Does the U.S. Air Force Special Ops?

Question

Well, Im wondering if the USAF has any type of spec ops and if so, what do they do?

Answer 1

Yes they have Pararescue Jumpers who go behind enemy lines to rescue downed airmen and anyone else who may need to be evacuated, when not in war they  are like the Coast Rescue swimmers, but they go out in the sea where the Coast Guard cannot reach to save boaters who may be in trouble. The Air force also has the combat controllers, but I do not know very well what they do. Go talk to your recruiter to learn more.

Answer 2

Yes but I believe the only one they have is Paratroopers.  At least that was the only one they told us about when I was in.  Your recruiter or an online list of air force jobs would tell you the best though

Answer 3

Yes we do.

Pararescue (PJs) - provide personnel recovery and emergency medical capabilities in peacetime and combat environments. They deploy by air, land or sea to provide the trauma medical care for injured personnel. They participate in combat search and rescue operations as well as civilian search and rescue during peacetime missions. PJs operate in their own Rescue Squadrons as well as on Special Tactics teams. They often times attach to and operate with US Army SF ODAs, SEAL teams, Marine Force Recon, MARSOC, etc.

Combat Controllers - establish assault zones. The assault zone is either a drop zone (for parachute operations); a landing zone (for fixed wing or helicopter operations); or an extraction zone (for low altitude resupply) typically in austere and hostile enviroments. They also establish recovery zones (for surface-to-air recovery of personnel or equipment) and ground-based fire control. Combat controllers also are qualified in demolitions to clear obstructions and hazards. CCTs are qualified JTACs and are able to call in Close Air Support. They are assigned to Special Tactics Teams and are often attached to uS Army SF ODAs, SEAL Teams, Marine Force Recon, MARSOC, etc.

Special Operations Forces Tactical Air Control Party (SOF TACP) -

These are a few men selected out of the conventional Air Force TACPs to attach themselves to US Army SF ODAs, SEAL Teams, Marine Force Recon, MARSOC, etc. Their primary job is calling in and controlling Close Air Support for the SOF teams they are attached to.

Special Operations Weather Teams (SOWT) - Combat weather personnel provide meteorological and oceanographic information in and for the special operations theater of operations. Functions include tactical infiltration, data collection, analysis and forecasting, mission-tailoring of environmental information, and operations in concert with host nation weather personnel. They perform this job from forward-deployed bases or behind enemy lines using miniature, tactical weather equipment and a variety of communications equipment.

These personnel make up one squadron comprised of five detachments supporting Special Forces Groups, the Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Aviation Regiments (SOAR), Psychological Operations Groups (POG), Special Warfare Training Groups (SWTG), Civil Affairs (CA) units and Special Operations Support Battalions.

If you'd like more detailed information, visit this site: http://www.specialtactics.com/

It has everything you need to know about USAF Special Operations.

EDIT for Eric S:  While most are not in any way shape or form Special Operations, there are, as I stated, Special Operations Weather Teams.  These teams are in fact SOF, they are like the SOF TACPs.  Not the norm, but the small groups assigned to STS and attached to other SOF units pull their weight. It's a small group selected out of the careerfield and females are not allowed.

Answer 4

I know they do but I don't know what they are called. I think they take over and control enemy air fields.

Answer 5

Yes they do and your friendly U.S.A.F. recruiter can tell you all about them, and what the requirements are.

Answer 6

Primarily Pararescue and Combat Controllers as well as all the air crews that go into harms way to insert and extract special ops teams. You can find more information as well as some cool air force special ops t-shirts here http://www.proartshirts.com/

Answer 7

Combat controllers are the best known, the re a lot like marine controllers when they are part of an MMT.

Answer 8

Yes, they have a few, one is Para Rescue, they are combat medics whose main job it so to perform Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and then in peace they do a lot of the rescues you see on the news in the Mountains in the Northwest and  Alaska as well as the Ocean in the Northeast. You also have CCT guys who do Close Air Support (CAS) and are just incredible comms guys and then you have the Air Wing, they are the guys who have the High Tech Planes and the C-130 gunships.

KJ, please do not include the "Weathermen" as a SpecOps group! ;-)

Answer 9

Yes they do, visit military.com for more info

Answer 10

air force special tactics include combat controllers, weather ops, and pararescue...training is extremely intense equal, possibly more tougher than navy seals...pararescue is self-explanatory, you rescue downed pilots in hostile terrority, your trained in survival skills, counter-terrorism, mountain climbing, and the list goes on...combat controllers control every aspect of combat situations...air traffic control, fire support, scouting/recon, removing obstacles, so-on