Air Force Special Tactics

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150914-F-BH566-046

Airmen salute during Capt. Matthew D. Roland and Staff Sgt. Forrest B. Sibley’s memorial service, Sept. 14, 2015, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. More than 1000 friends and family members from across the country gathered together to mourn the loss of Capt. Matthew Roland, a special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, a combat controller from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, at the Freedom Hangar on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Sep. 14, 2015. The two Special Tactics Airmen, who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, and died of wounds sustained in the attack, were honored in a private memorial. Both Special Tactics Airmen will be buried with full military honors.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ryan Conroy/Released)

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Special Tactics hero honored at tribute

The 21st Special Tactics Squadron honored a fallen comrade from their squadron, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, in a private ceremony, Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 3. Sibley was a combat controller who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel when he and another Special tactics Airmen were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He and Capt. Matthew Roland, special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, died of wounds sustained in the attack Aug. 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Marvin Krause/Released)

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Fallen hero honored during tribute

The 21st Special Tactics Squadron honored a fallen comrade from their squadron, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, in a private ceremony, Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 3. Sibley was a combat controller who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel when he and another Special tactics Airmen were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He and Capt. Matthew Roland, special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, died of wounds sustained in the attack Aug. 27.

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Fallen hero honored during tribute

The 21st Special Tactics Squadron honored a fallen comrade from their squadron, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, in a private ceremony, Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 3. Sibley was a combat controller who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel when he and another Special tactics Airmen were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He and Capt. Matthew Roland, special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, died of wounds sustained in the attack Aug. 27.

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Fallen hero honored during tribute

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Delorean Sheridan, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, honored a fallen comrade from their squadron, Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, in a private ceremony, Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 3. Sibley was a combat controller who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel when he and another Special tactics Airmen were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He and Capt. Matthew Roland, special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, died of wounds sustained in the attack Aug. 27.

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Fallen hero honored during tribute

The 21st Special Tactics Squadron honored a fallen comrade from their squadron, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, in a private ceremony, Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 3. Sibley was a combat controller who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel when he and another Special Tactics Airmen were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He and Capt. Matthew Roland, special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, died of wounds sustained in the attack Aug. 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Marvin Krause/Released).

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Staff Sgt Forrest Sibley

The 21st Special Tactics Squadron honored a fallen comrade from their squadron, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, in a private ceremony, Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 3. Sibley was a combat controller who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel when he and another Special tactics Airmen were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He and Capt. Matthew Roland, special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, died of wounds sustained in the attack Aug. 27.

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Fallen hero honored during tribute

U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua Hunt, 82nd Airborne Division Band, Fort Bragg, N.C., played taps during a tribute ceremony honoring U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, N.C., Sept. 3. Sibley was a combat controller who had recently deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel when he and another Special Tactics Airmen were shot at a vehicle checkpoint at Camp Antonik, Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He and Capt. Matthew Roland, special tactics officer from 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, died of wounds sustained in the attack Aug. 27.

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Decorated Special Tactics Airmen medically retires due to combat wounds

Tech. Sgt. Zachary Rhyner completed a final military freefall jump before he medically retired Aug. 21, 2015, due to wounds in sustained in combat that prevented mobility below the knee. Rhyner is an Air Force Cross recipient and Special Tactics combat controller attached to the 24th Special Operations Command. Rhyner served 11 years, resulting in three Purple Hearts and six deployments. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo/Released)

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Decorated Special Tactics Airman medically retired due to combat wounds

Tech. Sgt. Zachary Rhyner medically retired Aug. 21, 2015, due to wounds in sustained in combat that prevented mobility below the knee. Rhyner is an Air Force Cross recipient and Special Tactics combat controller attached to the 24th Special Operations Command. Rhyner served 11 years, resulting in three Purple Hearts and six deployments. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo/Released)

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Decorated Special Tactics Airmen

Tech. Sgt. Zachary Rhyner completed a final military freefall jump before he medically retired Aug. 21, 2015, due to wounds in sustained in combat that prevented mobility below the knee. Rhyner is an Air Force Cross recipient and Special Tactics combat controller attached to the 24th Special Operations Command. Rhyner served 11 years, resulting in three Purple Hearts and six deployments. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo/Released)

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Air Force Cross/Double Silver Star ceremony

U.S. Army Capt. Evan Lacenski, Special Forces team leader for the three combat controllers, laughs with Senior Airman Goodie Goodman, Special Tactics combat controller and Silver Star recipient. Capt. Lacenski credits the combat controllers' control of close air support with saving lives of their joint teammates in a 48-hour battle. Three U.S. Air Force Special Tactics combat controllers received multiple decorations of high valor today for a single event, only the second battle in U.S. Air Force history resulting in an Air Force Cross and multiple Silver Stars since 9/11. Senior Airman Dustin Temple received the Air Force Cross, a medal second only to the Medal of Honor, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Greiner and Senior Airman Goodie Goodman received the Silver Star. All provided crucial air-to-ground integration during a 48-hour firefight with nearly 100 insurgents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Ryan Conroy/Released)

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Air Force Cross/Double Silver Star ceremony

Three U.S. Air Force Special Tactics combat controllers received multiple decorations of high valor today for a single event, only the second battle in U.S. Air Force history resulting in an Air Force Cross and multiple Silver Stars since 9/11. Senior Airman Dustin Temple received the Air Force Cross, a medal second only to the Medal of Honor, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Greiner and Senior Airman Goodie Goodman received the Silver Star. All provided crucial air-to-ground integration during a 48-hour firefight with nearly 100 insurgents.The Special Tactics community has received seven Air Force Crosses and 34 Silver Stars since 9/11.

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Air Force Cross/Double Silver Star ceremony

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)

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Air Force Cross/Double Silver Star ceremony

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, stand beside three U.S. Air Force Special Tactics combat controllers, who received an Air Force Cross and two Silver Stars. 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)

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150402-F-AO466-472

Leaving a trail of dust in its wake, an MC-130J Commando II takes off April 2, 2015, at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M. The aircraft’s crew demonstrated its capability to take off, land, and perform air drops in remote areas during a joint exercise.

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Honoring the Fallen

Capt. Matthew D. Roland, Class of 2010 of the U.S. Air Force Academy, was killed in action in Afghanistan, Aug. 26, 2015. He posthumously received the Silver Star medal for his actions the day he died, when he acted quickly to save the lives of his teammates. (Courtesy photo/Released)

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Combat controllers establish security for landing strip

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.

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More than the mission

Upgrades to the Malayaka House orphanage water system was made possible from more than $20,000 raised by the Airmen from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron. Combat controllers raised the funds while deployed to assess airfields, making austere locations more accessible to local governments and humanitarian organizations for future operations and disaster relief. (Courtesy photo/Released)

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More than the mission

The 30 children, five care takers, and three staff members of the Malayaka House orphanage received more than $20,000 raised by the Airmen combat controllers from the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron. Special Tactics combat controllers are the Air Force’s special operations ground forces, and Special Operations Command’s air integration force. (Courtesy photo/Released)

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