Air Force Air Commandos

Air Force Air Commandos are commandos of the United States Air Force under the Air Force Special Operations Command or AFSOC, a branch of the United States Special Operations Command or USSOCOM.

There are three types of Air Commandos: Combat Controllers, Pararescue Jumpers (aka PJ's or Pararescuemen), and Combat Weathermen. All three types go through the same initial training, for example, they all attend U.S. Army's Airborne School at Ft. Benning, USAF Basic Survival School at Fairchild AFB, and U.S. Army's Military Free Fall Parachutist School (where they receive HALO training) at Ft. Bragg. Afterwards, the training becomes more specialized toward each commando type's specialty.

They typically operate in close cooperation with other special ops units, such as the Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, and Navy SEALs.

Combat Controllers

The combat controllers are ground operators certified to act as air traffic controllers like those found at any major airport, but with a few added duties. They can take over or construct an airstrip, set up navigational equipment, and direct airplanes and helicopters to a safe landing without the use of a tower or elaborate communications system. They also control air attacks of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft from all military services.

Their training includes Air Traffic Control School at Keesler AFB, Combat Controller School at Pope AFB, AFSOC Advanced Skills Training, U.S. Army Combat Diver Qualification Course in Key West, and U.S. Navy Underwater Egress Training at Pensacola NAS.

Combat controllers are a part of the 720th Special Tactics Group and are assigned to 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 123rd Special Tactics Squadron. They can be distinguished by their scarlet beret.

Their motto is: "First There".

Pararescue Jumpers

Pararescuemen have what some consider to be one of the most difficult jobs in all of the armed forces - combat rescue, typically of (but not limited to) downed pilots. They are trained and able both to fight with virtually any special operations unit and to act as paramedics on the battlefield.

In addition to initial training listed above they attend a 24-week Paramedic Course at Kirtland AFB to attain EMT-Paramedic certification, a 20-week Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course (for combat tactics, advanced parachuting, helicopter insertion and extraction, mountaineering, and field tactics training), U.S. Army Combat Diver School in Key West (open and closed circuit), and USN Underwater Egress Training at Pensacola. Their training pipeline is sometimes referred to as "Superman School". On average, 8 out of every 10 trainees fail to graduate.

Their motto is: "That Others May Live".

They wear maroon berets.

Combat Weathermen

Combat weathermen are airmen that gather and interpret meterological and oceanographic information, as well as act as forward ground combatants. They are a critical element in mission planning and work mostly with Army Special Operations. Recruits must score high to meet the entrance score requirement, and must already be in the weather career field.

In addition to weather technical school and the initial training listed up top trainees must attend AFSOC Advanced Skills Training, a four-month course that includes weapons training, small unit tactics, advanced communication, navigation, et al.

Combat Weathermen are a part of the 720th Special Tactics Group and are assigned to the 10th Combat Weather Squadron, 24th, 320th, and 321st Special Tactics Squadron. They wear grey berets.

For more information, see: www.specialtactics.com