HomeNews

News Search

  • U.S. Air Force Lt Gen Bradley A. Heithold, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, and U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Sean A. Pybus, deputy commander of Special Operations Command, applaud three U.S. Air Force Special Tactics combat controllers, who received an Air Force Cross and two Silver Stars today. They are credited with saving the lives of more than 80 U.S. Army Special Forces and Afghan Commando teammates by providing flawless air-to-ground integration in the special operations battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Ryan Conroy/Released)

    48-hour battle results in Air Force Cross, Silver Star medals

    Three Special Tactics combat controllers received the Air Force Cross and two Silver Star medals for extraordinary heroism and gallantry in the face of danger on a previous deployment to Afghanistan, May 6, here.The combat controllers, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, 720th Special Tactics Group, 24th Special Operations Wing, were recognized for

  • Special Tactics Airmen to receive high medals of valor

    One U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Airman from 21st Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, will receive the Air Force Cross, and two Special Tactics Airman, 21 STS, will receive the Silver Star for courageous actions during a 48-hour battle against nearly 100 insurgents in Afghanistan while embedded with a U.S. Army Special Forces
  • U.S. Air Force Special Tactics combat controllers establish security while setting up a landing strip in an austere environment during an exercise at an undisclosed location. Combat controllers are the Air Force’s ground special operations forces who integrate air and ground to provide intelligence, precision strikes, assault zones, drop zones and air traffic control in hostile and austere environments.

    Special Tactics Airman honored for heroism: “Courage under fire"

    The Air Force has selected Tech. Sgt. Matthew J. Greiner, Special Tactics combat controller from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, as the national Non Commissioned Officer Association Vanguard Award recipient for heroic actions while deployed with an Army Special Forces unit to Afghanistan in September 2014. Greiner

  • Special Tactics Chaplain honored for resiliency support

    Maj. Chad Bellamy, 24th Special Operations Wing wing chaplain, received the 2015 Air Force Distinguished Service Award from the Military Chaplain Association for his direct support to over 1,000 Special Tactics forces and combat mission support personnel.“Major Bellamy is a tremendous asset to fostering resiliency within the Special Tactics
  • Members from the Special Tactics Training Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla., learn how to ride dirt bikes during an advanced tactical vehicle training at Eglin Range, Fla., Feb. 1-4, 2014. The STTS delivers advanced and special tactics skills to a wide variety of joint special operations career fields, including combat controllers and special tactics pararescuemen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Callaway/Released)

    Special Tactics Airmen ride on

    Airmen from the Special Tactics Training Squadron learn how to drive a variety of all-terrain vehicles during advanced tactical vehicle training at Eglin Range, Fla., Feb. 1-4, 2014. The STTS trains special operations forces, including combat controllers and special tactics pararescuemen, for rapid global employment to enable airpower success in
  • Three of the four Air Force Special Operations Airmen honored in this year's Portrait in Courage pose in front of Arlington National Cemetery. Three Special Tactics Airmen and a CV-22 Osprey special missions operator were recognized for their acts of bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

    Special Tactics Airmen Recognized for Bravery

    Four Air Force Special Operations Airmen, including three Special Tactics Airmen and a CV-22 Osprey special missions aviator, were recognized today in a Portraits in Courage ceremony in Washington, D.C.The four Airmen were among 24 Airmen honored by the 17th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody in the ninth year of the recognition
  • Special Tactics Airmen from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron helped raise more than $20,000 for the Malayaka House orphanage in Entebbe, Uganda. The Special Tactics mission in Africa focuses on airfield assessment, which makes austere locations more accessible to local governments and humanitarian organizations for future operations and disaster relief. (Courtesy photo/Released)

    Deployed Special Tactics Airmen support African orphanage

    The Special Tactics Airmen of the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron are showing that even in the challenging conditions of a deployment, time can still be made to give back to those in need. In less than a month, combat controllers assigned to the 22nd STS were able to help raise more than $20,000 for the Malayaka House orphanage in Entebbe,
  • Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James pins the Air Force Cross to the uniform of Master Sgt. Ivan Ruiz during a ceremony Dec. 17, 2014, on Hurlburt Field, Fla. While deployed to Afghanistan with the 22nd Expeditionary Special Tactics Squadron, Ruiz protected his injured special operations forces teammates with fire support and provided emergency medical care under intense enemy fire in the dark, Dec. 10, 2013. Ruiz is a pararescueman from the 56th Rescue Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Callaway)

    PJ’s extraordinary heroism earns an Air Force Cross

    Recognizing extraordinary heroism shown in combat, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James presented the Air Force Cross to an Air Commando during a ceremony here, Dec. 17.
  • The firing party stands and salutes after conducting a three volley salute while a bugler plays Taps during a memorial service held for Tech. Sgt. Sean Barton Nov. 25, 2014 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Barton, a 320th Special Tactics Squadron pararescueman, died Oct. 30 from injuries sustained after a rappelling incident during a joint exercise training event near Kathmandu, Nepal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer)

    Special Tactics PJ remembered at memorial service

    From a small special operations community a large group of people gathered to honor one man’s life. A memorial service was held Nov. 25 at Kadena Air Base for Tech. Sgt. Sean Barton, a pararescueman assigned to the 320th Special Tactics Squadron who died Oct. 30 from injuries sustained after a rappelling incident during a joint exercise training
  • Maj. Gen. Harry Polumbo, Ninth Air Force Commander, presented Master Sgt. Thomas Case, Tactical Air Control Party Airman, 18th Air Support Operations Group, with his second Silver Star medal, Nov. 13 at Pope Army Airfield, N.C. Case received the medal for gallantry in action during a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan. The Silver Star medal is the U.S. military’s third highest military decoration for valor. It is presented for gallantry in action against an enemy of the U.S. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Callaghan)

    TACP receives second Silver Star medal

    Master Sgt. Thomas Case, a tactical air control party Airman in the 18th Air Support Operations Group here, received his second Silver Star medal Nov. 13, 2014, for heroic actions during a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan.The Silver Star medal is the U.S. military’s third highest military decoration for valor. It is presented for gallantry in action
RSS