Air Force Special Tactics (24 SOW) > Who We Are > ST Tactical Air Control Party

Special Tactics Tactical Air Control Party

Being a conventional TACP is already a challenging and arduous task, but couple that intensity with the demanding and specialized operations of the U.S. Army Rangers, Special Forces, and U.S. Navy SEALs and you'd be describing the mission of an Special Tactics TACP.

Special Tactics TACP Airmen deploy with Special Operations Forces to provide Joint Terminal Attack Control, or JTAC. Integrating air combat power and surface fires into the ground scheme of maneuver, they enable dynamic, synergistic, and lethal firepower on today's battlefield.

Special Tactics TACP motto: "100%, and then some"

Overview

ST tactical air control parties support Special Operations Command assets by providing terminal attack control and fire support expertise for all three Ranger Battalions, the 75th Ranger Regiment's Reconnaissance Company, U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment A teams, U.S. Navy SEAL Team platoons, and other Special Mission Units.

ST TACPs are assigned to the 17th Special Tactics Squadron at Ft. Benning, Ga., Joint Base Lewis McChord, Tacoma, Wa., Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Ga., and all four active duty Special Tactics Squadrons located in the continental United States.

Requirements

- JTAC (SEI 914)
- Basic Airborne qualified or volunteer for parachutist duty
- Have a current class III Flight Physical
- Retainability to complete five-year controlled tour
- Eligible for TOP SECRET/SCI clearance
- Financially stable
- Able to deploy within 18 hours
- Exceed Air Force Fitness Standards

‘100 PERCENT…AND THEN SOME’

The Air Force is the only service with dedicated Airmen such as TACPs performing joint terminal attack control, or precision air, ground and sea strike, as their primary duty.

TACPs must train constantly to ensure precision and excellence on the battlefield. From TACP technical school to JTAC qualification, it can take up to three years; on average, it takes 12-24 months to become JTAC-qualified due to thorough and constant evaluation within the TACP units.

Every 17 months, TACPs must be recertified in JTAC through an evaluation process, directed by a joint regulation.

TACPs must maintain currencies in training, just like a pilot would. They must perform JTAC duties with live fly aircraft and simulators. For example, TACPs must maintain currencies in night-live laser training every six months, in addition to quarterly JTAC training.

Opportunities

SOTACC Instructor Application

See our Join Page for applications

Physical Requirements

Calisthenics Minimums:
8 pull-ups in 2 minutes

60 sit-ups in 2 minutes

48 push-ups in 2 minutes

Run Minimum:
3 miles, non-stop, completed within 24 minutes

Combat Water Survival Test

12-mile road march with 50-pound (dry) rucksack and weapon in under 3 hours

Training

Requirements:
Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course - 4 weeks - Nellis AFB, Nev.
Basic Airborne Course - 3 weeks - Ft. Benning, Ga.
Special Tactics Advanced Skills Course - 12 weeks - Hurlburt Fld, Fla.

Opportunities:
Military Freefall Parachutist Course - 5 weeks - Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.
Staticline Jumpmaster School - 3 weeks - Ft. Benning, Ga.
Military Freefall Jumpmaster School - 3 weeks - Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.
U.S. Army Pathfinder School - 3 weeks - Ft. Benning, Ga.
U.S. Army Air Assault School - 2 weeks - Various Locations
U.S. Army Sniper School - 5 weeks - Ft. Benning, Ga.
U.S. Army Ranger School - 61 Days, Ft. Benning, Ga.

Combat Diver Qualification Course - 7 weeks - Panama City, Fla.