Air Force Special Ops

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 12:42:46 -0500

You hear it all the time, "Rangers..." "SeALs..." Why do you think we never hear about our spec ops guys in blue?

** This is meant to be a fun topic, so lets not have a lower appendage swingin' contest **

Response by SSgt Brandon Sisson made Mar 18 at 2015 8:14 AM

SSgt Brandon Sisson — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 08:14:20 -0400

Being Silent professionals is a lost art.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2015 4:18 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:18:13 -0400

I have a lot of respect for the Air Force Special Ops community.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 18 at 2015 4:19 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:19:40 -0400

We should actually... The PJ's are who all the other Special Forces call when THEY are in trouble...

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Mar 18 at 2015 4:23 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:23:29 -0400

I don't know much about them really, I mostly hear about the Rangers (my Dad) and the Seals (got that Bin Laden guy). My mind just keeps going to the image posted.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Mar 18 at 2015 4:25 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:25:45 -0400

Because no one wants to admit to needing the Air Force to save them.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1443
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3525
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3624

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 18 at 2015 4:42 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:42:21 -0400

It's so much easier to look bad#^%# when wearing green cammies.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 18 at 2015 4:45 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:45:44 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, I served in the 15th Psychological Operations Battalion, USAR back in the mid 80s. Once, we got to tour the Commando Solo C-130, which was an extraordinary a/c. I think it was part of the 193rd Special Operations Wing.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Mar 18 at 2015 4:48 PM

SGT Edward Thomas — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:48:23 -0400

A buddy of mine from our JCSE days is retired from the AFSOC side of the AF. Much respect for those guys.

Response by MSgt Jamie Lyons made Mar 18 at 2015 4:51 PM

MSgt Jamie Lyons — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:51:34 -0400

I have a SEAL buddy who claimed the AF combat controllers are the best across all the branches. He said they were all 'a little nuts'.

Response by SSgt Joe V. made Mar 18 at 2015 4:58 PM

SSgt Joe V. — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:58:56 -0400

http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/554378/tacp-receives-second-silver-star-medal.aspx

"I told my friends and the guys around me. For that first Silver Star, I was a lot younger, that was kind of for me," he said. "I didn't have the mature enough mindset to understand the ramifications of that. This is really for my career field. I firmly believe that, of the other certified JTACs, I'm almost positive that 98 percent plus of them would have done what I did. I just went to work that night."

I am proud to have worked with this guy at Benning for the six years I was there. For the other TACP that were mentors to me, well you never met a better group of chuckleheads. The camaraderie and swapping stories was all we needed...no need for a spotlight then or now.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2015 7:56 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 19:56:10 -0400

We shouldn't hear much about any of them. Much of the glamour might be due to the longer history and larger size of the other services. As much as people hear about Rangers, what about Army SF? There is a difference, but most people might think SF is synonymous with SOF - so erroneously think Rangers are Army SF. SEALS? What about SWCC? Transformers had AF, as did Capt America 2. Of course TSgts don't become CMSgts in a 2yr timeframe, PJs aren't pilots and don't fly jet packs, and SrA don't sit next to 4 star Generals and advise them. So as much BS goes into what people "hear" (or see in movies) about the military - does it matter? I'd just as soon be left out of the spotlight if I were an AFSOC Operator.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Mar 18 at 2015 9:25 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 21:25:31 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member, forgot to mention this. When I went to jump school (MAR-APR70), the training company that I was assigned to included special operations trainees from all the service branches to include Pararescue specialist trainees from the USAF!

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2015 3:11 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 03:11:40 -0400

Because the Air Force (even AFSOC) is almost never the supported force. Their job is to be a supporting force. You never hear of a team of combat controllers getting into a fight because they are generally attached to a SEAL or SF team when they get into a fight. AFSOC are the ones with the capabilities that the other SOF units like to have with them when they need it.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jul 6 at 2015 12:51 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 12:51:33 -0400

I have 1 Pararescue family friend, as well as one PR and 1 SOCOM crew chief in my family. None of them ever talked about it except with me and even then only rarely.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2015 7:15 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 07:15:54 -0400

One reason, I feel that a lot of ST guys are under the radar and also if you look at the size difference it is tremendous. I had a former PJ once tell me that, there are 1,000's of SEALs, 10,000's of Special Forces and Rangers, but there are only hundred's of ST.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 25 at 2015 12:30 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 12:30:12 -0400

Is it because the SEALS are too busy making book and sh*tty movie deals, while the AF and Army stay quiet and do their jobs? Much respect to AF special operators. Met some while stationed in England, and met some more while deployed. Great men all of em.

Response by Lt Col John Eliopolo Cpc, Eli Mp made Aug 26 at 2015 12:30 PM

Lt Col John Eliopolo Cpc, Eli Mp — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 12:30:20 -0400

Not marketed enough or marketed properly in my opinion. When I think of the Rangers and SEALs, I think of the Hollywood depiction of them in the blockbuster movies. We need to get AF Special OPs in some of the action films, if at all possible. They haven't found a place in the American conscious yet. Heck, I'm former AF and I don't know a whole lot about them and what they do (I don't feel good even admitting this). Although I do inherently admire them for the nature of what they do and I know they are great at it

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Nov 13 at 2015 3:42 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 15:42:59 -0500

If you the best at what you do, you don't have to brag about it!!!