in special warfare continued.
course of my career in the Navy. and continues to do remarkable things But, I had no idea that the Air Force also
In those days, the 1960s and 1970s, even to this day. (A number of years had similarly skilled Airmen.
Navy SEALs were thought of as being ago, he was in training for a triathlon
In my time in industry, I led the
in the “other” category. The real Navy competition. He was riding his bike with
team that built an Advanced Swimmer
consisted of ship drivers, submariners, his head down, and collided head-on
Delivery Vehicle for the SEALs. It was a
and pilots. In the “other” category was with another bike rider. Moki was
dramatic fight almost every week with the
all the rest of the Navy. It was not in paralyzed from the neck down. But, with
Navy submarine acquisition community
the course of our education or training his incredible focus and determination,
because they did not believe that any firm
to spend any time with the special a wonderful wife, Cindy, and a lot
should build a non-nuclear submarine,
operations part of the Navy, although we of physical therapy, now Lieutenant
no matter how small. In my battles with
all knew about Navy frogmen in World Phillip “Moki” Martin, US Navy (ret)
them, my background knowledge of the
War II (mainly from movies.) So having has become an established and award
SEALs gained through Moki Martin
an officer like Moki on board my ship was winning artist who paints with his brush
provided me with the incentive to keep
my introduction to the Special Forces part clenched in his teeth.)
fighting. In one argument, a Vice Admiral
of US Navy. The SEALs were considered While careful in describing his and I were exchanging words, and when
to be so out of the normal mainstream of exploits in Vietnam, he educated me on I pointed out that this vehicle would
the Navy that “regular officers” (Naval his training and the kinds of missions allow SEALs to get to the beach dry and
Academy graduates and NROTC 4-year for which he prepared. Among other warm, he remarked, “The nation is better
scholarship officers) were not permitted things, I’ll never forget that he was a off if the SEALs are kept cold and wet.”
to join the SEALs. The thinking was that SEAL who was trained to parachute into The boat carried a small contingent of
the Navy did not know what to do with snow-packed mountains. Therefore, he SEALs, and was piloted by one SEAL
SEALs once they became Lieutenant was sent to some of the best ski resorts and one submariner. It was a remarkable
Commanders. Therefore, it made more and schools to perfect his skiing skills. device that could operate independently
sense to just have reserve officers in the He was aghast when I suggested that the for about three days.
SEAL community who could be released ski resorts might be a bit of a waste of
After much agony, the ASDS was
back to civilian life without making taxpayer monies.
delivered to the Navy, and was based in
a career in the Navy. Moki, however, Later, while serving in the Pentagon, a new building in Pearl Harbor named
was an example of an officer who had I visited the BUDs unit in San Diego. in Moki’s honor. It was designed to be
progressed through the enlisted ranks. Moki was my host, and was most proud to carried by a modified nuclear submarine,
Over time, my friend Moki taught take me through the equipment on which and it was used for a few covert missions.
me much about the SEALs. He also they trained, and the weaponry that was When in Pearl, I visited the SEAL unit,
lived up to their legends. For instance, available to them. He even showed me and they were ecstatic about the system.

However, because we were at the forefront of new and powerful a small computer and radio, one could give aircraft accurate
batteries, we learned that the batteries on board discharged an and actionable targeting information. With such a system, one
explosive gas when they were being charged, as well as when could have air controllers on the ground bring aircraft onto
they were discharging. To handle this danger, we built in a targets with a precision that simply had not existed in the past.
venting system. Unfortunately, during one charging cycle in He agreed. With his backing, I ventured down to Tampa to
Pearl, something went amiss and the venting system was not speak to the SOCOM staff about the notion of building units
activated. A spark was all that was needed to cause a massive that would allow someone on the ground to be able to put a
fire within the vehicle, and it was a total loss. Still, I felt that we laser on target and have that information transmitted up to an
had kept faith with the SEALs by making the ASDS a reality aircraft which would then use the information for attacking the
(financially, the company never made a dime on the thing.) target with either GPS or laser guided bombs. It is sad to say,
When I entered the Air Force in 2001 as the Secretary, but no one in Tampa was really interested.
I knew a little about AFSOC and its gun ships, but, as noted But, the people who were interested turned out to be the
above, I knew nothing whatsoever about Special Tactics. In Special Tactics Airmen. The combat controller community had
the summer of 2001, I was a having a conversation with the come up with a similar idea, and was using an experimental
then Chief of Staff of the US Army, Gen. Rick Shinseki, about kluge of equipment in Afghanistan after 9/11. During one
various pieces of equipment that the soldiers carried. This was debriefing in my conference room attended by two Special
part of my long-term interest in trying to make each individual Tactics Controllers, Lt Col Mike Martin and Master Sergeant
fighting man so superior that when in a group, the unit would Matt Lienhard, Matt told General Jumper and me about how he
be an extraordinary weapon against any enemy. A retired Israeli and his partner quickly departed from a hilltop as the Taliban
Air Force general convinced me of this proposition when I came up the hill. When the Controllers got to the next hill,
visited his small think tank for a day in Tel Aviv. It was he who they brought down upon the Taliban a number of 2000 pound
taught me about the multiplier effect of the Longbow archers bombs. I smiled and said, “You must enter each of your stops as
at the battle of Agincourt where the English king, Henry V, a waypoint in your GPS unit, and therefore would have had the
defeated a much larger French army. I became a believer. precise coordinates to target the attack.” He genuinely looked
So, when Rick told me about a pair of binoculars that had surprised, so I told him that I spend a lot of whatever free time I
a built in laser range-finding system that provided x, y, and have underway on the Chesapeake, and am quite familiar with
z coordinates of a potential target, I became excited. I knew hand-held GPS units.
that if these binoculars could be tied in with a GPS unit and Not long thereafter, I had the privilege of going to Hurlburt

Field to visit this group of people about whom I had known to Washington along with a few of his colleagues to discuss
nothing. It was on this visit that I met and began a friendship Combat Control and Special Tactics with my Secretary of the
that continues to this day with Lt Gen (now General) Paul Air Force Advisory Board. This Board was made up of senior
Hester. While there, I was asked to officiate at the awarding of people from industry and academia, and was a knowledgeable
a Purple Heart to a Combat controller who had been severely group of people who wanted very much to help the Air Force
injured in combat while he and his partner were bringing be better and better. As one might expect, if you know Alan,
aircraft onto specific targets using the hodgepodge of GPS and he brought along a couple of sergeants who have to be listed
other instruments. His name was SSgt Alan Yoshida. as some of the best salesmen on the face of the earth. They not
In the course of reading up on Alan’s experience, I was only told the advisory board about Combat Control and Special
struck by the fact that Airmen, like Alan, were willing to Tactics, they talked about replacing the kluge of instruments
experiment and use new systems, even if not fully developed, with a single unit that would be lighter. They called this the
in ways that might make their ability to bring airpower to bear Battlefield Airmen’s Operation (BAO) Kit and even brought
even better than before. At the end of the ceremony, I started a cardboard model of what it might look like and how it
a conversation with Alan. He, like Moki, is a remarkable would contain a laser system that was both an illuminator and
gentleman, and equally stoic. He was concerned that his days designator, and how it would have the computer and GPS and
in the Air Force might be limited because of his injuries. This radio all as part of it, and, therefore, increase the efficiency and
encounter led to two decisions. One, I decided that the Air effectiveness of a CCT.
Force would never separate an Airman from the Air Force who The Board members were thoroughly impressed, and
had been injured in combat if it were possible to bring him back asked them when they thought they could have this BAO kit in
onto active duty. If we had to separate an Airman for reasons of service. And that’s when the sergeants played their trump card.
combat related injuries, we would train him or her as a civilian They responded that it was going to take about $6 million to do
and offer that same young person a meaningful position as this, but they simply did not have the money to do it. One of
a civilian in the Air Force. The second decision I made was the Board members said that’s ridiculous, you can get that kind
to ask Alan to take the lead on telling us exactly what should of money. The sergeants innocently asked, “From where?” And
be part of the battle kits for Combat controllers. The former the Board members all pointed to me and one said, “Obviously
decision eventually led the DoD to create the Wounded Warrior you can get these guys $6 million.” I had little choice but to
Program, but the Air Force was at least two years ahead of say, “Yes, they will have the $6 million,” and I so directed my
anyone else. To be fair, we were facing a far smaller number of staff. The sergeants simply smiled in innocence, but did face a
injured Americans than were our sister Services, and we could “one sided conversation” with some senior officers upon their
move much more quickly. The latter decision was one of the return. Later, when Paul Hester found out about this, he felt
best I made in my tenure as Secretary, and I could not have that he had to say, “Boss, forgive me, but you’re interfering
chosen a better “action officer” than Alan. with my budgeting process.” I looked at him smiling and
Alan was interested and we decided to chat sometime said, “Paul, I know I am, but you’ll like it in the end, and this
later. We were honest with each other. I told him that he would probably won’t be the last time.” He continued to smile, and I
have a lot of senior people working for him, if I had my way, understood. He had spoken for his “iron majors,” but he was
but they would be doing so out of admiration for him and his delighted to give me the chance to use additional monies to
colleagues, and not as a matter of rank. Alan fully understood, push for more innovation in this community. While there has
and told me there were a lot of things that could be done to been some progress in design, the BAO kit still isn’t fielded
make Combat controllers, and later Special Tactics Airmen, after almost ten years, and that’s a shame.
even more effective than they were. And so, with
General Hester’s blessings, began a wonderful
relationship that has led to a number of innovations
in the Special Tactics Community.
None of what has happened could have
happened was it not for the sustained support I
received from two of our senior general officers:
Gen John Jumper, who was the Chief of Staff of
the Air Force, and then Lt Gen Paul Hester, who
was the commander of AFSOC at the time. John
Jumper encouraged me to go at it and do what I
could, and Paul Hester was kind enough to put up
with my ideas and my lobbying and everything
else. On one occasion shortly after Alan began
working with his fellow Controllers on deciding
what we should be doing with the equipment
carried by a Combat controller, I invited him up

In the course of a year or two, Alan did a number of to be wrapped around the drone, and placed into an easily
remarkable things for which we all owe him a debt of gratitude. carried tube. We knew it was an 80% solution, but we wanted
For instance, he approached the problem by talking to his to get something to the Combat Control community as soon as
colleagues to get ideas as to where to begin. For example, the we could.
basic rucksack that the Combat controller carried weighed Unfortunately, shortly after I left the Air Force, the
about 135 pounds. I asked him what would be a reasonable acquisition community decided that they had to take over this
goal toward which we should work to get that weight down. program. It was not until the summer of 2007 that they decided
He responded something like 85 pounds. I said, “Let’s do to procure a similar but different drone. In fact, the UAV they
it,” and Alan proceeded to take apart a typical rucksack and developed is better (I was asked to test fly it at Hulburt). It is
studied each and every part in it. Besides weight, he identified 20% better at best, can be fitted into a rucksack, and it will stay
the problem of that the Controllers often had to pause to switch aloft for 30 minutes (5 minutes more than the system Alan had
radio antennas, possibly in a firefight. Along with another developed). Its advantage is that you can switch the nose and
sergeant, they designed and built a connector that would allow have either an electrical-optical or an infrared seeker on the
a Controller to switch between antennas easily and quickly. front. It was better, but it was not available in the field until we
As he looked at each thing in the rucksack, he found that had been at war for more than five years. There is a doctoral
they had a number of tripods and other base units that were dissertation in Systems Engineering done at MIT that talks
made of metal. When he discussed this with me, I pointed out about how sometimes an acquisition community can cause
that in the modern era we could substitute carbon composite more difficulties than it should because of program delays like
materials for most of the metal and, thereby, lower the weight this. The dissertation specifically discusses Alan’s little UAV
carried. He next went looking at batteries and realized how as a case in point.
much weight was taken up by carrying spare batteries. A team That’s not to say that acquisition officials were not helpful.
from the Air Force labs and from small companies looked at Many were, and they helped Alan to determine what was
whether or not we could invent something that was able to and was not feasible. Most of these officers who worked on
charge rechargeable batteries and not have to just keep tossing Alan’s project were extraordinarily thoughtful and were just
a lithium-ion batteries onto the ground. He tried many things delightful to Alan. But they had set processes that they knew
from fuel cells to others to see if there was a way to build a had to be followed. When I asked one of them later on why
sensible charger. This process continues to this day because they grabbed the UAV program and forced it into the usual
it’s just a very, very difficult problem. By the time I left the system that seemingly takes forever to get things done, they
Air Force to retire, he had gotten the weight down below 110 told me the following: “Sir, when you were here, we knew we
pounds. had top cover, and we could be innovative. When you left, we
Alan had an interest in making sure that the Controller on just knew that someone was going to yell at us one day for
the ground could see what was on the other side of a hill. So, not following standard procedures. Therefore, we had to bring
he decided to press to have a very tiny drone developed which this program into our normal set of processes.” That’s a sad
could fit into a rucksack and which could give the Controller commentary on our acquisition system and on how our people
or the PJ on the ground about 30 minutes of visual information have to fear someone yelling at them because they try to do
sent back to a small computer. A device that was the size and something innovative and as quickly as possible to aid our
shape of a pistol grip controlled the little UAV. Even I flew it. Airmen fighting in the field.
The small company came up with the idea of using materials Among other innovations with which Alan experimented
that are normally used in sailboards. This allowed for the wings was one that just absolutely tickled me. He found by working
with the labs and small companies that he could
take the earpieces for the headsets worn by each
of the Airmen on the ground, and because of
GPS information shared by all, he could actually
modify the headset such that if an Airman to your
left that you couldn’t see spoke on his headset, you
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PJ to be prepared for what was ahead of him long before he humor.” He entered my office and said, quite angelically that he
was in hostile fire. These and other innovations are exactly the had a problem and was wondering if I could help. His problem
way to think about how our Special Tactics Airmen should be was that as they looked at the program and recognized that the
equipped to go into the field. The more I worked with Alan, Marine officer who was the program manager was about to
and we only saw each other maybe once every nine months, the retire, they just had no one who could take over the program
more I learned about the Combat controllers, Pararescuemen, who was anywhere near as good as the senior Air Force officer.
and Combat Weathermen. I sat back and started laughing because I could see that my
In 2003, it was my sad honor to join with my partner, friends in the Marine Corps wanted us to get deeper into
General Jumper, in awarding two Air Force Crosses this program to assure that at least 50 of the V-22s would be
posthumously to two very wonderful Airmen who died at bought for the Air Force. In consultation with Lt Gen Hester
Roberts Ridge in 2002. My memory of those two occasions, and General Jumper, I agreed that we would let this happen. It
the widows, children, parents, families, and hundreds of was a good thing to do.
Special Forces colleagues, and my memory of all that I’ve When later, along with General Jumper, I went down to
read about Roberts Ridge haunt me to this day. These young New River to do a flight test of the V-22, I was delighted to
men, SrA Jason Cunningham and Tech Sgt John Chapman, notice that every other officer in the plane or with the program
sacrificed their lives to aid their SEAL and Ranger brothers. was an Air Force officer. I was especially delighted when I
Special Tactics Airmen can operate on their own as they did worked with the maintainers to find that the Air Force and
in the opening months of the conflict in Afghanistan. But, it Marine maintainers were working far closer together than I
is an interesting characteristic of the Special Tactics culture might have expected, and doing some very good things for
that, unlike others, their doctrine makes it clear that they can the program. I also had a chance to observe that V-22 engine
contribute the most to the success of a mission for the United maintenance differs from other jets in that the engine is vertical
States by supporting fellow special operators as they go about when it is being worked on instead of being horizontal. This
their missions. This selfless way of looking at how they can means that things like rivets falling fall into the engine rather
make the greatest contribution is something to be admired. than on the ground, and the drawings for engine assumed that
And, in fact, Navy SEALs and Army Special Operators very it was horizontal. So, that led to a program to get drawings
much do admire the Special Tactics Airmen who serve with that were done for the correct size and orientation, and then
them. As is often pointed out, the most powerful warrior on the having them mounted with some masking tape nearby so that
ground is an Airman with a radio in his hand and the United the maintainers had the proper aspect to use. I don’t know if
States Air Force overhead. And, they were present in numbers the falling rivet issue has ever been solved, but I hope it has.
at the awarding of the Air Force Crosses to the widows of the In 2003, I asked General Hester for his ideas about my
fallen Airmen at Roberts Ridge, and never fail to attend the finding candidates for an aide to replace mine who was going
funerals of fallen Special Tactics Airmen to this day. off to command in the AMC world. He smiled yet again and
When you work with someone as engaging and as bright told me that he had just such a candidate in mind: Major “RA”
as Alan Yoshida, it only causes you to be even bolder in doing Armfield. RA was chosen, and I was the first SecAF or Chief
more. This was the case in the year 2002. I became interested of Staff to bring a Special Tactics officer into the front offices
in the V-22 because Paul Hester said he thought it would be a of the Air Force. Secretly, Paul and I agreed that poor Major
good adjunct to our AFSOC capabilities. I had difficulties with Armfield would probably prefer to fight the Taliban, but all
it coming from an airplane design and manufacturing world in good officers should know about the seemingly endless fights
that it was too small, couldn’t carry a whole lot, and had the that take place in the Pentagon between those who will go into
radar cross-section of the Eiffel Tower. But Paul convinced me harm’s way, and those who wouldn’t think of it, but who only
that this could be a good thing for our Air Commandos. So, fought budgets.
while there was a debate going on in the Pentagon over the Much of my now graduate-level thinking about Special
future of V-22, I approached the Secretary of the Navy and Operations comes from the brains of Major Armfield. He is a
the Commandant to ask if it would be possible for AFSOC combat controller who is now a full colonel as the commander
personnel to join the program at this early stage, and try to help of the 720th Special Tactics Group. It was RA who could look
the program rather than waiting until it was finishing and then at something like the interior of the V-22 and visualize what
deciding whether or not it worked well enough for AFSOC had to be changed to make it more effective for AFSOC and for
to buy 50 of them. They were both more than willing to have the Special Tactics Airmen who are going to be traveling in it.
this happen, General Jumper was all for it and Gen Hester He also made sure that my education of AFSOC went to a new
assigned some AFSOC acquisition officers to the program level by having me get into a gunship and fire the guns, and also
office. This made great sense for the Air Force because we had figure out if the guns were older than I was. Or, experience the
our operating and maintenance people deep into the program “thrill” of flying in a Pave Low helicopter, ducking the routine
to be able to influence its development. but plentiful hydraulic fluid leaks, and checking whether or
About a year or so later, the senior Marine Corps general not it was built before I was commissioned an Ensign. RA also
for aviation came to my office to talk to me. He was a wonderful taught me a lot about Special Operations doctrine, techniques

and procedures. He is a storehouse of One day, a Midshipman at the Naval immediate artillery of mixes of weapon
information and one of the finest military Academy, the son of a former shipmate, types, and greatly enhanced situational
officers I have ever met. Among other asked me to join with some Midshipmen awareness. In infil missions, the UAVs
things, he taught me three rules used by for evening meal at the Academy. He would precede the actual insertion, and
the Special Tactics people to remember was going to join the SEALs, and is an monitor the potential battlefield. During
small but important items. They are as officer among them today. I brought insertion, they would serve as artillery.
follows: RA with me. It soon became clear that And, during exfil, they would remain
1. Heat sucks; cold hurts. a third of the Mids at the table wanted to overhead for a period of time to support
2. Cotton kills. become SEALs. It also didn’t take long the mission, and to monitor enemy
for me to recognize that, in reality, I was reactions.
3. Two is one, one is none.
accompanying the real VIP, an Air Force
These are little mental reminders Alan Yoshida is now a highly
CCT. While Air Force cadets knew next
of how to pack for a mission (#3 is decorated Chief Master Sergeant (select),
to nothing about Special Tactics, these
for things like spare batteries). And, I and it must be difficult for him to fathom
future SEALs knew about Special Tactics
will remember them till my dying day, the many ideas his work fathered. It does
because of their summer assignments
for they are as useful to sailors on the call to mind the fact that some of the
with the SEALs, but had never met
Chesapeake Bay as they are for Special best thinking we ever could have will
one. After dinner, RA and I were shown
Tactics Airmen. originate with the Airmen who operate
the room of our hosts on the third
in circumstances with which most of us
From this work with Alan Yoshida floor of Bancroft Hall (where all 4400
have little experience. Alan was able to
and RA Armfield, many other ideas Midshipmen live,) and we declared that
work with colleagues, seniors, juniors,
came to our minds, some of which are we could find our own way out. This gave
civilian and military people with equal
reality and others hopefully someday us a chance to check on the cleanliness
ease. For example, all the major defense
will be a reality. It became clear that of the Midshipmen’s quarters, heads and
firms agreed informally to provide what
we needed to build a special school passageways. So we wandered the halls.
intellectual property they might have
for advanced concepts for our Special They all were spotless. As we came upon
which he would need for his project.
Tactics personnel. The school is built Mids, they gave me a once-over, but they
They did this because of their admiration
and operating at Hulburt today. And, to snapped to attention and saluted RA with
for Alan and the role of Special Tactics.
my joy, the advanced school for TACPs his bloused combat boots, red beret, and
is less than a block away; this will help in rather copious number of ribbons. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan
the exchange of thought and experience Another thing that came to mind called upon the US Air Force to be more
they bring with them. as John Jumper and I discussed the imaginative about close air support
future of Special Tactics was that we operations than it ever has been in the
It also became clear once we checked should at some point in the future begin past. It is another tribute to our Air
on it, that the Air Force Academy was the development of UAVs specifically Force that it has been able to adapt to the
providing no officers to the Special designed to be used by Special Tactics circumstances and bring to the forefront
Tactics field. It turns out that, like the in support of their missions with SEALs airpower concepts like Special Tactics
Navy at one time, the Air Force Academy or with Army Special Forces or anyone and Battlefield Airmen to bear on the
simply had no reason or interest in else. The concept John Jumper and I had, conflicts that characterize operations
telling the cadets about Special Tactics. and have to this day, was that you could today. Security Forces, Tactical Air
It was especially ironic to me because put a couple of very stealthy drones on Control Parties, Explosive Ordinance
we had superlative cadets graduating top of where the Special Tactics Airmen Specialists, and newly formed Convoy
from the Air Force Academy who took were operating, and allow them to Operations Airmen all have “come into
commissions in the United States Navy control and to release specific types of their own” in the last ten years. Most of
in order to join the SEALs! Remarkably, weapons from the UAVs to specifically these specialties were there for decades,
they had no idea whatsoever that there designated targets either in GPS terms but dramatically jelled in response to our
was within the Air Force a professional or based on a laser spot. I used to call country’s needs in combat in the AOR.
field equal to the SEAL community in this a “covert, soda dispenser in the The reason that I discuss our Combat
all respects. This was changed in short sky.” What we like about this idea is controllers in terms of the battle of
order. Now some of the finest officers that we can envision a small number of Henry V versus the French at Agincourt,
coming into the Special Tactics field are drones being used with a covert team as I mentioned earlier, is that, like the
graduates of the Air Force Academy, as it of Air Commandos, or larger drones Longbow archers King Henry employed
should have been all along. used for covert surveillance deep inside for the first time in a significant battle, a
When RA accompanied me to defended territory. The concept is easily small group of highly trained and specially
Colorado Springs, one could see cadets scaled, and it remains our fond hope that equipped Airmen have conducted warfare
looking at him and wondering what kind this idea is one that gets developed and in ways that would have been difficult
of an Air Force officer is he? Today, they gets fielded. Consider the impact such to imagine as recently as a decade ago.
would know. systems could have for Special Tactics: Henry’s Longbow archers made a critical

difference against the French many, kind of enlightened leadership needs to another combat capability of which we
many, years ago. And, I have no doubt continue. can be very proud. The Airmen involved
that we will find that Special Tactics Second, the work done by Alan have earned our respect. They need the
Airmen will make major contributions to Yoshida shows that having a team of support of the Air Force on a continuing
American military capability for decades Combat controllers, PJs, and Combat basis.
and decades to come. Weathermen to think through how to And, Fourth, I fear that there are
Just think for a moment. A small do things better as part of a continuous those in policy positions in Washington
number of these warriors with special process improvement program is essential who may be tempted to say things like,
equipment brought major bombardment for the long run. They need to continue to “Well, we can take out all our major
of a mountain ridge within 20 minutes innovate and experiment, even if some forces from Iraq or Afghanistan because
of asking for air support. They routinely ideas don’t work out. After all, the kinds we’ll leave Special Forces behind.” My
placed laser spots on some critical targets. of equipment these Airmen carry and use fear is that these people simply don’t
And, everyone should know that all the are just not that expensive compared to understand, they just don’t get it. Special
criticism against the USAF for reducing other systems we build for the Air Force. Forces, to include Airmen in AFSOC,
the size of the B-1 bomber force, but Third, I believe that the Air Force can do a lot, but they are not a substitute
enhancing the reliability of the remaining should take the lead in developing a for large numbers of ground forces and
60 plus aircraft, went silent because of modern combat helicopter that could be appropriate air forces. To put them by
our Combat controllers. When the B-1s used by SOCOM, the Air Force, Army, themselves into harm’s way for extended
flew higher, slower, extended their wings, Marines and Navy that exploited “stealth” periods of time makes no sense, for they
and removed the fuel bladder from one technology in the original sense of the are too few in number to be able to handle
of the bomb bays to be replaced by yet term. The wing tips on helicopters can be large masses of opponents no matter the
more weapons, the B-1 finally found a modified to not break the sound barrier, size of the quality gap in their favor.
solid and good spot in history. For this and, thus, the helo could be much quieter. It has been my pleasure and honor
much maligned aircraft carries more The fuselage could be modified and to serve with Special Tactics Airmen like
bombs than any other aircraft and it has treated so as to be less “visible” by radar Alan Yoshida, RA Armfield, Paul Hester,
become the weapon of choice for our and the “Mark 1 Eyeball.” The canopy and some fabulous AFSOC Command
Combat controllers operating in areas plastic in the helo could be replaced with Chiefs and officers. I am proud to be an
where the US maintains total control of modern, bullet-resistant glass composite Honorary Member of the Combat Control
the skies. The poor “Bone” now is getting as has been done in the MRAP vehicles. Association, and to be known as “RE.”
the respect it never could get before, and And, the situational awareness of the
deservedly so. This sailor has come to appreciate
crew can be greatly enhanced, as well as the Airmen of Special Tactics. They are
But benefitting from the capabilities the weaponry. No more should we allow a special because they are picked specially,
of Special Tactics will not happen over precious cargo of a squad of Special Ops they are trained specially, and they daily
the long run without a number of things warriors be packed into helos which are uphold their culture of “First There…
being done by our Air Force. First, ancient in design, old in realty, and suited That Others May Live.” And, I have no
the Battlefield Airmen and the Special more for hauling cargo than combat doubt that my shipmate, Moki, would be
Tactics Airmen need the kind of top operations. equally proud of them.
cover and support from great leaders like There once was a special program
Paul Hester, John Jumper, Mike Wooley, to develop an advanced helicopter. But
Donny Wurster, Eric Fiel, and Norton it never received the support it deserved About the Author: Dr. James G. Roche was
Schwartz, to name just a few. Typically, from the Army or the staff of the the 20th Secretary of the Air Force. Prior to
AFSOC is competing for funds against Secretary of Defense. It’s time to start
this appointment, he was Corporate Vice
other Air Force needs, even though President and President, Electronic Sensors
such a program again. The unheralded and Systems Sector of Northrop Grumman
SOCOM pays for some. But, whereas cooperation of the Marine Corps and the
the Navy doesn’t pay for the SEALs, Corp. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in
Air Force to field the V-22 is instructive. 1984, he was Democratic Staff Director of
but requires the Special Operations But, even this project could not have the US Senate Armed Services Committee.
Command to do so, the Air Force pays succeeded had it not been for the joint Secretary Roche’s previous military service
roughly $.80 on every dollar, as I recall. I support of the leadership of the Corps spanned 23 years in the US Navy, retiring
really believe that this is a good thing, as and the Air Force. as captain in 1983. He commanded the
odd as that might sound. Why? It’s good USS Buchanan, a guided missile destroyer,
thing because it gives the Air Force a If we are to use Special Tactics and and was awarded the Arleigh Burke Fleet
deep, vested interest in ensuring that this Special Forces generally in more places Trophy in 1974.
special operations capability is as good and at more times, then we have to get Secretary Roche has served as a member
as it can be. None spotted the dramatic past the notion that they must make of the Secretary of Defense’s Policy Board
contributions of Special Tactics more do with hand-me-downs except when and is a member of the Council of Foreign
quickly than the AF generals who had it would be foolishly expensive to do Relations and the International Institute of
flown jets for most of their careers. This otherwise. For our Air Force, we have Strategic Studies.

Special Tactics operators
pose for a group picture after
attending the Silver Star and Air
Force Cross ceremony at Hurlburt
Field, Fla. on October 27, 2011, By CMSgt Wayne Norrad, USAF, Ret.
for Tech. Sgt Ishmael Villegas and
SSgt Robert Gutierrez. Villegas
(Left) and Gutierrez (Right) are in
service dress in
the center, second row.
Special Tactics
Special Tactics (ST) forces are organized, trained, and
equipped Battlefield Airmen who execute operational air
and space power functions in forward battle spaces. These
specialized forces provide the decisive link between air
assets and ground forces, personnel recovery missions,
terminal attack control strikes, and environmental weather
assessments for sensitive, low-visibility and clandestine
operations, often operating under austere conditions for
extended periods of time. ST operational Airmen consist of
the following career fields.

Operational Forces
• Combat Controller (CCT)
• Special Tactics Officer (STO)
• Pararescuemen (PJ)
• Combat Rescue Officer (CRO)
• Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
• Air Liaison Officer (ALO)
• Special Operations Weather Team/Technician (SOWT)
• Combat Weather Officer (CWO)

Most Highly Decorated Airmen from minimum personal cover until he told Mark that he was her late husband’s
Since 9/11 succumbed to multiple wounds. His favorite driver – then she reached into
These elite warriors volunteer for engagement and destruction of the first her purse and presented Mark Martin
hazardous duties, go through extensive enemy position and advancement on the with Chappy’s CCT coin. She said the
training pipelines, continuously train second position enabled his team to move CCT motto is “First There” and wished
to advance their skills and when asked to cover and break enemy contact. In his him good luck in winning the race. Mark
“who will go on the next dangerous own words, his Navy SEAL team leader, Martin took the checkered flag for the
mission”… to a man, they say “Send Senior Chief Petty Officer Britt “Slab” first time in over two years that day with
Me.” Almost daily -- and often at night, Slabinski, credits Sergeant Chapman Chapman’s “First There” coin in his
ST operators go into battle with other unequivocally with saving the lives of pocket. We all shed a few tears of joy that
special operations forces (SOF) and the entire rescue team. he won… and tears of sadness, because
literally take the fight to the enemy. ST “Chappy” wasn’t there to witness the
Airmen were among the first military victory.
forces on the ground in Afghanistan and
later in Iraq and will likely be among SrA Jason Cunningham
the last out of these nations... and other SrA Jason Cunningham died doing
nations harboring terrorists. what he wanted to do most, saving lives.
ST Air Commandos are the most He also perished March 4, 2002, during
highly decorated Airmen in the Air Operation Anaconda.
Force. Since 9/11 four Air Cross medals “I don’t want to kill people. I want
have been awarded by the Air Force – all to save them,” Cunningham said in a
four to ST operators. ST Airmen have story published in Airman Magazine” in
also garnered 26 Silver Star medals, February 2000. It’s just what he did on
over 600 Bronze Stars, more than 200 that bloody Afghan hillside near Gardez.
with Valor device. Unfortunately, over TSgt John A. Chapman Cunningham was part of a team sent to
95 Purple Hearts have been awarded… rescue Neil Roberts and John Chapman.
many posthumously, including combat Back in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Leading up to Operation Anaconda,
controller TSgt John Chapman and Valerie Chapman was anxiously awaiting the PJs were housed on the ground floor
pararescueman Senior Airmen Jason her husband’s return from deployment. of the Bagram airfield tower building.
Cunningham. They were both killed-in- John “Chappy” Chapman was an avid Fifteen yards down the corridor were
action (KIA) during Operation Anaconda, NASCAR fan and Valerie had a nice the expert field surgeons of the 274th
also commonly known as “The Battle surprise waiting for him. She had already Forward Surgical Team. It wasn’t long
of Roberts Ridge” named after Navy purchased four tickets to the Coca Cola
SEAL, Petty Officer 1st Class Neil 600 Memorial Day race at Charlotte
Roberts, who fell out of the helicopter Motor Speedway on May 26, 2002,
when the chopper took heavy fire on the for John, herself and their two young
initial infiltration on the mountain near daughters. John never got to see that
Tahur Ghar, Afghanistan on March 4th, race, but Valerie did.
2002. Both were also awarded the Air As coincidence would have it,
Force Cross for extraordinary heroism in AFSOC’s Stars Parachute Demonstration
combat. Team was scheduled to jump during pre-
race ceremonies. One of “Chappy’s”
TSgt John A. Chapman former teammates, SSgt Mike West, was
Without regard for his own life a member of the Stars Team and asked
Sergeant Chapman volunteered to me if I (as the Team Coordinator) could
go back and try to rescue his missing somehow work with the pre-race event
SEAL team member from the enemy coordinator, Jay Howard, to have TSgt
strong hold. Shortly after insertion, Chapman honored and have Valerie,
the team made contact with the enemy. SSgt Keary Miller and SSgt Gabe Brown
Sergeant Chapman engaged and killed introduced. Keary and Gabe were on
two enemy personnel. He continued to Operation Anaconda and both earned the SrA Jason Cunningham
advance reaching the enemy position Silver Star medal for their heroic action.
then engaged a second enemy position, a Mike West knew that “Chappy’s” before Cunningham’s hunger to improve
dug-in machine gun nest. At this time the favorite driver was Mark Martin, so his medical skills had propelled him
rescue team came under effective enemy during the pre-race driver introductions down the corridor. He had just finished
fire from three directions. From close Mike worked with Martin’s publicist and the grueling PJ training pipeline eight
range he exchanged fire with the enemy arranged to have Valerie meet him. She months earlier and was still eager to

learn as much about emergency medical point. In the mean time Sergeant Vance team, Burlingame also was responsible
procedures as he possibly could. Soon he was laying down fire with the Rangers for filling out the medical paperwork on
was spending a couple of hours every day while Brown was making radio contact the deceased. One by one, he unzipped the
with the medical staff, learning by doing with air assets to engage the enemy with body bags. As he methodically noted the
under their tutelage. close air support. likely causes of death, he found himself
“Every time we had a casualty event Just when things seemed as if slightly relieved that each corpse wasn’t
he was always the first one here offering to they couldn’t get worse, the forward Cunningham’s.
help,” said Dr. (Maj.) Brian Burlingame, compartment of the helicopter caught “I was hoping against hope that he’d
the surgical unit’s commander. “His fire, enemy fire increased including survived,” he said. Then he unzipped the
enthusiasm was just genuine to the core, incoming mortar rounds that bracketed last body bag and found himself staring
which was what endeared him to us. He the Chinook. at Cunningham’s lifeless face. It was too
was like a little brother.” About four hours after the helicopter much, even for the experienced trauma
One of the outcomes of hit the ground, Cunningham decided surgeon, and he broke down. “This was
Cunningham’s time with the surgical the cargo compartment had become too probably the least professional moment
team docs was a decision to start sending dangerous for his patients. Using a small of my career,” he said. “It was a very,
the pararescuemen out into combat with sled-like device, he dragged the wounded very difficult moment.”
blood for transfusions. The use of blood troops to a safer spot away from the “As a result of Cunningham’s
in the field was a controversial topic, aircraft. In doing so, he crossed the line extraordinary heroism, his team returned
according to Burlingame. “Blood is an of enemy fire seven times. The enemy’s 10 seriously wounded personnel to
FDA-controlled substance,” he said. “It’s movements forced Cunningham and life-saving medical care.” Jason did
very, very regulated.” Special training, the 160th medic to move the casualties everything he could do – and certainly
not to mention lots of paperwork, is to a second and then a third location, lived up to the PJ motto “That Others
required before medics are considered exposing them to enemy fire. During the May Live.”
qualified to administer blood in the field. last movement, the 160th medic was shot The “Battle at Roberts Ridge” to
After Cunningham and Burlingame’s twice in the abdomen. Shortly thereafter, date, is the operation with the most highly
talk, all the PJs there took the classes and Cunningham’s luck ran out. An enemy decorated Airmen since 9/11. In addition
filled out the paperwork. “We then pushed round hit him just below his body armor. to the Air Force Cross for Chapman and
blood forward with [Cunningham’s] The bullet entered low from the right side Cunningham, SSgt Gabe Brown (CCT),
group,” Burlingame said. and traveled across his pelvis, causing SSgt Keary Miller (PJ) and SSgt Kevin
By the time the MH-47 rescue serious internal injuries. Despite his Vance (TACP) were also awarded the
helicopter, carrying Cunningham, three worsening condition, he continued to Silver Star medal.
other Airmen, SSgt Keary Miller (PJ), treat patients and advise others on how to
SSgt Kevin Vance (TACP), SSgt Gabe care for the critically wounded. One of the Other Air Force Cross Heroes
Brown (CCT) and an Army Ranger two blood packs he had brought saved a “This is a combat controller’s (CCT)
Quick Reaction Force (QRF), approached badly wounded Ranger. The medics gave kind of war” has been said by many and
Takhur Ghar, the sun was rising… the the other packet to Cunningham himself, for good reason. Col Mike Haas, USAF,
enemy was waiting. A rocket-propelled whose life was slowly flowing out in a retired, former Deputy Commander of
grenade hit the aircraft in the tail rotor, red stream of blood onto the white snow. the 720th Special Tactics Group wrote
bullets shattered the cockpit glass. A In the early afternoon, leaders the following statement in “The Year in
round smashed one pilot’s thigh bone, directed that no more rescue attempts be Special Operations” publication, 2008
another knocked his helmet off. A bullet risked until darkness. It was a decision Edition. “The most dangerous American
or fragment ripped a silver-dollar-sized made to save lives, and it probably did. on today’s battlefield is a Special Tactics
hole in the other pilot’s wrist, while yet But it sealed Cunningham’s fate. Seven combat controller with a radio in one hand
another tore into his thigh. hours after he was hit, the other medics and the U. S. Air Force overhead.” Of the
As rounds peppered the helicopter, began to perform CPR on Cunningham. four Air Force Cross medals presented
the QRF ran off the back ramp into a hail They continued for 30 minutes, until it since 9/11 three have been earned by
of fire. Two or three dropped immediately, was clear nothing more could be done. He CCT. In addition to TSgt John Chapman,
dead or badly wounded. As the Rangers, died two hours before rescue helicopters SrA Zach Rhyner and most recently, SSgt
Brown and Vance sprinted for cover, the arrived. Jason Cunningham became the Rob Gutierrez, have earned the Air Force
Chinook’s door gunners laid down a base first PJ to die in combat since the Vietnam Cross. Here’s a brief description of their
of fire with their 7.62 millimeter mini- War in the hands of an Army medic and stories.
guns. Operating in the fuselage ‘a bullet his PJ teammate, Keary Miller.
sponge’, the QRF’s medical personnel, Back at Bagram, the medical staff SSgt Zachary Rhyner
including Cunningham, Miller, two was preparing for mass casualties. When On April 6, 2008, during his first
Ranger medics and a 160th medic, had the casualties arrived, Burlingame and deployment to Afghanistan, (then) SrA
their hands full. The Chinook’s cargo the other doctors went to work in the Zachary Rhyner deployed into the Shok
area became the casualty-collection operating room. As head of the surgical Valley with about 100 Special Forces

(SF) and Afghan soldiers. As they began all that they do. It’s hard not to stand in who wounded him.
to climb from the valley into the village awe.” He said Rhyner will forever be a After calling in two F-16s for a
where they hoped to capture some high- perfect example of a “teammate, Airman, “show of force,” because the enemy was
value targets, they met an ambush from warrior.” too close to drop bombs on them, he then
about 200 insurgents. SSgt Rhyner quickly healed from brought airpower to bear, controlling
his wounds and volunteered to go to three “danger close” A-10 strafing
back into battle and later “selection” for runs with exceptional precision against
a special mission unit. He certainly didn’t enemy forces just 30 feet away. After
live on past heroics, as he’s back into the the first A-10 attack, the team medic
fight and continues to say – Send Me! performed a needle decompression to
re-inflate Sergeant Gutierrez’s collapsed
TSgt Robert Gutierrez, Jr. lung, allowing him to direct the next two
The Air Force Cross was awarded strafe runs which decimated the enemy
to then SSgt Robert Gutierrez, Jr. force and allowed the team to escape the
for extraordinary heroism in military kill zone without additional casualties.
operations against an armed enemy of Traveling on foot several kilometers to a
the United States in Herat Province, rescue helicopter landing zone, he took
Afghanistan, on October 5th, 2009. The another needle decompression in order to
Joint Terminal Attack Control (JTAC) keep breathing and enabling him to call
qualified Combat controller was attached in his own medical evacuation helicopter.
to an Army SF operational detachment. Throughout the four-hour battle, Sergeant
He and his team conducted a high-risk Gutierrez’s valorous actions, at great risk
SSgt Zachary Rhyner
nighttime raid to capture the number two to his own life, helped save the lives of
Shot through the leg in the opening Taliban leader in the region. During the his teammates and dealt a crushing blow
minutes of a firefight, Rhyner kept initial assault, the team was attacked with to the regional Taliban network. The
his focus and called in airstrikes that a barrage of rifle and heavy machine- Taliban leader they were searching for
kept his pinned-down unit from being gun fire from a numerically superior ended up dying a few hours later from
overrun by insurgents in the mountains and determined enemy force. Sergeant the A-10 strafing rounds.
of Afghanistan. Gutierrez was shot in the chest, his team This wasn’t Gutierrez’ first combat
At a disadvantage because they were leader was shot in the foot, and the 10-man action mission, he was previously
trapped in the valley, the team began to element was pinned down in a building awarded three Bronze Stars, two with
pull back to find cover. Rhyner’s job was with no escape route. In great pain and Valor and a Purple Heart, with a second
to call in air support to destroy the enemy. Purple Heart pending board results.
He controlled more than 50 attack runs, TSgt Gutierrez went through
according to the Air Force, with many extensive medical rehabilitation and
of the strikes within 100 meters of his he is now back on “status” and serves
position. On the final attack run, Rhyner as an instructor at the Special Tactics
called in a 2,000-pound bomb. Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field,
“That explosion went off, and you Fla. The SF team medic, Sgt 1st Class
literally couldn’t see two inches in front Mike (last name withheld), who helped
of your face because of the dust and save Gutierrez’ life, moved with the 7th
debris,” Rhyner said. More than half Special Forces Group (SFG) to Eglin Air
of the Americans there that day were Force Base, Fla. in 2011 as part of the
wounded, but none of them were killed. Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
The Air Force estimates 40 enemy fighters commission’s decision some six years
were killed and 100 were wounded. SF ago. Mike and Gutierrez have become
members on that team would be presented such good friends that Mike decided to
10 Silver Stars for their actions during move to the same town and on the same
the battle, the most on any single mission street as Rob, even though it’s over an
since Vietnam. TSgt Robert Gutierrez, Jr. hour drive to the 7th SFG compound. You
During the AF Cross ceremony can often find them fishing together from
General Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force confronting the very real possibility that the Navarre Beach Pier. I even joined
chief of staff, said it’s almost impossible he would die, Sergeant Gutierrez seized them one Saturday morning. They are
to imagine the battle in Shok Valley. “If the initiative and refused to relinquish his much better fighters than fishermen… we
you saw a movie, you’d shake your head duties as the sole JTAC. Under intense didn’t catch a thing, but it was a joy just
and say, “That didn’t happen,” Schwartz fire, he engaged Taliban fighters with his being around them – both great humble
said. “We could not be more proud of M-4 rifle, first killing the enemy fighter American heroes.

After many years of obscure coverage of the Airmen
who fight on the ground, the National Museum of the
United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force
Base, Ohio, opened a new “Warrior Airmen” exhibit that
highlights how today’s Airmen are contributing to the
war on terrorism, both in the air and on the ground. The
exhibit, which opened to the public January 12, 2009,
is divided into three sections, each highlighting a way
the Air Force is supporting efforts in Afghanistan and
Iraq. The first section, “Battlefield Airmen,” is dedicated
to Air Force special operations forces such as combat
controllers, pararescuemen, tactical air controllers
and special operations weather personnel. The most
compelling display in the “Battlefield Airmen” section
is an immersive video recreation of the battle for Takur
Ghar. It portrays the actions of Airmen -- John Chapman,
Jason Cunningham, Gabe Brown, Keary Miller and Kevin
Vance with voice testimony by Miller and Brown. It’s a
“must see” the next time you tour the museum.
National Museum of the US Air Force Battlefield Airmen Display
Other Heroes and Award Winners • 11 - Lance P. Sijan U. S. Air Force

The number of Silver Star, Leadership Award.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Bronze • 12 - 12 Outstanding Airman of the
Star medals with Valor and other combat Year.
decorations earned by ST operators does • 10 - Air Force Sergeants Association
not allow enough space to recognize each William H. Pitsenbarger Award.
of them in this article. A few of note are • 5 - Jewish Institute for National
CCT TSgt Sean Harvell, recipient of two Security Affairs Grateful Nation
Silver Stars and a Bronze Star with Valor. Award
PJs MSgt Patrick Harding, TSgt Michael • 6 - Non-Commissioned Officer Airman Alex Eudy, a special operations
Ames and CMSgt Patrick Malone and Association Vanguard Award. weatherman in the 10th Combat Weather
CCT TSgt Ruben Reyes earned the • 1 - Air National Guard NCO of the Squadron at Hurlburt Field, FL, is on the
Distinguished Flying Cross. TACP TSgt Year Award. mend and in good spirits after extensive
Thomas Case was awarded a Silver Star • 1 - United Service Organization surgery to his lower legs. (U.S. Air Force photo
Airman of the Year Award. by Chief Master Sgt. Ty Foster)
and three Bronze Stars with Valor and
the Joint Service Commendation Medal You can be justly proud of our present Severely Wounded and Killed in
with Valor device while TACP TSgt Earl day Special Tactics – Air Commandos! Action
Covel earned a Silver Star and Bronze ST warriors have also paid the price
Star. Special operations weather team in flesh and blood. Approximately 100
members, SSgt Travis Sanford and SSgt have been wounded in action, some
Thomas Howser are among many Bronze severely including SSgt Shaun Meadows
Star with Valor recipients. Combat (double leg amputee above the knees).
controller, MSgt Christopher Grove, Before being medically retired, Shawn’s
alone -- has seven Bronze Star medals last request was to jump again with his
and an eighth not presented yet, five with teammates. His request was approved
Valor. As documented by his numerous and he did complete the freefall jump
awards with valor, Grove continues to with his team while his family anxiously
say -- “Send Me” on the most dangerous awaited the results. He walked away
missions. from the jump, unscathed and smiling
Beyond the combat medals, ST from ear to ear.
operators have garnered an unprecedented Staff Sgt. Shaun Meadows shares a laugh SrA Alex Eudy and SrA Johnnie
number of Air Force and national level with his son Trevor after completing his Yellock both incurred severe leg and ankle
awards since 9/11. jump June 14, 2010. damage due to improvised explosive

Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, a pararescueman Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, a pararescueman Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, a combat
assigned to the 24th Special Tactics assigned to the 24th Special Tactics controller assigned to the 24th Special
Squadron, Pope Field, N.C. Squadron, Pope Field, N.C. Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.
device (IED) incidents. SSgt Gino Katrina in 2005 that wreaked havoc Field, Fla.
Kahaunaele took a round through his upon the Louisiana and Mississippi The 720th STG also provided
arm pit in a firefight and has yet to regain coast, to more recent disasters such as functional management for AFSOC’s
100% movement in his right arm due to the devastating earthquake that struck two overseas Special Tactics squadrons:
a severed nerve. MSgt Mike Bowers lost Haiti, or the ravaging floods that plagued the 320th under command of the 353rd
an eye in battle. Many others have serious Pakistan, to the catastrophic earthquake Special Operations Group, Kadena
injuries from gunshot wounds, IEDs and and tsunami that decimated a portion of Air Base, Japan, and the 321st under
fragmentation from rocket propelled Japan’s coastal communities—Special the command of the 352nd Special
grenades. Blast concussions from these Tactics have always led the way so others Operations Group at RAF Mildenhall,
and other explosives have left several may follow… and ultimately so “That England. The 123rd Special Tactics
with traumatic brain injury. Others May Live.” Squadron, an AFSOC gained Air National
Seventeen ST warriors have Guard unit, based at Standiford Field,
paid the ultimate sacrifice. The most Organization and Manpower Kentucky, often provides augmentation
recent occurred on August 6, 2011, in Then – Sept. 11, 2001 to the 720th STG in supporting national
Afghanistan when 31 Americans and When terrorists hit the twin security objectives, humanitarian efforts
seven Afghan commandos were killed in towers in Manhattan, the Pentagon in and training. The 720th STG carried
the biggest American loss of life since US Washington, D.C. and the countryside out war-fighting group responsibilities
military operations began in Afghanistan. in Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11th, 2001, and staff directorate expertise to the Air
Three of those brave Americans killed Special Tactics forces were authorized Force Special Operations Command
were ST members, two PJs, TSgt John approximately 750 manpower positions, headquarters staff.
Brown (promoted posthumously) and but many were not filled due to recruiting
TSgt Daniel Zerbe and one CCT, SSgt and training shortfalls. The 720th Special Now – Jan. 2012
Andrew Harvell, the younger brother of Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla., was Recruitment and getting qualified
CCT TSgt Sean Harvell. the sole ST Group in the Air Force with ST forces through their applicable
command of five subordinate squadrons training pipelines were big issues. Since
Humanitarian Assistance Missions in the continental United States: 2002, when the first members graduated
Special Tactics Airmen are not • 10th Combat Weather Squadron, from the CCT Advanced Skills Training
just trained to fight… they are often Hurlburt Field, Fla. The 10th CWS (AST) Course, things have steadily
called upon to be first responders after had five subordinate active duty improved. The AST gained manpower
natural disasters. Despite being heavily detachments, and three Air National and responsibility for other Air Force
committed in combat operations, ST Guard combat weather flights. specialty training and grew to squadron
forces with their unique skill sets are • 21st and 24th Special Tactics Squadrons, status, the Special tactics Training
often needed for humanitarian assistance Pope Air Force Base, N.C. Squadron, currently subordinate to the
and disaster response. From Operation • 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, Air Force Special Operations Training
UNIFIED ASSISTANCE—the 2004 McChord Air Force Base, Wash. Center (AFSOTC). To help Air Force
Southeast Asia Tsunami or Hurricane • 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Recruiting Service (AFRS) find the right

guys with the “right stuff”, AFSOC leadership approved the specialties are planned in each ST squadron -- and each unit will
concept to co-locate CCT and PJ operators in AFRS recruiting align geographically with its affiliated SFG.
groups/squadrons to help in that effort. Finding the right recruit A study is underway to evaluate the possibility of
is critical because once an individual starts training – even if it’s establishing an Air Force Reserve Component ST squadron. The
only for a day, you cannot get that slot back for someone else location is to be determined, but likely under the administrative
to give it a try. Attrition rates are lower and graduation rates command of the 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field,
are higher, attesting to the success of the special operations Fla., with operational control to the 24 SOW.
recruiting liaison program and AST training concept. If all goes as planned, manpower end-strength for ST
Numerous additions have occurred since 9/11. On May 1, forces in 2019 will be approximately 1,800 authorizations –
2005, the 125th Special Tactics Squadron, a second ANG unit, and hopefully most of those will be filled by highly trained
based at Portland International Airport, Ore., was activated. The operators and the best combat support personnel the Air Force
17th Air Operations Support Squadron (ASOS), Fort Benning, has to offer.
Georgia, was cross-walked from Air Combat Command to
AFSOC and placed under the 720th STG effective, October 1, Send Me
2008. The main mission of the 17th ASOS is to provide Joint At the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year banquet in
Terminal Attack Control (JTAC) qualified Tactical Air Control Washington D.C., September 2010, the Air Force Band Rock
Party (TACPs) to the US Army Ranger Regiment and its Group called “Max Impact” performed a song with action music
subordinate battalions. The 61 TACP Airmen of the 17th ASOS video called “Locked and Loaded.” The 720th STG commander,
joined the ranks of more than 900 special tactics Airmen and Col. Robert “Gwyn” Armfield and Group Chief, Chief Master
support personnel. On April 29, 2011, the 724th Special Tactics Sgt Mike Lamonica, were impressed by the production and
Group was activated with three subordinate squadrons, 24 STS, talked to the band members after the banquet. The lead singer
724 OSS and a Data Mask unit all located at Pope Field, N.C. told them they would love to do another action video… this time
Throughout the last 30 years the 24th STS grew significantly in featuring Special Tactics Airmen. The band went to work writing
manpower, scope of responsibility and in new mission sets -- the lyrics and produced the music for a song named “Send Me.”
resulting in the stand-up of the new ST group reporting directly The song is in honor of the ST operators who continue to raise
to AFSOC. their hand and say “Send Me.” In early 2012, ST Airmen will
A significant announcement was just made on January 11, be filmed to fill in the storyboard action items and still pictures
2012, by Lieutenant General Eric Fiel, AFSOC commander. that correspond to the words. The words include such lyrics as
“Air Commandos, it is with great pleasure I announce AFSOC’s “First There” the CCT motto and “That Others May Live,” the
newest wing, the 24th Special Operations Wing to be stood up PJ motto. The song includes the Air Force creed and the chorus
this summer at Hurlburt Field. Establishment of the 24 SOW goes like this:
allows a single commander to lead the recruiting, training Who will be the one to stand and fight for you
and development of our ST warriors and ultimately provide And be the first there
combatant commanders with world-class Airmen to accomplish We give our all, that others may live
their mission. Encompassing all ST units (720 STG, 724 And why we say… Send me… Send me.
STG, STTS and 12 recruiting locations), the 24 SOW reflects
the demand for their unique capability. I am also pleased to About the Author: Chief (ret) Wayne Norrad is the former Senior
announce the leadership team for the 24 SOW: Col. Robert Enlisted Advisor to the Commander Air Force Special Operations
Armfield – Commander, Col. Eric Ray - Vice Commander. I’m Command and is now Analyst, Public Relations for the 720th
certain their leadership will lay the foundation for success and Special Tactics Group.
an enduring legacy for the 24 SOW. Please join
me in congratulating them and wishing them
every success.”
Presently AFSOC has approximately 1,300
ST operator and support personnel positions,
with growth planned through fiscal year 2019.
Later – Fiscal Year 2019

The future looks even brighter. A new Special
Tactics squadron is proposed, bed-down location
yet to be determined, but likely in the western
United States. The AFSOC strategic plan for
ST forces identified a need for like capabilities
and mission sets for every ST squadron and an
affiliation with Army Special Forces Groups
(SFG). That means CCT, PJ, SOWT, and
TACP enlisted operators and officer equivalent

Our ST Battlefield Airmen require state-of-
the art equipment and top-notch training
to withstand an extremely high operations
tempo, physically punishing missions, and be
capable of performing in austere conditions
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of
the environment.
Modular Tactical System (photo provided by Black Diamond Advanced Technology)
By CMSgt (Ret) Mickey Wright

In the decade long global war on warfare operations to demanding the Global War on Terror, our force
terror, Special Tactics Battlefield Airmen lifesaving and humanitarian operations. was highly trained and our technology
have altered the public’s perception They require advancements in operator was good, yet enterprising airmen still
of our airmen while simultaneously centric technologies to improve tactical had visions to improve what we had.
manipulating the very nature of warfare communications, situational awareness, We were never satisfied with what we
through unilateral, joint, and combined and information management. had and always wanted to improve our
force operations. Whether attached to a Our ST Battlefield Airmen require equipment, processes, and tactics.
US or foreign special operations team or state-of-the art equipment and top-notch I can recall as a young airman I
on a unilateral airfield or survey mission training to withstand an extremely high had absolutely no understanding of the
deep in enemy territory, these young operations tempo, physically punishing procurement or acquisition process and
men are performing heroic actions under missions, and be capable of performing in was annoyed when the commander or
hostile fire on a daily basis. austere conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days Chief would not just purchase what
The Air Force has coined a term, a week, regardless of the environment. the other airmen and I thought were
Battlefield Air Operations (BAO) to However, both training and equipping mission critical necessities or equipment
describe the deep engagements where come at a cost—a very high cost to be upgrades. The NCOs and airmen would
our airmen are searching out, identifying, the best and the best equipped. sit around and “discuss” how to improve
and eliminating enemy strongholds with our mission equipment and develop
the integrated and synchronized use of Developing and Procuring processes to position equipment in
air and space power. the hands of the operator in a more
The men performing these Technology expeditious and efficient manner. These
impressive missions are highly trained The need for advanced technology discussions are still occurring today, in
and well equipped airmen known as to fly, fight, and win in the battlespace the same team room we sat in, by the
Combat Control Teams (CCT) or Tactical while performing these combat and latest generation of airmen.
Air Control Party (TACP) specialists. humanitarian missions is now more Due to over-the-counter commercial
These Special Tactics Group (STG) prevalent than ever. The quality of advancements and human ingenuity, our
CCT and TACP airmen, grouped together equipment, from clothing items to critical equipment and acquisition process, while
with Pararescuemen (PJs) and Special mission radios, night vision goggles, and top-notch, is not as easy as visiting the
Operations Weather Teams (SOWT), miscellaneous gear are light years ahead mall and walking out with a few bags of
called Battlefield Airmen, are at the tip of of when I first came into CCT in the early equipment.
the spear conducting special operations 1980s. At a time when the defense budget
missions, from asymmetric and kinetic At the start of what we know as is under scrutiny for every penny
CCT equipment from the 1980s and 1990s on display.

spent, our Airmen realize technological high-level boost. mission critical equipment carried. The
advancements and equipment Shortly after the start of Operation size, weight, and power (SWAP) of the
improvements may suffer. While industry Enduring Freedom, a mistake occurred equipment essentially limits what is
will continue to develop new technology on the battlefield resulting in a US B-52 carried on a mission.
and equipment, we fear the speed from dropping ordnance on an elite group of The STG’s R&D cell had some
conceptualization of these advancements American special operators and Afghan dynamic and promising ideas to develop
to battlefield implementation will slow anti-Taliban fighters. An exhausted new equipment. One of the dozens of
without a known and guaranteed paying combat controller handed off the radio to ideas implemented was to build a new
customer. another individual who cleared the B-52 communications kit—radios, computers,
Within the Department of Defense’s “hot” which resulted in the inadvertent and accessories—to replace our current
budget, weapons programs, as well as bombing of the friendly location. equipment. Each manual transfer of data
personnel and force structure, will likely The entire DoD community sought was a possibility for a human induced
take a significant cut. Simultaneously, out methods to improve our technology error causing the R&D cell to investigate
we will continue to face the reality of a and stop these fratricide incidents. As it a direct digital “radio-to-bomb” action
fiscally constrained, but operationally turns out, one of the injured, a combat known as “machine-to-machine” or
demanding combat and humanitarian controller remained on active duty and M2M. The goal was to reduce fratricide
environment that will significantly stress the Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF), and substantially reduce the weight
our forces’ current manning levels and Dr. Roche challenged the Special Tactics carried, allowing Battlefield Airmen to
budget limitations possibly causing community to put together a “mini task recognize, identify, range, nominate, and
dangerous consequences. force”. The 720th STG expanded their designate targets during both day and
Research and Development (R&D) night operations.
Fratricide Incident Cell and the noncommissioned officers
(NCOs) involved in the project took a The Battlefield Air
Causes Research and think “out-of-the-box” approach and
Development considered every idea. Operations Kit
Unfortunately, due to a tragic Every operator contacted had a The outcome was a BAO Kit—a
fratricide incident during a high intensity similar answer, “smaller, lighter, and suite of equipment allowing improved
ground battle in Afghanistan, our better.” We want to have a primary, communications while processing target
technological advancements received a secondary, and if able, a tertiary set of and friendly position information. The
Modular Tactical System (photo provided by Black Diamond Advanced Technology)

Combat controller using a laser range
finder in Haiti. (USAF photo)
BAO Kit is part of a system of “kill-

chain” (find, fix, track, target, engage, and
assess (F2T2EA) a target) developments
increasing the capability of the battlefield
operator while lowering the overall
equipment weight. By the “old” standard,
the basic CCT rucksack load outs weighed
between 80-160 pounds. The BAO Kit is
smaller, weighs about half of what the
previous gear weighed and requires less
battery power, therefore eliminating the
need for so many heavy batteries.
Officially, the BAO Kit is a Family
of Systems (FoS) providing a state-of-the
art Command, Control, Communications,
Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance,
and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) suite to
enhance Line of Sight (LOS) targeting, Power Generation and Management, and operator training and upgrade
Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) targeting, Communication, and Small Wearable requirements. Rather than replace the
and Battlefield Air Operations Human Computers. These five areas combined entire rucksack of equipment, we are
Machine Interface (BAO HMI). and now make up the HMI program. The gradually replacing a few pieces of
Stakeholders sought out the SECAF “BAO technology family” now has three equipment at a time. This ensures 100%
to fund the BAO project then worked to key systems: HMI, Integrated Targeting integration and incorporates futuristic
broker an agreement between AFSOC and Device (ITD), and Battfield Air Targeting technology in these replacement items.
Air Force Material Command (AFMC). Camera Micro Air Vehicle (BATCAM).
AFMC assigned the Air Force Research The BAO Kit is a multi-level project “Summer Camp”
Laboratory’s (AFRL) Office of Battlefield with continual updates scheduled. Throughout the entire process, our
Airman Tactical Targeting and the 711th BAO Kit development has a phased AFRL engineers oversaw Air Force,
Human Performance Wing’s Aeronautical plan to “Reorganize, Optimize, and Army, and other DoD Laboratory
Systems Center’s, Special Ops Forces & Revolutionize” using a “spiral” type engineers, federally funded research and
Personnel Recovery Division to work model of acquisition, development, development corporations, academia
with the defense industry and attempt and battlefield placement. The spiral engineers, and Systems Program Offices
to “fast track” effective capability and design timing has gradually released (SPO). These engineers were highly
products to the battlefield. technology and advanced products, engaged in design and development with
Supported by key leaders, the STG allowed incremental refinement, and industry partners and continually asked
R&D cell and AFRL originally justified most importantly incorporates a “plug- for Battlefield Airmen buy-in.
five components—Human Input/Output and-play” approach easing financial Rarely do operators have an
(I/O), Machine-to-Machine software, constraints, operational fielding, opportunity to meet with design engineers
and make recommendations on high-tech
equipment items. However, for the last six
years, AFSOC’s ST Battlefield Airmen
and AFRL’s engineers and acquisition
teams have teamed up to bring newly
designed battlefield “tools” to the men.
“Summer Camp” started a few years
ago as the brainchild of CCT senior
noncommissioned officers (SNCOs)
and AFRL’s BAO Kit Development
Team to provide hands-on feedback and
technology requirements to industry
engineers.
Summer Camp is not a typical
conference with booths and displays.
Rather this event provides a free-flowing
Combat controller preparing his
equipment in Japan. (USAF photo)
forum for the ST Battlefield Airmen enable the right munitions with precision Bond or Maxwell Smart.
community to acquire hands-on time accuracy, to the right target at the exact In the next 30 years, innovations in
with tip-of-the spear equipment and second required. This M2M accuracy nanotechnology will provide the greatest
technological designs specifically aimed will enable the ground forces to plan changes to battlefield actions ever seen in
at our community. the next several steps, like a world-class modern combat. Through advancements in
The Summer Camp event allows chess player, in the destruction of the nanosensors and nanoprocessors coupled
industry partners and the ST Battlefield enemy combatant forces and achieve with human advancements in mental
Airmen community to exchange ideas mission objectives. Fielding the BAO perseverance and medical breakthroughs
about current and future technology Kit provides a revolutionary tool to battle will prove a distinct advantage and
needs. Industry participants are required terrorism and save lives. directly influence warfare.
to bring technologies and products that Battlefield Airmen and Air Force Future BAO operations will occur
are relevant to the Battlefield Airmen engineers took the initiative and designed simultaneously across the globe with
deficiency needs and expect direct equipment now proven successful on exacting precision and amazing situational
feedback from our ST Battlefield Airmen the battlefield. By investing in BAO awareness. I envision radios the size of
and AFRL engineers and experts. Kit development, the result directly your watch and global positioning system
Special Tactics Battlefield Airmen, benefitted other DoD and Coalition large chips embedded into your night vision
AFRL engineers, and industry engineers scale procurement programs requiring contact lenses all connected together with
teamed up to work together during similar technology. the 2040’s version of Bluetooth.
BAO training scenarios on local Today’s technology developments Future ST Battlefield Airmen will
training ranges. This integration allows include radio antennas sculpted to a control and shape battlespace with zero
engineers a “near first-hand” opportunity man’s body with multiple connections error and complete awareness of enemy
to experience training environments to work with every radio carried, even intentions through specialized equipment,
simulating the battlefield during day and allowing SATCOM communications on intelligence, and data fusion. Yesterday’s
night scenarios. Engineers witness their the move. We are also designing body technology at the tip of the spear has
equipment in use and make notes of worn batteries weighing one third of the forever changed the battlefield. However,
operators comments, such as, “button too standard load out and taking up one half tomorrow’s technology will dazzle even
small”, “equipment too heavy and bulky”, the normal space with pigtail connection further.
“can’t read the screen in the sunlight”, to each radio and wrist mounted android
About the Author: Mickey Wright is a retired
etc. This interaction allows engineers device carried. Chief Master Sergeant with over 30 years
an opportunity to “fix” equipment flaws Throughout history, yesterday’s as a combat controller. In addition to sitting
early in the design phase. generation has told today’s generation on the Board of Directors for the ACA, he
In fact, every industry partner how easy things are today. If 30 years currently works for Rally Point Management
who attends mentions this is the ago you told me about the BAO Kit and interfacing with AFRL, academia, and
only opportunity they have to gain M2M technology I would have laughed industry engineers on technology
unprecedented feedback and expectations and asked if you were watching James advancements..
while associating with the end user.
While some of the industry partners
are former “operators,” most are design
engineers and require end user feedback
to understand how the products are used
during a mission.
Conclusion
The FoS methodology of today
eliminates many of the rudimentary
acquisition processes and equipment
teaming failures of yesterday.
Equipment was procured in individual
buys as separate items and rarely was
interoperability taken into consideration.
In many instances, commercial over the
shelf (COTS) was a primary goal, which
filled many niches, however, incorporated
a hodge-podge of different pieces of
equipment into a man’s rucksack.
From vision to reality, the goal is
to push a few buttons in the silent of
night and connect to the right aircraft,

larger enemy force attacked his team with team was able to evacuate their position
machine gun and rifle fire, wounding the without any additional casualties. Sgt
Combat Controllers were first formed team leader in the leg and striking Sgt Gutierrez also suffered two ruptured ear
during WWII as US Army Pathfinders Gutierrez in the left upper arm triceps drums during the strafing runs. This battle
and assigned the “first in” job to establish muscle. The team was pinned down lasted approximately four hours.
drop zones for airborne operations, and inside a building without a safe escape After the enemy threat was
then resurrected in 1953 in the US Air route. They were in a “Kill Zone.” eliminated, the 10-man team had to walk
Force and reclaimed the title “combat
The bullet that hit Sgt Gutierrez approximately 1 mile to reach the landing
controllers.” They are a very unique
deflected off of bone, travelling to the zone (LZ) for air evacuation, where he
group of men who do what no others can;
shoulder, scapula, left chest, and his also coordinated as the on-scene LZ
combat soldier, combat diver, expert at all
back. It broke two ribs and collapsed one controller. His lung collapsed again and
forms of parachuting methods, alternate
lung before exiting his back and lodging he had to be treated by Medic Mike.
insertion/extraction master, rappel and
in his body armor. The exit wound left a Only then did Sgt Gutierrez give up his
fast rope exits, combat zone air strike
hole big enough to “put a fist in it,” as one radio and gear for further treatment of his
coordinator, and FAA-certified air traffic
doctor would later state. This is a severe injuries. He would spend the next 16 days
controller. Combat controllers are skilled
wound that has about a three- minute in hospitals, ending up in Walter Reed,
to operate in extreme weather conditions
window of life and will cause death if endured multiple blood infections, three
and use most any off-road vehicle. And,
not treated almost immediately. Even blood transfusions, three chest tubes, and
as seen in recent years with countries that
though he knew this and was suffering seven surgeries. It would take well over a
experienced devastating earthquakes and
great pain, Sgt Gutierrez took control of year for a full recovery from his injuries.
tsunami disasters, humanitarian “first in” his situation as the joint terminal attack
operators establish landing zones and The Air Force Cross
controller and called in A-10 aircraft for
control incoming and outgoing aircraft, For his actions that day, Sgt Gutierrez
a strafing run. He was also engaging the
using radios they carry in with them. was presented the Air Force Cross on 27
enemy with his M-4 rifle. He would not
These men are embedded into other give up his radio or his will to engage the October 2011 by Gen Norton A. Schwartz,
special operatons teams and train with enemy, even while bleeding profusely. USAF Chief of Staff. The ceremony took
those teams to execute the missions place in the Freedom Hanger at Hurlburt
After the first A-10 run, Army Medic
assigned. The teams may be of different Field, where Sgt Gutierrez is stationed
SFC “Medic Mike” (name withheld by
military services, but they are a true as an instructor. There were over 1,000
request) was able to perform life saving
“Band of Brothers.” people in attendance. The citation with
medical actions, including the insertion
Sgt Robert Gutierrez is an Air Force the Air Force Cross details Sgt Gutierrez’s
of a hypodermic needle into the collapsed
Combat controller who was assigned to actions on 05 October 2009. The last
lung to re-inflate it and stabilizing the
the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group sentence reads:
injuries to the point that Sgt Gutierrez was
(SFG) on 5 October 2009. The mission able to call in two more air strikes. These “Through his extraordinary heroism,
of the 10-man team was to capture the strafing runs took out the enemy forces, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in
second highest Taliban leader in the within 30 feet of their own position at the face of the enemy, Sergeant Gutierrez
Herat Province of Afghanistan during a times. These “Danger Close,” pin-point reflected the highest credit upon himself
high-risk night time operation. A much attacks were so successful, the 10-man and the United States Air Force.”

At the ceremony Sgt Gutierrez and I want to do that. to meet that standard and beyond. I didn’t
stated: “I didn’t have time to sit there and want to let him down. I didn’t want to let
Where was you initial training base and
be hurt, I didn’t have time to give up, I my guys, my supervisor down. At that
how long was your total training? After
didn’t have time for that. I never thought point I am the only Air Force guy on the
basic I went straight to Medina Annex
about me, I only thought about my guys, ground within 100 miles.
at Lackland. I went to Combat Control
my team, who is there, who I’m fighting
orientation course there, then Ft. Benning In the picture I saw of you in
with. Their safety, their lives are more
jump school after that. Next was Keesler Afghanistan, you had a beard. Can you
important than mine on the battlefield.”
AFB for air traffic control. I graduated tell me why? You don’t look at all like
“This award is not for me, this award Air Traffic Control School and then went you do now, and I was expecting to see
is for every Airman fighting, everyone to Fairchild for survival training, S.E.R.E. someone older. The relaxed grooming
that’s fighting downrange right now. It’s course, and water survival course. Next standards are an operational thing. It’s for
for everyone that’s been wounded, every was Combat Control School at Pope cultural reasons and blends with the male
sacrifice that we’ve given, all the men, all AFB. After graduating there I came here population. It’s a sign of wisdom, honor,
my teammates that have fallen. This is to Hurlburt for advanced skills training. and respect. The last thing you want to do
for them; this is a representation of them. That whole segment of training took about with forces like that is to disrespect their
I just get to wear it for them.” a year and a half up to this point. Then I culture. We needed to fit in and blend
Also at that ceremony the Silver Star was sent to RAF Mildenhall, U.K. in, mainly blend in. Plus, I didn’t have a
was presented to TSgt Ismael Villegas Where was your first duty base? That razor with me.
for his actions during combat at Bagh would have been here, at Hurlburt. Also in the pictures, your helmet looks
Khosak, Afghanistan, in September of different from others. Yes. It is job
2009. Would you share with us some facts
of your first mission? I was in eastern specific. I have the best equipment there
is for the job I do.
The Interview Afghanistan in the mountains. We were
I was given the opportunity to talk conducting clearing operations. I was Can you tell us how heavy is the
with Sgt Gutierrez during the 2011 ACA a SrA, three stripes. The operation was equipment that you carry on missions,
reunion. We had a thirty minute interview fairly large. It lasted two days, two nights, can list some of it? The armor, the water
on base at HQ AFSOC Public Affairs about 48 hours. I controlled close air bottles, the radios--sometimes more than
office under the supervision of Capt. K. support for attack helicopters, resupply, one, the ammo, the man-pack, trauma kit,
D. Duncan. ISR, recon. I handled close to 45 sorties. probably about 85 pounds. Ammo weighs
We were in six fights lasting from five a lot and I carry a lot.
When did you enlist in the Air Force
minutes to an hour. Some ended real fast,
and what was the primary reason? I How many times have you been
some took awhile.
tried to enlist after 9/11 and was put in the wounded or struck on your Body
delayed enlistment program. I felt that it What were your thoughts the first Armor and Helmet? I’ve been very
was needed. I wanted to go fight. I got up time you were in combat? The training fortunate. I’ve been hit twice in the
that morning and saw what was going on. kicked in automatically. Honestly, I was helmet and knocked unconscious. I’ve
I thought “Someone has to go, so I’ll go. so preoccupied working my aircraft, been fragged, my radio has been shot, my
I’ll go fight”. I was sent to basic training making sure everything was done, and ammo magazine has been hit a couple of
in July of 2002. protecting myself that I really didn’t times. When that stuff gets hit we usually
have time to think about anything except throw it away as it doesn’t work anymore.
Why did you choose Combat controller?
getting the job done. And if I am not bleeding it doesn’t count
When I went to sign up, everything was
shut down right after 9/11 (recruitment (laughing here). Most of the time you
I had strong leadership and
offices). The Army was shut down, the don’t know it even has happened. If you
mentorship back home and at Mildenhall.
Marines weren’t there, and I didn’t want don’t see it you just keep going. I’ve
I knew that I would have to write a report
to go into the Navy as I grew up in San been hit where it rocked me real hard,
when I got back and the Army would write
Diego. The Air Force was the only one by a mortar round or RPG. It knocked
one too. I did not want my performance to
that was open. The recruiter asked me me unconscious. You come to and check
be subpar at any point. I wanted to prove
what I wanted to do, and I told him I yourself out and check everybody else,
to myself that I signed up for a reason,
wanted one of the hardest things you have, “Nobody bleeding? You’re good? You’re
that this is what I signed up for. I wanted
I wanted to make an impact. He showed good? Okay, let’s go.” I don’t have to sit
to make sure that I got the job done. The
me pamphlets of Combat controller and there and think, “Man, what’s going to
Air Force, AFSOC, my career field, my
Pararescue. He said these are the hardest; happen next?” I’m going to make what
unit, our name was on the line. It always
they have the highest attrition rates. There happens next, I’m going to end it. Keep
is, so if you’re not giving 110, 120%,
is a real in-depth selection process. You moving forward.
doing everything you can plus more, to
can make your choice. Do you want to me, it brings dishonor to them, the people You mentioned leadership, mentors.
save people here or do you see all the air that trained me. The guy that was there Is there any one person that has been
strikes on TV? I said yes, I see that on TV before me did an incredible job and I had a guiding influence or mentor for you

during career so far? It’s really hard to
say. I’ve had so many supervisors and
co-workers that have done just amazing
things. You can’t say that one guy has
helped me more then another. Everyone at
our level and what we do, we’re so close
and tight-knit that everyone looks out for
each other. We are looking out to make
sure that our guys are getting better, they
are being taken care of, and making sure
they can be effective on the battlefield.
Anything that is flawed we work to fix,
as it can mean the difference between life
and death. I had a group of NCOs that
have just been amazing. There is just a
ton of people that have helped me. Just
about everyone that has helped train me
has been a mentor. I looked up to those
guys. I wanted to be exactly what they Author Harry Bright with Air Force Cross Recipient Sgt Robert Gutierrez Jr.
were, plus more.
We always say, “There is a standard. A Air Force career? Not right now. But sports opportunities.
standard for what we do. It’s not good I like teaching so much that I would Where did you and your wife meet? I
enough to just meet that standard; you like to be a teacher. I would like to be a met her at the air traffic control tower at
have to exceed that standard every time.” farmer, also. I’m from the city and being RAF Mildenhall where she yelled at me
My instructors instilled that in me, and I stationed in places that are farm lands, I and made fun of me. I knew then that I
hand it down to my guys. love that stuff. I don’t know if I could go had to take her off the market. She was
back to the city. I think those are two very a better traffic controller, and she will
As an instructor, what is your “Personal good choices, to be a farmer or a teacher.
Mission” with the students you come in say that. She knows it. I’m better at other
I know people that do both. I’d like to things, but at air traffic controller, she
contact with? I want to give back what do that, unless the Air Force wants me
someone has taught me because it saved was really good at it. (This was really
to come back. Then I’d come back to the funny, we were laughing here. I asked
my life. So in return, I want to teach that Air Force. If duty calls, duty calls. I’m
to my guys so it will keep them safe on him if I can quote him and he agreed, and
not going to say no. (He has a big smile Capt. Duncan said “Be sure to include the
the battlefield. I want them to strive to here).
always do better and be effective on the part about her being a better Air Traffic
battlefield. I can teach them my mistakes What would you like to tell the young Controller.”) She is an awesome wife and
so they won’t make those. If they already men and women of today that would mother, and she has made sacrifices for
know about it they won’t make the same inspire them to choose the Air Force as my career.
ones. I want them to survive and do better the next step in their life? I would tell
them that it is a wonderful opportunity Having been deployed to countries
than me. that have a different and much harder
to do many things an to see many things
What is your long range plan or goal that they normally wouldn’t. To be a lifestyle then we do here in the USA,
for your career with the Air Force? part of a small percent of the military to what would you like tell people about
It’s hard to say right now because I want make a difference and help protect this raising children and living in general?
to be helpful with the Air Force. I’ll do nation. It’s an awesome opportunity to Be thankful for what we have. We have
whatever the Air Force asks me to do. I’ll do so many things and the Air Force will wonderful rights and freedoms, and a
go where ever they want me to go. If they give you so much in return. For your hard great country. It’s rare, rare in the world
tell me to haul the mail, I’ll haul the mail. work it pays off in the Air Force. There to have the rights and freedoms that we
It doesn’t bother me. I’ll do whatever so many benefits and you can do a lot have. It’s extremely rare to have all that
it takes to get the job done, even if it of things in regards to education, and if we have here.
takes 20 years. Or more, if necessary. I you want to go fight you can definitely Do you have any final thoughts or words
am so thankful for where I am now; the go fight. If you want to make a difference of advice that you would like to share
Air Force has given me so much. I never this where to be. with us? I can’t thank enough my wife
dreamed I would have this. I’m very
Where were you raised and where did and my family, the Air Force, AFSOC,
thankful to have the opportunity to have
you go to school? I’m from San Diego, everyone in general that has helped
all that I do. If they need me longer than
California but was raised in National me. Nothing here is ever completed by
20 years then I’ll go longer.
City, California. I went to school in Chula one person; it is a complete team effort
Do you have any plans for your post Vista, California for the educational and on everyone’s part. I’m thankful that

everyone does their part, because I couldn’t • He was on the same Afghan operation in Gutierrez to go along with the interview,
do my part without their help. I’m grateful 2009 that SSgt Zachary Rhyner would to which I happily agreed. She then asked
to be able to go out and fight, to be the tip be awarded the Air Force Cross. Sgt if I wanted one with him and me standing
of the spear. I am thankful for the support Gutierrez received the Bronze Star with together. I agreed. We were standing about
we get from our counterparts. Valor and Purple Heart for his actions on 2 feet apart and as she raised the camera to
that mission. take the picture, he reached his arm around
Some interesting and my shoulder and pulled me next to him
• He has nineteen major awards and
lesser known facts about decorations. and said “Take the picture now”. That is
Sgt Gutierrez just the type of guy he is.
• He has attended Southwestern
• He has the bullet that struck him under Community College and Troy University. … I have stood in the shadow of
lock and key. He has 110 semester credit hours toward greatness.
• His wife was in the Air Force and served a degree in criminal justice/homeland
two tours in Iraq. She left the Air Force security. Sources for this article:
when they got married. • Sgt Gutierrez is only the second living World Wide Web
• They had their second little “Air combat controller to receive the Air Special thanks to:
Commando” in January 2012. Force Cross. There have been only Capt. K. D. Duncan
five Special Ops members to receive US Air Force, HQ AFSOC Public Affairs
• SSgt Gutierrez was promoted to Tech
it. Approximately 180 Air Force Cross Hurlburt Field
Sergeant at the end of 2011.
presentations have been made. The Air
• He participated in the Ruck March from Mrs Julie Gutierrez
Force Cross is second only to the Medal
Lackland to Hurlburt last year and this Of Honor. TSgt Robert Gutierrez
year. The Army Medic that worked Interview arranged by Col. Dennis Barnett
• He likes to fish for relaxation.
on him in Afghanistan participated in (Ret.), VP ACA, and Dawn Hart, AFSOC
the Ruck March with him. They have Public Affairs, Hurlburt Field
remained close friends. The Ruck March A Final Word
is to honor fallen Air Force Special Ops After the interview concluded Capt. Article researched and constructed by
members from the present year. Duncan asked if I wanted a picture of Sgt Harry J. Bright, ACA life member #4040
Unskilled and uneducated Visit www.aircommando.org.

laborers have no opportunities to donate or call us at
for a future without extreme (850) 581-0099
poverty.
MTF supports education by

donating funds to the John Educational Support
Grove High School in
Medical Supplies
Honduras, and
Heine C. Aderholt Financial Assistance
School of Agriculture
Environmental Improvements
in Laos.
The McCoskrie
Threshold
Foundation (MTF)
Humanitarian Arm of the
Air Commando Association (ACA)
By Lt Col (ret) Felix Sambogna
The McCoskrie Threshold Foundation (MTF), the all- periodic fund drives to cover storage, shipping, donations
volunteer nonprofit humanitarian arm of the Air Commando for special projects, and administrative expenses. To date,
Association (ACA), provides aid and assistance locally and approximately $230,000 dollars have been donated to the MTF.
worldwide to those in need. The aid may be in the form of The Foundation was named in honor of Colonel McCoskrie,
medical teams/supplies, identified specific needs, or bulk former commander of the 56th Special Operations Wing at
shipping of general humanitarian items such as clothing, school Nakhon Phanon Royal Thai Air Base, and one of the principal
and medical equipment, furniture, and food. The primary founders of the MTF. Since he passed away, his family
objective is to provide equipment and supplies in support of US members have made very generous contributions in honor of
Military Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP) and nation Colonel McCoskrie.
building efforts, thus projecting US forces in the best possible The number of humanitarian projects over the past 45
light. When a military partnership is not available, the MTF years is too numerous to mention, but some details follow:
provides humanitarian aid representing the United States of Medical teams spent three years in Guatemala providing
America through other nonprofit organizations including Bless much needed medical and dental support. In 1984 Colonel
the Children (BTC), and the Thailand, Laos, Cambodia (TLC) McCoskrie was the Task Force Commander for the ACA
Brotherhood. Medical Relief Program in Central America. Civil strife in the
Retired Air Force Brig Gen Harry “Heinie” Aderholt area caused great suffering for the civilian population, and the
founded the Air Commando Association (ACA) in 1967. The MTF was able to alleviate some of the suffering.
ACA has always had a humanitarian mission. The mission Thanks to the efforts of Air Commandos Dick Geron and
was formalized in South East Asia when Air Commando Hap Lutz close ties were maintained with the World Medical
units went to many villages in Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos to Relief Organization that provided more than $100 million of
provide medical and humanitarian support. General Aderholt, supplies for projects in South East Asia, El Salvador, Honduras,
in addition to being acknowledged as Air Commando 1, was and Guatemala.
a great humanitarian. He was dedicated to helping the needy In the local area, furniture and household items are
especially in Thailand and provided to many needy families. MTF volunteers work with
Laos where he spent the Airmen’s Attic at Eglin Air Force Base to help young
many years. airmen and their families who need household items including
The humanitarian furniture and appliances.
arm of the ACA, the Millions of pounds of goods (clothing, shoes, medical
McCoskrie Threshold supplies, furniture, appliances, bicycles, books, school desks
Foundation (MTF), was and equipment) have been sent to many countries: Honduras,
formally established in Panama, Thailand, Vietnam, Peru, Haiti, Ecuador, Dominican
1986 as a 501C(3) tax- Republic, Montserrat, Jamaica, the Republic of Georgia, and
exempt organization many more.
with an all-volunteer In the 1980s, retired helicopter pilot John Grove became the
staff. Financial support driving force in the continued efforts. He established additional
is obtained through contacts with numerous agencies that provided the medical
contributions from the supplies/equipment and all forms of other items valuable to
BGen Harry C. ‘Heinie’ Aderholt ACA membership and the needy. John would pick up the items using his truck and

a local businessman. this humanitarian effort possible. When
Overseas shipments the call for volunteers is made to load,
are coordinated with deliver, or do other tasks, the response
Bless the Children in is inspiring. Men like John Grove and
Clearwater FL. MTF so many others make this world a better
volunteers deliver the place.
items to Clearwater The reason the volunteers spend so
using personal much time and personal resources to help
vehicles. the less fortunate may be found in the
The MTF has following:
also kept close ties “You must give some time to your
with the Thailand, fellow man…something for which you
Laos, Cambodia get no pay but the privilege of doing it.
(TLC) Brotherhood, For remember, you don’t live in a world
trailer and deliver them to storage units a humanitarian all your own, your brother lives here,
paid for by John and the MTF. He would organization dedicated to helping too.” –Albert Schweitzer
arrange the delivery of ship containers, the needy in those three counties.
coordinate a volunteer loading team, Representatives of the TLC identify
and have the load delivered to the port projects such as schools, medical The McCoskrie Threshold Foundation
for shipping. John also established a facilities, water systems that need to be office is located in the Air Commando
school in mountainous area of Honduras constructed or repaired. The MTF has Association building at 2502 Highway 98
that has been supported by the MTF. provided monetary assistance for several W, Mary Esther, FL 32569. Information
The John Grove School is providing an of these projects. The latest donation of about the MTF is available on the ACA
opportunity for many young Hondurans $7,500 was for a school facility in Nakhon Web Site: www.aircommando.org.
who desperately desire an education. Phanon that was dedicated to General Telephone: (850) 581-0099
Assistance was also provided to Aderholt. When General Aderholt passed President: Robert White
families in North Carolina after hurricane away, ACA members donated $8,600 to Secretary: Felix Sambogna
Floyd and to families in Alabama after the MTF in his memory. Mrs. Aderholt Treasurer: Butch Sluschewski
tornados. Volunteers used their own requested that these funds be used for Directors: John Connors, Steve Connelly,
vehicles to deliver the items. projects in Thailand or Laos because her Dave Freeman
Relocation of the Montagnards, husband was so close to the Thai and Lao Advisors: Karen Kramer, Karen Hubbard
Vietnamese and Lao tribesmen who people. with Blessthechildreninc.org
fought alongside US Special Forces The MTF band of volunteers makes
in Vietnam, in North Carolina was a difference in the lives of so many needy The McCoskrie Threshold Foundation
supported. Hundred of refugee families folks in so many countries. The goal of is a charitable organization operating as
arrived with no worldly possessions. The General Aderholt to help the needy by a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation in
MTF provided truckloads of clothing, establishing the humanitarian arm of the accordance with IRS Tax Code section
furniture, bedding, bicycles and toys for Air Commando Association continues 501(c) 3. The FEIN is 59 275 5196.
this gallant and needy group. to be fulfilled. The donations of ACA Donations are tax deductible as provided
Each year the MTF supports the members and friends continue to make by law.
“Christmas Wish” program. Originally
it was in coordination with the Hurlburt MTF truck used in many
Field Air Commando Wing that supported humanitarian missions.
two orphanages in Honduras. Christmas
packages were delivered and distributed
by C-130 crewmembers. Currently,
funds are sent to a representative in
Honduras to purchase needed supplies,
appliances, and sports equipment on the
local economy. This effort is coordinated
with BTC.
After John Grove passed away, the
scope of the MTF effort decreased, but
continues. Current President Bob White,
Dave Freeman, and team continue
to pick up valuable items, especially
medical equipment and supplies that are
stored in units provided without cost by

Clockwise from top: BGen Aderholt
and volunteers. Honduran girl
receives toy donated by MTF. Dr
Arnold Wheat administers dental
care in Guatemala. John Grove
with George Mealer and Honduran
volunteers at the John Grove High
School. Water purification station
built by Thai Laos Cambodia
Brotherhood (TLCB). Choak
Amnuay Elementary School named
in honor of BGen Aderholt located
in Nakhon Phanom Province,
Thailand.
As my brothers and sisters before me, I am proud to step into history as a
member of the Air Force Special Operations Command. I will walk with pride
with my head held high, my heart and attitude will show my allegiance to
God, country and comrades. When unable to walk another step, I will walk
another mile. With freedom my goal, I will step into destiny with pride and
the Air Force Special Operations Command.

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Air Commando JOURNAL Winter 2011/12

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This new kind of warfare spawned a bunch of American heroes that

Col Dennis Barnett USAF (ret)

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Public Affairs/Marketing Director

Air Commando Association Board of Directors

Air Commando Association

This publication is for the information, interest, and enjoyment of our

6 │ Air Commando JOURNAL │ Winter 2011/12 www.aircommando.org

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Introduction commanders elected to form their own forward operating

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Wilmeth commanded the first CCT deployed in

(Photo from Norman C. Wilmeth files)

For the invasion of Germany, a total of four American and

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Photo by John Dominis / Time Life Pictures / Getty Images

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Combat Control Team (CCT) NCOs

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Our base camp was located in the Rhade (Montagnard) village

The Buon Enao Project as we knew it, was formally named

The following is a recorded discussion between three of

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As we went along, we had to develop new techniques and

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By the evening of 15 October 1962, we had

CHARLIE JONES: As night fell we came upon

Art’s group got to the downed U-10 first. All

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I set up a defensive perimeter around the crash site to keep the

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One C-130 was hit by ground fire on landing. It lay crumpled on

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Mastering the Basics

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About the Author: Tech Sgt. William

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Quietly Serving for 70 Years

By Captain Charles R. Cunningham and SMSgt Christopher M. Decorte

Special Operations Weather Teams

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The history of my interest in USAF if we had a ship’s picnic, Moki would

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