Air Force names 2007 Sijan award recipients

12/17/2007 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Air Force leaders recognized four Airmen with the service's 2007 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award.

The Sijan award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities.

The Junior officer category winner is Capt. Stewart J. Parker, who is assigned to Pope AFB, N.C. Captain Parker led a team of combat controllers into combat in Iraq and Afghanistan reaping an impressive list of combat effects. As the critical link to a full array of airpower capabilities, Captain Parker precisely integrated fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft fusing intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities with timely firepower. The results proved devastating to enemy forces.

Wayne G. Norrad

Merry Christmas

Commander's Holiday Message

To the Special Tactics Family:

Words cannot adequately express your collective performance during 2007. In all endeavors Special Tactics once again proved pivotal to operations worldwide, as well as supporting key tasks from home station. Our deployed forces have demonstrated their worth time and time again, and are in high demand from joint force commanders in most theaters of operation. Recognition for the activities of our personnel have flowed from Air Force and AFSOC levels, and the list of award recipients recognizing individual as well as unit accomplishments continues to grow. Special Tactics is about people, and our people are the best.
They prove it every day.

For those in the fight, know that our thoughts are with each and everyone of you.

For those able to spend time with people close to you, take advantage of the opportunity and fully enjoy the time together...but don't forget those who are unable to do the same.

Let's not forget safety during this holiday season. Nothing spoils a get-together more than someone getting needlessly injured.

2008 promises to be as busy and exciting as this past year. I want to thank each and every one of you, and the families, for the selfless dedication to the Special Tactics mission and the support to those in the fight. The future promises more challenges, to be sure, but also opportunities. We will seize those opportunities whenever possible and strive to take Special Tactics to the next level.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

STRATTON

‘I’M HAPPY FOR MY UNIT’

Airman deflects a star’s glow

Tech. Sgt. Scott Innis receives a Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest valor award, for his work in Afghanistan. Thirteen other airmen receive honors at McChord Air Force Base.


Click this link to read the article about this Controller:



http://www.thenewstribune.com/front/topphoto/story/233315.html

Oregon National Guard rescues hundreds, provides on going support

The Oregon National Guard mobilized the 125th Special Tactics Squadron Dec. 3 to assist first responders in the rescue of citizens of Vernonia.



See Link below for the rest of this article about the 125th, a new unit building it's history fast.



http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2007/12/120507-oregon.aspx

Free ACT or SAT Software Study Guides

This is an offer for all Active and Retired Military (by the NFL) for FREE ACT or SAT Software Study Guides. All you pay is S&H and you pick the method.

At the very bottom of the page (of the attached link) there is a button that says "Click here to see the verification form". Click this and there is a form that asks for your info (on a secure page - although your system setup might tell you that it is not recommended to go to this page...) The military is verifying you as active or retired using the DEERs system and then you get transferred over to the site where you order the software. I purchased the deluxe version for only $58. (S&H expedited). If you get the standard set it is less than $5. S&H.

I am not sure how many have teens getting ready to take this test, but I thought there might be a few anyway.

http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/itc/MHF/MHF_DETAIL_0?cu



TH

Lessons Learned Job Description

There are currently Analyst 6 Lessons Learned openings for contractors at the TSOCS, MacDill, and other locations if anyone is interested.

Looking for SOF SME's for active lessons learned collection and analyses.

Click on link below, click on search, and scroll down to the Analyst 6 listings for SOKF if you are interested in applying or if you now of a qualified SOF person who is interested.

You can contact me if you have any questions.

https://www4.recruitingcenter.net/Clients/L3/PublicJobs/controller.cfm?j


V/R,
Pete Peter Hoffman
720 STG/DOXPContractor, WinTec Arrowmaker, Inc.
NIPR: peter.hoffman.ctr@hurlburt.af.mil
SIPR: peter.hoffman.ctr@AFSOC.AF.SMIL.MIL

Special Tactics Recruiting Site

Special Tactics has a new recruiting website. If you know anyone looking for information about becoming a Combat Controller direct them to this site.


http://www.specialtacticsrecruiting.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

DFAS announces 2008 retired, annuitant pay adjustments

Release No. 11-07-07
Nov. 21, 2007

DFAS announces 2008 retired, annuitant pay adjustments

CLEVELAND (AFRNS) -- Based on the increase in the U.S. Consumer Price Index, there will be a cost-of-living adjustment increase for retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities effective Dec. 1, according to Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials.

Retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services before Sept. 8, 1980 and retired before July 1, 2007 will receive a full COLA increase of 2.3 percent.

The COLA increase for retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services on or after Sept. 8, 1980 will be as follows:

-- 2.3 percent for those retiring before Jan. 1, 2007
-- 2.3 percent for those retiring in the first quarter calendar 2007
-- 2.3 percent for those retiring in the second quarter calendar 2007
-- 0.2 percent for those retiring in the third quarter calendar 2007
-- No increase for those retiring in the fourth quarter calendar 2007

Retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services on or after Aug. 1, 1986 and retired on or before Jan. 1, 2007 but elected to receive a Career Status Bonus at 15 years of active service, will receive a COLA increase of 1.3 percent.

Retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed services on or after Aug. 1, 1986, retired on or after Jan. 1, 2007, and elected to receive a Career Status Bonus at 15 years of active service will receive COLA as follows:

-- 1.3 percent for those retiring before Jan. 1, 2007
-- 1.3 percent for those retiring in the first quarter calendar 2007
-- 1.3 percent for those retiring in the second quarter calendar 2007
-- No increase for those retiring in the third or fourth quarter calendar 2007

The COLA increase will be reflected in the Jan. 2 payment. (Courtesy of DFAS)

Assault Zone Controller Position, Cannon AFB, NM

Controller Position, Cannon AFB, NM

We have 2 open term/temporary/part time positions with possibility to convert to full time positions. The plans for these positions are to work for 12 weeks (90 days on), then take off for 12 weeks (90 days off) and back again. You may have an option of continuous part time stream. These are 40 hour work weeks only. No overtime.

Requirements: Graduate of FAA/USAF Air Traffic Control School, 4 years experience in assault zone operations (drop zones, landing zones), current Class II flight physical prior to being hired, current and valid state drivers license.
For full time position, ability to obtain Secret Security clearance is required.

Benefits are not offered with the part time position. Full medical and dental benefits including 401K are offered with the full time position. POV travel/expenses are reimbursed at government rate after being hired.

If you are interested please send resume and salary requirements to Robert.kohon.ctr@cannon.af.mil or Timothy.arcadi.ctr@cannon.af.mil

CCT Passing

Thomas H. Botts (LM-204) passed away at 1:08 PM, 26 Nov 07 in Baltimore, MD

Cause was Lung Cancer.

He has been sick for a while and was released from the hospital a few weeks ago for final home care

He is to be cremated but a final interment ceremony date and site is still to be determined

Allen Hooper

Combat Control at Najaf, Iraq

Airmen play pivotal role in victory at Najaf

By Erik Holmes - eholmes@militarytimes.com

Air Force TimesPosted : December 03, 2007

The Battle of Najaf on Jan. 28 and 29 was one of the biggest sustained
engagements of the war in Iraq, but few Americans know anything about it.

Within just a few hours, hundreds of American and Iraqi troops, and dozens of warplanes and attack helicopters, were battling nearly 800 heavily armed insurgents, members of a fanatical Shiite cult known as the Soldiers of Heaven.

But perhaps no one contributed more to victory in the 24-hour battle than a handful of airmen - three special operations combat controllers and the pilots who unleashed air power on the enemy.

The controllers directed F-16s, A-10s, AC-130 gunships, Army AH-64 Apache helicopters, Navy F/A-18s and Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s that dropped more than 10,500 pounds of bombs, conducted numerous strafing and rocket attacks, and killed most of the 373 enemy fighters who died.

Another 407 fighters surrendered, including 14 high-value targets.

That only two Americans - and a relatively modest number of Iraqi soldiers and police - died during combat that inflicted horrendous casualties on the enemy is a testament to the decisive advantage airpower provides. In fact, one well-placed Air Force bomb turned the tideof the battle.

Military Times interviewed numerous airmen, soldiers, Army pilots and special operators for a rare inside look at the coordination of ground and air power that led to victory in one of the biggest and most complicated engagements of the Iraq war so far.

Here's their story.

Political and law-enforcement leaders in Najaf had just received a disturbing tip. An obscure religious cult - holed up in a large compoundsix miles north of the city - was planning to disrupt the city'sobservance of the Shiite holiday Ashura and assassinate some of thecountry's top clerics.

After cruising by the Soldiers of Heaven compound in an unmarked car the night of Jan. 27, the leaders hatched a plan - round up the 30 or so suspects at daybreak the following morning, before everyone was up and about.

But the Iraqis had grossly underestimated the threat.

The Soldiers of Heaven, a fanatical sect led by a man followers believe to be the 12th Imam, or the rightful heir to the prophet Muhammad, had amassed personnel, supplies and an impressive arsenal in a few shortmonths - and they were more than willing to use them.

"You can liken these guys to the Branch Davidians in the Waco incident that happened a few years ago," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Wallace, a combat controller with the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air ForceBase, N.C., who gave a briefing of the battle at the Air Force Association conference in September.

The Iraqi government had assumed control of Najaf from the Americans two months earlier, and only a small number of American special operations forces remained in the area. But neither the Iraqi authorities nor theAmericans were aware of the goings-on in the three-square-mile camp,hidden from view by 15-foot sand berms.

Post-dated satellite photos revealed trenches and tunnels, tree lines and a cluster of buildings inside the walled area, Wallace said. The fighters had obviously prepared for something big.

The Iraqi convoy was ambushed the minute it pulled up to the southeastern entrance of the compound at about 7 a.m. on Jan. 28. Unseenattackers were firing heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades,Wallace said.

Within minutes, 15 Iraqi police and three Iraqi soldiers were dead.Several more police and soldiers were wounded, and their vehicles were destroyed. The outmanned and outgunned Iraqis abandoned their vehicles,fled east toward a river and called the Americans for reinforcements,Wallace said.

Operational Detachment Alpha 566 - an Army Special Forces team - got the call and headed to the fight with 10 U.S. special operators in three vehicles. Army Capt. Eric Jacobson, a team leader with 2nd Battalion,5th Special Forces Group, also got on the radio and alerted a second Special Forces team that was stationed in Baghdad but happened to be near Najaf.

The moment Jacobson's team arrived, it came under withering fire from an overwhelming number of enemy fighters entrenched in firing positions atop the tall earthen berms. The team's Humvees were almost destroyed by shrapnel from RPGs, he said.

Like the Iraqis, Jacobson was soon urgently calling for reinforcements.The Baghdad team quickly blazed in with 45 men, including their own Iraqi scouts, and several vehicles. They fortified Jacobson's position at the southeastern corner of the camp on an elevated roadway flanked on each side by a canal.

But the Soldiers of Heaven kept coming, Jacobson said, displaying training and proficiency at infantry tactics the Americans had never before seen in an insurgent group.

Dramatic shift
The Baghdad team had with it two Air Force combat controllers - Tech.Sgt. Bryan Patton and Staff Sgt. David "Squish" Orvosh, both with the 21st Special Tactics Squadron - who immediately went to work.

The battle changed dramatically at about 9 a.m. as the sky over the encampment came alive with the roar of engines from A-10s, F-16s and Navy F/A-18s. And above the fast movers were three unmanned aerial vehicles providing surveillance of the battle to air commanders at the air operations center.

Patton was on his radio controlling a pair of F-16s overhead, Wallace said, and told them to strafe the abandoned Iraqi police and army vehicles that were now overrun with enemy fighters. The jets also dropped a few 500-pound bombs just inside the berm on the south perimeter of the compound.

A short time later, coalition forces began taking sniper fire from amosque a few hundred meters to the north, outside the eastern berm of the compound.

Orvosh called in bomb strikes on at least two groups of fighters that had massed in trenches on the inside of the berm, Wallace said.

For three hours, as coalition forces and the Soldiers of Heaven traded heavy gunfire, the jets bombed and strafed targets identified by the combat controllers.

"They would work our targets for us, then they would leave and the next group would come in," an Army Special Forces master sergeant said. "They were stacking Air Force pretty good because of the amount of enemy we had on target.

"The airstrikes helped quiet the field for a time, giving the American teams the opportunity to withdraw and resupply in Najaf while their Iraqi allies pushed forward.

It was now a little after noon, and large-scale reinforcements had begunto arrive.

Wallace - with Operational Detachment Alpha 563, a Special Forces unit that advised an Iraqi police SWAT team in Hillah, about 30 miles north of Najaf - had been monitoring radio chatter since the battle began, but he didn't mobilize until late morning.

At about 1 p.m., his detachment and the SWAT team - almost 200 personnel and 40 vehicles - arrived at a checkpoint along a highway near the southside of the compound.

The Apaches arrive
As they conferred with Iraqi police and army leaders, the first two AH-64 Apache helicopters appeared on the horizon.

Flying in over the battle, the pilots said, they could see dozens of militiamen lying two feet apart atop the berms, firing their weapons at coalition forces.

Others were riding around inside the encampment in small pickup trucks with heavy machine guns mounted on the backs.

A mortar pit with several tubes was positioned in the center of the compound, and fighters scurried into deep trenches dug along the length of the inside of the berms.

"When we were first advised that there were troops in contact, obviously we had no idea that it was a force that size. This enemy was quite prepared, well dug in, well defended - hundreds of insurgents," said Army Lt. Col. Tim DeVito, commander of 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, in a phone interview from Camp Taji, north of Baghdad.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jake Gaston, flying as co-pilot gunner in the lead Apache with pilot Chief Warrant Officer 4 Johnny Judd, said confusion reigned as they flew in. Flying with them were Capt. Mark T.Resh and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cornell C. Chao, whose job in trail aircraft was to cover the lead aircraft as it engaged the enemy.

Wallace saw the Apaches take fire from heavy machine guns and RPGs, and radioed the pilots to warn them. The pilots replied that they were being fired on by a truck-mounted machine gun, so Wallace and other members of his team headed to the east side of the compound to seek out the enemy.

They made it to the southeast corner of the compound - near where the battle had begun - and ran their Humvees up the berm so their the gun turrets peeked over the top, Wallace said.

The team began taking fire from the west, he said, and Iraqi SWAT teammembers and some American special operators ran to the top of the berm to return fire.

Two of the Special Forces soldiers got shot in the helmets and fell backdown the incline, Wallace said. Fortunately, the bullets missed the soldiers' skulls and only knocked them unconscious.

Wallace then called the Apache pilots to tell them what he could seeover the berm. The pilots told him what they had observed aboutpersonnel and vehicles inside the compound and said they were coming inwith their guns hot.

As the first Apache began its attack run, its chin gun malfunctioned because of damage from small-arms fire, Wallace said.

"Then his wingman came in right behind him, pointed at the same target,and his rotors just stopped," he said. "No smoke, no sparks, no fire.The rotors just froze, and the helicopter fell out of the sky from 600 to 700 feet.

"The helicopter disappeared behind a distant tree line, and seconds later, a plume of thick black smoke rose over the battlefield. Everyone knew the pilots had been killed, Wallace said.

Gaston could see enemy fighters rushing toward the crash, so reaching and securing the site before the enemy could get there became everyone's priority. But this was no easy task, Wallace said, as intense machinegun fire from the west made it impossible to take a direct route.

Wallace, his Special Forces team and about 50 Iraqi SWAT team members instead began to advance north along the eastern berm, under heavy fire,to try to flank the enemy fighters.

Close-air supportCapt.
George "Frag" Collings and Maj. August "Augie" Marquardt, with the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, were in the middle of a 12-hourshift at Balad Air Base when a request for close-air support came in.Minutes later they were airborne, headed toward Najaf.

This would be Collings' eighth mission over Iraq, but he had never dropped a bomb in combat.

Collings and wingman Marquardt established contact with Wallace toassess the situation on the way.

"They were taking fire, so it was kind of hard to establish any kind of good comm," Collings said.Wallace told them he was trying to bring another Apache in as the F-16s set up an orbit of the battle area at about 1:30 p.m. But by the time they had established which groups were friendly and which were enemy,their jets reached a "critical point as far as fuel goes," Marquardt said.

Collings sent off Marquardt to refuel from a nearby KC-130 so they wouldbe able to keep at least one fighter in the area if things got busy.

Things were already busy for Wallace.

"I've got two radios on my ears, and then outside of that the teamleader that's next to me and all the other guys on the battlefield are yelling back and forth, along with explosions and bullets going off.It's a lot to hear," he said. "Tuning one thing out and tuning the other thing in, and switching back and forth, and turning the volume up on this and turning it down on this, covering up one ear so I can hear the other one and yelling back and forth at people. It's a lot of just total chaos, and it turns into a really big headache after a couple of hours.

"It was also the most crowded airspace he had ever controlled, and it mayhave been overkill.

"At one point, I had two UAVs, maybe two or three flights of Apaches,F-16s, P-3 Orion, Tornadoes and A-10s, all there at the same time," he said. "So you can imagine this one small bit of airspace stacked all the way up to 20,000 feet. We had a lot of aircraft.

"As Collings orbited overhead, watching the battle through his targeting pod, Wallace became pinned down by machine-gun fire. A few Apache gunruns failed to stop it, so Wallace decided to call in an F-16 strike.

"While my wingman was at the tanker, the [combat controller] wasn't getting the effects he wanted with the Apache, so he started talking to me," Collings said. It was "a pretty urgent call.

" Wallace asked Collings what he thought would be most effective, andCollings recommended a GBU-12, a 500-pound laser-guided bomb. Wallacecleared him hot, but Collings was worried because the target wasdangerously close to friendly forces.

"I asked him ... how close were the friendlies, and they were 100 meters away. That's pretty close," Collings said.

He decided an east-to-west attack heading "would minimize any chance of fratricide." As Collings began his bombing run, Marquardt arrived back on station and started monitoring the battle with his targeting pod.

The enemies - about 40 of them - were in a trench about 5 feet wide and 10 feet deep, Collings said. It was a tight area to put a bomb in, but Collings was confident in the laser-guided munition.

The moments after Collings released the bomb were the most tense of the whole battle for Wallace. He had just told a pilot to drop a 500-pound bomb 100 meters away from his position; "danger close" for a GBU-12 is 300 meters.

"I had about 30 seconds to think about that one, after he released it and before it landed," Wallace said.

The bomb hit its target. "He plopped that GBU-12 ... right square in the [southeast] corner,"Marquardt said, "and there were enemy troops actually in that positionthat he took out.

"The bomb killed about five enemy fighters and incapacitated another 20 or 30, Wallace said. And the trench contained much of the blast, so no friendly forces were hurt.

"As soon as it went off, we were up and running," he said. "Still, bigclouds of dirt falling on us.

"Wallace and two other Americans stormed the enemy position and killed the remaining fighters, opening the route north.

"That set the conditions for our next advance," Wallace said of the F-16 airstrike. "Basically, it shut down all the bad guys in that berm.

"Marquardt said Wallace later told him that one bomb turned the tide of the battle.

"They were never on the defensive from that point on," he said.

"The big piece of the pie there was having the supporting arms to keep the bad guys' heads down long enough for us to maneuver and hook 'em up with some death," Wallace said.

As Wallace directed Apache gunfire at enemy fighters ahead of the coalition's northward advance, the two original American Special Forces teams - from Najaf and Baghdad - returned from their supply run.

Orvosh, the combat controller, was with them. The two controllers agreedOrvosh would control air assets above the western half of the compound -including the crash site - and Wallace would control the eastern halfand the F-16s.

The teams continued up the eastern side of the compound in about 15 vehicles, taking fire from atop a berm about 2,000 feet away. After reaching the northeast corner of the camp, the road curved around to the west.

The convoy proceeded west and finally found an opening heading south toward the smoke from the crash site.

"They were shooting everything they had," the Army master sergeant said."Rounds were pinging off the vehicles, breaking off windows, hitting the gunner's shield. One of my guys even had to engage a guy with a pistol because he was so close he couldn't even get his machine gun around.

"The convoy finally made it to a safe point about 100 meters west of the crash site, but at a cost of eight Iraqi dead, three American wounded,all 15 vehicles disabled and seven machine guns destroyed.

Behind the relative safety of a berm, the team linked up with a military transition team attached to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, that was responding to a request for assistance from Iraqi soldiers they advised, who were involved in the battle.

The Special Forces teams and MiTT soldiers held the perimeter until a company of infantrymen from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, rolled in about 4p.m.

When the Strykers arrived, Orvosh, a Special Forces medic and a few other operators loaded into a Stryker to secure the crash site and retrieve the pilots' bodies.

It was growing dark, and only then did the Americans begin to learn fromIraqi intelligence whom they were fighting.

Wallace also got a call from air commanders in theater who were monitoring video footage from a RQ-1 Predator loitering overhead. The surveillance showed about 100 enemy fighters regrouping and massing in the village inside the compound, the air commanders said. And a fearsome AC-130 gunship was on its way.

The gunship went to work, tracking enemy targets with its infraredsensors and destroying them with its 25mm Gatling gun.

"They were watching them come out of those trench lines and move into the houses," Wallace said. "Once a bad guy went into the house, we chased them down with ordnance and took the guy out.

"The gunships went after fighters out in the open, he said, and left the buildings to laser-guided bombs and Global Positioning System-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions dropped by A-10s and F-16s.

The airstrikes ended at dawn Jan. 29, Wallace said, but ground troops were still engaging enemy fighters until about 8:30 a.m.

By the time the gunships returned to base, their firepower had killed an estimated 175 enemy fighters, he said.

By 9 a.m. the coalition force had advanced into the compound from the west, calling for the remaining fighters to surrender. Hundreds of dazed and wounded fighters emerged from bunkers and tunnels to lay down their arms, Wallace recalled. In all, 407 fighters surrendered, according to Army Master Sgt. Thomas Ballard from the MiTT team, which oversaw the processing of detainees in the week following the battle.

As the smoke cleared, Wallace recalled being overtaken by exhaustion, araging headache and a wave of elation.

The Americans and their Iraqi partners had destroyed a large,well-trained and heavily armed insurgent force while sustaining minimal casualties themselves.

"There was no fratricide and the enemy got dead," he said. "And weaccomplished it in about 24 hours. ...

"It's like winning the Super Bowl, you know.

" Staff writer Seamus O'Connor contributed to this report.

//SIGNED//AMY C. COOPER, 1st Lt, USAF
Chief, Operations
AFSOC Public Affairs
Hurlburt Field FL

Thanksgiving Message from Colonel Stratton

All-
From Col Stratton; please ensure that this message reaches all of ST, to include our troops forward.

To the Special Tactics Family:
As we celebrate this most American of holidays, I want to tell each and every one of you how extremely proud I am of all of you - our ST force. In a nutshell, our force has never been more combat capable, combat experienced, and relevant to the fight. Regardless of the AFSC or duty status (active duty, Guard/Reserve, Civilian, or Contractor), our people have never been more expert in what they do, and more effective overall in their duties and responsibilities. We continue to impress those who see our daily impact on operations, and our effects on the battlefield are far-reaching. Our three core skill areas of Combat Control, Pararescue, and Special Operations Weather have never been in higher demand; said another way, business is good. We have literally become a go-no go criterion for SOF tactical operations - that should be a point a pride for all ST warriors, past and present, for this has not always been the case. Our continuing demand is evidenced by the number of our people deployed in harm's way during this Thanksgiving. Remember those that are spending yet another holiday season away from their loved ones.

For our deployed warriors: you embody what we are about. We are a combat force, pure and simple, and you guys prove that every day. All of our disparate Group functions - current ops, training, weapons/tactics, etc - always find their way back to you, and your well-being. Thanks for all you do.

For the spouses, the families: do not ever think that you are not absolutely important to all of us. The sacrifices you make routinely in support of our mission are fundamental to our success, and you don't hear often enough what you deserve to hear - our thanks and deep appreciation for your continuing love and support.

We all continue to face day to day challenges, both collectively and individually, in our professional as well as our personal lives. Some of these challenges are serious, and tend to dissuade us, and may get us down. But it is during the holidays that we have the opportunity to stop and count our blessings. So, for this Thanksgiving, please pause in what you're doing, and take a moment to count those blessings.

Reflect on all the good things that we as Americans can be thankful for. For those fortunate enough to be spending time together with your loved ones, take full advantage of it...but please remember those who are unable to do so.
Please have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday.

V/R
STRATTON

CCT Blog Updated

I've added several new articles and tonight there will be several more photographs added to the blog.

http://combatcontrolteam.wordpress.com/

<https://mail.tacsurv.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?


But what I really need is your help. This is your chance to tell a war story and have someone actually listen.

See articles by Strobaugh, Crutchfield and others for format.

Sincerely,
Gene Adcock, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired CCSA Historical Foundation

Selected for Promotion to Chief Master Sergeant

Please congratulate the following members on their selection for promotion to Chief Master Sergeant.

SMSgt Mickey Wright
SMSgt Antonio Travis
SMSgt Joseph Stepanishen
SMSgt Paul Koester (PJ) Former CCT Officer

Analyst Position

The Walt Disney Company

Job Title: Analyst, Global Intelligence and Threat Analysis


Click on link for Position Description:
https://disney.recruitmax.com/main/careerportal/Job_Profile.cfm?szOrderI

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:The Analyst, Global Intelligence and Threat Analysis, anticipates and assesses threats that could harm, or make vulnerable, The Walt DisneyCompany (TWDC), its employees, guests, or assets. The analyst reviews information from open/public sources, official sources, and professional contacts, and conducts timely, accurate, relevant, and creative assessments of international security issues. He or she produces a range of written and verbal analyses for employees and management of the Company, supporting or driving the Company's security and crisis management operations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
*Bachelor's degree required; field of study such as political science,international relations, national security studies, journalism preferred.
*Three-to-five years analytic experience (or US Government GS-9 throughGS-12 equivalent) with an intelligence agency, law enforcement organization, the military, or the private sector
*US Government security clearance (at least Secret-level) desirable

Anyone interested should contact the Walt Disney Company via their corporate website and/or send an e-mail to Rodney Faraon, Director of Global Intelligence and Threat Analysis, The Walt DisneyCompany at: Rodney.Faraon@disney.com <mailto:Rodney.Faraon@disney.com>

62 MAW CCT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE JUMP

Scott Innis sent me this from McChord. It's a picture of the 62nd CCT right after a jump on 26 Feb 79. The manifest says the jump was at Silica DZ, WA. Type chute was A/P-28S/18 from 1500 agl. The top of the manifest says Total Solar Eclipse Jump. The jumpmaster was SMSgt Lewis O. Brabham and his assistant JM was 1Lt William Kempner

CCT Memorial Service

This link will take you to the NW Florida Daily News article about this years CCT Memorial Service.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/9949

The link will take you to Air Force News about tis years memeorial service

http://www.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?id=123074790

USAF Operations Team Member Position

USAF Operations Team Member

POSITION TITLE: USAF Operations Team Member

SECURITY CLEARANCE/LEVEL REQUIRED: TOP SECRET//SCIPRIMARY FUNCTION(S)

L-3 Communications Technical Services & Operations Department is seeking a full-time liaison office team member with expertise in U.S. Air Force Combat Operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Duties include (but are not limited to):
Providing subject matter expertise in U.S. Air Force Combat Operations and force employment criteria; analyzing the current battle space and provide recommendation for the employment of air power and suggested courses of action; recommend initiatives to improve force employment criteria; work in conjunction with deployed assets to ensure synchronization of available assets to meet commander requirements.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science or Arts degree from an accredited college or university

Relevant Experience (amount and type): Successful candidates must have:
(1) 7-10 years experience in Air Combat Operations and demonstrated technical competence; (2) the ability to clearly and effectively communicate information and comply with customer requirements; (3) the ability to adapt to various internal procedures; (4) the ability to envision entire projects or planning initiatives from start to finish,and have the ability to ensure that vision is realized; (5) a Top Secret//Specialized Compartmented Information Security Clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
(1) Bachelor of Science or Arts degree from an accredited college or university
(2) TOP SECRET//SCI
(3) 7-10 years military experience

WORKING LOCATIONS & ADDITIONAL INFO
Start Date: ASAP
Position Location: Reston, VA
Travel: Minimum travel required

CLICK HERE TO APPLY<http://www.titan.com/jobs/apply.html?callid=3&req_id=17962>

Chiefs,

Our Top 3 organization is putting together an AFSOC ring. It is kind of pricey estimated costs are $550 to $650. Attached is the basic graphics and 3-d of the proposed ring. If they get 10 people who are interested and are willing to buy then they will go to the next step of production.

Currently there are 4 who have said they would buy them. Thought this would be something you all might like.

If so, please let me know.

Thank you

Vr

Paulie

TSgt Coffey, Michael P. (Paulie)Exec Asst, AFSOC Command Chief

DSN: 579-2317 / Comm: 850-884-2317FAX: 1211

New CCT Tech Info

Air Force Special Operations Command is testing a new backpack-sized unmanned aerial vehicle this week and expects to field the system with AFSOC combat controllers by the end of the year.


http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/10/airforce_batmav_071017W/

UAV operators

Open Positions

Specialists, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

RONCO has unique opportunities for individuals to join our team in support of close range, short range, or endurance categories of overseas programs. UAV specialists are needed as team leaders and operators.

Qualifications:
* Two to three years of recent experience in operational UAV systems
* Self reliant and able to work independently or as a part of a multi-cultural team
* Fluency in English required
* Cultural awareness, sensitivity and responsiveness to local environments
* Computer literate
* Physically fit and in good health

Additional Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

* Operational UAV experience in:
- radar and communications
- intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
- systems design, engineering, integration
- test / evaluation- software development
* Experience in airspace coordination / management
* Experience in "national imagery transmission format" (NITF) imagery data helpful
* Experience working in developing countries in remote locations,austere living conditions, and challenging environments
* Must be able to deploy overseas for extended periods

May be subject to undergo a US Government background investigation.

To apply, please email your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to: jobs@roncowash.com

Jay Regan

Chief James A. Lyons Retirement Ceremony

Lt.Col. Michael E. Martin
Commander, 21st Special Tactics Squadron
requests the pleasure of your company
at which
Chief James A. Lyons will retire
on Friday, the ninth of November
at two thirty in the afternoon

McKellar’s Lodge
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

R.S.V.P. NLT 31 October 2007
Comm: 910/394-1592
DSN: 424-1592

Military: U.O.D.

Civilian: Casual

Reception Immediately Following Ceremony

Chief Master Sergeant Jack J. McMullen Retirement Ceremony

The men and women of

Joint Special Operations University

cordially invite you to a ceremony

honoring

Chief Master Sergeant Jack J. McMullen

on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force

Wednesday, the thirty-first of October

two thousand and seven

at three o’clock in the afternoon

Advanced Skills Training Auditorium

Hurlburt Field, Florida


Retirement Official
Mr. Robert B. Stephan
Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection
United States Department of Homeland Security


(Reception immediately following in back of AST)

R.S.V.P by 26 October 2007

Dress: Uniform of the Day

Civilian: Business Attire

Comm.: (850) 884-2108
DSN: 579-2108

E-Mail: Shannon.Goodwin@hurlburt.af.mil

CCT Historical Blog

The CCT Historical Blog has been updated and re-formatted on WordPress. It is not yet perfect, but is getting better.

Update at the following link:

http://combatcontrolteam.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/air-force-combat-controllers/

In addition, I am looking for stories from those across the entire CCT Spectrum - from 1953 to today.

Newspaper clippings can be quoted, * official government documents can be copied in total, * war stories will be told - with proper warning, but* photos will be reserved for future use. (I don't have enough space on WORDPRESS).

My long-term goal is to transplant the information from the Blog to the CCA or CCSA website. At that time, I hope to add lots of photos.

See you all at the reunion.
Sincerely,
Gene Adcock, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired Tactical & Survival Specialties, Inc. (TSSI).

A1C Andre Guillet Memorial

After several delays and much hem-hauling by the legal folks that had a hard time translating what the Air Force Instruction (AFI) meant to say about historical property and who can do what with the $$$ to build memorials, the base legal and 43rd AW Commander have approved our request to build a memorial for A1C Andre Guillet in front of the Combat Control School. This approval includes site, restoration, and long-term maintenance of the memorial. I have informed the maintenance troops and they are very excited to finally have their leadership's blessing to restore the O-1 Bird Dog.

The next project is deciding what granite stones to use and what will be said on these stones.

James A. Lyons, CMSgt, USAF

Combat Control Team Web Blog

Gene Adcock, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired has built a new web Blog

http://combatcontrolteam.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/air-force-combat-controllers/

Forward Air Control Subject Matter Expert and Training Developer

Responsibilities:

Serves as liaison between customers and FATS/Caswell related to courseware and equipment requirements.

Advises the Engineering, Product Development and Program Management Departments on issues related to Indirect and Forward Air Control doctrine, tactics, equipment and training. The objective of such advice is to help the Company ensure that system software, hardware, and courseware meets Customer requirements.

Develops courseware to customer specifications using Company designed authoring tools.

Responsible for development of training packages (lesson plans, student handouts, etc.) used to train the system operators.

Participates in product demonstrations. Supports Marketing and Program Management offices during briefings and demonstrations of the product.

Conducts testing of courseware and assist other departments in testing of hardware and software.

Performs installation of Company training simulators.

Conduct Training for company products and Forward Air Control Subjects.

Required skills:

Must have expertise in Joint Fires (Close Air Support and Call For Fire) and at least six years experience as a JTAC/JFO.

Operating knowledge for Microsoft Windows and Office products.

Desired skills:

Member of a Tactical Air Control Party or Combat Control Team.

Needs to be knowledgeable of small arms functioning and characteristics.
Experience as an instructor. Previous experience in use of FATS systems.

Must be customer service oriented and insure the customer is satisfied with training and our product.

General:

Must be able to travel for at least 20% of the time occasionally in two week blocks of time.

Must be able to attend conferences and seminars (at Company expense) to maintain currency in required skills.

CONTACT:
Charles.martin@fatsinc.com

1-800-813-9046 main desk

1-800-344-6771 help desk
or
Michael Weegar -
Military and Technical Sales

(t) 800.813.9046
(c) 678.697.9172
(f) 770.622.3501
(e) michael.weegar@fatsinc.com
FATS, Inc.
7340 McGinnis Ferry Rd
Suwanee, GA 30024
www.fatsinc.com <http://www.fatsinc.com/>

Northwest chapter of the CCA puts the 'high' in High Altitude

Hey All,

Pete Muschke, Rob Pittman, and I just completed the first of what we hope will be a long series of annual rides /get-togethers here in the great Northwest. We took the fabled North Cascade loop by storm - literally. You have to really commit if you are planning a ride up here. However, the payoff is well worth the risk. I've included a picture of what could easily be mistaken for a Judas Priest Reunion photo. Nevertheless, we had a great time and hope to be more organized for the riding season next year.

The POCs for this event are any of the following:

John Eklof - john_eklof@hotmail.com

Rob Pittman - prpittman@msn.com

Pete Muschke - pmuschke@msn.com

The Northwest chapter of the CCA puts the 'high' in High Altitude.

Take care - John

CCA Reunion Committee Member Meeting

Mike Ramos, CCA Vice President, will chair a Reunion Committee meeting in the 720 STG Conference Room on 28 Sep 07 at 1600L. The meeting is needed to finalize, in detail, each activity that the CCA is hosting for this year’s Annual Reunion, 31 October – 4 November 2007. We have picked Team Leaders (TL) for each committee, but still need volunteers to assist them. Any local CCA member, family member or Special Tactics assigned operator/support person who wants to volunteer, please try to attend the meeting. If you want to work on a particular committee please contact the assigned TL for that activity listed in Email. Your help will be appreciated by all who attend this year’s reunion. Thanks in advance for your support.

P.S.
The Hospitality Room at the Ramada Beach Resort will not be open to CCA members on 31 October due to another organization’s event there. Rumor has it that anyone who wants to get together can show up at Helen Back’s on Okaloosa Island that evening... they feature Pizza and Beer! By the way, it’s also Halloween Night – lots of toddlers out and about. So please remember to drink responsibly if you intend to drive.

Fraternally,

Wayne Norrad
President, CCA

Combat Control Wikipedia Site

ALL

We need to find some one to work the CCT Vietnam beginning January 1966.

There is a gigantic hole that needs to be filled in the post-Vietnam era - nearly forty years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Air_Force_Combat_Controllers

Sincerely, Gene Adcock, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired
Tactical & Survival Specialties, Inc. (TSSI).

J.C. Bradshaw visit 6 of Sept. 2007

On the 6 of Sept 2007 the Alaskan Branch of the CCA will have a get together at the HOW HOW CHINESE RESTAURANT at 207 Muldoon Rd. to renew friendships and welcome J.C. and Nancy Bradshaw to Alaska.

The management assured us a semi private dining area. Please plan on attending and we will start activities at 1200 Hours. Pass the word to other CCT members and wives and girl friends are invited.

Hope to see everyone there......Emmet

Wikipedia file for Combat Control

I have opened a Wikipedia file for Combat Control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:USAF_Combat_Control_Team_(CCT)

I am looking for wide-spread distribution of the URL and lots of input from Combat Controllers, past, present and future. Your assistance in spreading the word would be appreciated. If we do it right, we will be writing our own history book.

Sincerely,
Gene Adcock, CMSgt, USAF (CCT) Retired
Tactical & Survival Specialties, Inc. (TSSI).

Assault Zone positions at Cannon AFB, NM

Four Assault Zone positions opening 1 Oct 2007 at Cannon AFB, NM

Must have a minimum of 4 years experience performing CCT duties.

For more information about Cannon contact Capt Sobrilisky, Steven (Flight CC) at 505-784-2444


Send resume to:
Dewayne.morey.ctr@hurlburt.af.mil
Or
bbarnes@akima.com

Dewayne Morey
1 SOSS/OSR
AKIMA
850-884-1378
DSN 579-1378

Blackbird Technologies Inc. Position

Blackbird Technologies Inc. (BTI) is seeking individuals to work as Field Service Representatives (FSR) in support of several Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. The employee will work OCONUS with SOF or conventional military units in an advisory / master trainer role.


Prerequisites:

-- Retired or Former Special Operations personnel

-- Combat experience

-- SECRET Clearance minimum, TS preferred.

-- Experience with or Aptitude to learn technical information collection equipment to support War on Terrorism objectives.

-- Computer skills in Web-based applications, Microsoft Office suite,windows OS, Various viewing software programs such as Falcon View,Google Earth, C2PC, Streets and Trips, and Map Point.

-- Platform instructor certified or equivalent experience

-- Good Oral and writing skills.

-- Ability to travel as a singleton or in small elements and conduct MTT training.

-- Must work well with others

-- Self-starter

Travel:

-- BTI provides 90 days of initial training at several CONUS based locations.

-- OCONUS rotations are 90 on-90 off.

-- Employees will use Government JTR guidelines and be reimbursed through BTI accordingly.

Pay and Benefits:
-- Pay is very competitive.

-- Benefit packages vary based on the specific contract.

John Norsworthy Arlington Ceremony

Hi All,

I would like to pass on the word that John Norsworthy will be buried at Arlington Cemetery, Washington DC on August 2, 2007. The service will start at 0830.

Thanks...........Emmet

Gen. Wayne Downing Passing

Retired four-star Gen. Wayne Downing, the former commander of the country’s Special Forces and the president’s point man for counterterrorism in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, died Tuesday evening after a bout with meningitis, news outlets are reporting. (Peoria Journal Star 07/18/07)


Subject: RE: Gen Downing remarks


Thoughts:

-- a soldier's soldier.

-- former 3rd Rgr BN Cdr, Rgt Cdr, JSOC Cdr, SOCOM Cdr

-- REAL fast burner...started '90s as 1 star, retired from SOCOM in '98as 4 star.

-- Chief Lampe's first boss.

-- Had a great deal of interaction and thought very highly of CCT/ST...was instrumental in getting CCT into the fight in fmr Yugoslavia (Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR, Dec '96) as JTACs...one could ask the question, had it not been for our involvement there, would we have been as involved in subsequent OEF/OIF.

-- A big and sudden loss to the entire SOF community.


MF

Condition of Randy Dykes

All,

Wanted to get the word out on Randy Dykes. Randy underwent open heart surgery on 25th of June. He had a valve replaced through open heart surgery at UNC Chapel Hill.

All went well with the procedure. Then...

Randy's younger brother died 4 days later, and being stubborn like the rest of us, he checked himself out, drove to Mississippi for the funeral, and then collapsed on the way back. He is currently in intensive care at UNC.

Keep him in your prayers

James D. Cote
Director of Business Development
Phoenix Global Technology

Transformers Movie

These links are to stories about the Transformers Movie. This movie has a guy who portrays a Combat Controller.

http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123021474

www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/07/airforce_transformers_movie_070702/

CCA REUNION 2007

It’s that time again!
Join Us At The Combat Control Association’s Reunion!

This year there’s an award presentation, a Show & Tell, a BBQ, a golf tournament, a memorial, a business meeting, and a banquet. And of course, the hospitality room and country store will be up and running. It all begins on Halloween.

There is plenty of “socializing” time in the schedule so groups can get together to do something like lunch, dinner or a side-trip. It’s up to each group to plan and organize their own mini-event but we’ll try to help as much as we can. Just tell us what the plan is and who your POC will be.

STO/CCT of the Year Award Ceremony

The opening event for this year’s reunion will be the official presentation of the 2006 USAF Outstanding Special Tactics Officer/Combat Controller Awards. The ceremony is to take place in the Fresques Auditorium on Thursday morning at the Crate Advanced Skills Training Center on Hurlburt Field.

Special Tactics Officer
Captain Stewart Parker, 21 STS

Senior NCO
MSgt Anthony Baldwin, 24 STS

NCO
TSgt Richard Jaillett, 24 STS

Airman
SrA Daniel Adams, 321 STS

Advanced Skills Training Display

The award ceremony will be followed by an update on ST equipment and techniques at the Crate Center. Come see the latest gadgets & toys being used by CCT and tour the new AST compound and facilities.


CCA Barbeque

After you’ve been impressed by the men and equipment at AST, we’re having a barbeque at the Hurlburt Picnic Area, located on the south side of Hwy 98 across from the end of the Hurlburt runway. You don’t have to sign on the base to go to the barbeque. The hospitality suite and registration will be temporarily relocated to the picnic area during this event

The rest of Thursday is yours to socialize, shop, or just wander the beach.

CCA Golf Tournament

The tournament kicks off bright and early Friday at the Gator Lakes Golf Course on Hurlburt. It will be a best-ball, four-man team event using a modified shot-gun start. The tournament will be followed by a buffet for the golfers at the course Club House.

If you’re not a golfer then Friday is yours. The hospitality suite will be open starting around noon. And there are plenty of things to see & do in the Ft Walton Beach/Destin/Pensacola area.

CCA Memorial

Saturday starts with the CCA Memorial at the Hurlburt Air Park on Hurlburt Field at 1000. The speaker will be Colonel Marc Stratton, CCA Life Member and Commander of the 720th Special Tactics Group.

Annual Association Business Meeting

At 1300 on Saturday, the annual business meeting takes place at the Ramada. It is regular members only and the doors will shut at 1255. So get there early please.

CCA Banquet

The Reunion Banquet on Saturday begins with a pay-as-you-go cocktail hour starting at 1730 at the Ramada. The Banquet starts promptly at 1830. It’s a buffet style meal again this year with a variety of items sure to meet everyone’s tastes

Reunion Site

Ramada Plaza Beach Resort on Okaloosa Island
1500 Miracle Strip Parkway
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida 32548

To reserve a room for the reunion you must call the Ramada direct and make your own reservations.

The phone numbers are:
800-874-8962 Toll-Free Registration
850-243-9161 Local (During business hrs)

We have group rates again this year. Indicate you are with the CCA group to get the preferred rate. It is important you reserve your room in this block so we get credit toward our agreement with the hotel.

To get the preferred rate your reservations must be made by October 1, 2007

Payment information from the hotel:

All reservations must be guaranteed by credit card, which will be charged immediately. Individual reservations may be cancelled without penalty up to 72 hours prior to 4:00 pm on the date of arrival.

Payment at checkout can be made in the form of credit card, cash or travelers checks. Personal checks will not be accepted for final payment.

Transportation

Fly into Ft Walton Beach or Pensacola. It’s an hour or so drive to the hotel from Pensacola or 30 minutes from the Okaloosa Regional Airport. Rental cars are readily available at both.

If you aren’t active duty or a retiree you will need to be signed on the base at Hurlburt for the three reunion events being held there. Just let us know and we’ll make arrangements to get you on base.

Hospitality Suite Donations

Donations will gladly be accepted before-hand or in the hospitality suite for the “Buy a Keg for Your Comrades” fund that helps with the cost of the refreshments being served.

The Reunion Fee

There’s always some confusion about who pays the reunion fee and what it is used for. The fee applies to all (members, non-members, and their guests) who attend any of the reunion festivities. It is used to help cover the administrative costs of putting on the reunion, not to buy the refreshments. It’s not a donation. So, even if all you plan to do during the reunion is hang out at the hospitality suite or play in the golf tournament, you still have to stop at registration, sign up, and pay the fee.

Reunion Schedule
(Start times are still subject to change)

Wednesday – 31 October 2007 - Arrival Day
1200 – Registration Opens

Country Store Open Wednesday through Saturday

Thursday - 1 November 2007
1000 – USAF CCT OTY Presentation – CASTC
1130 – Special Tactics Display & Brief – CASTC
1300 – CCA Barbeque – Hurlburt Picnic Area
Cost: $12 per person

Hospitality Suite Open Thursday through Saturday

Friday - 2 November 2007
0800 – Golf Tournament – Gator Lakes Course
Cost: $45 per person (includes Buffet)

Saturday - 3 November 2007
1000 – CCT Memorial Service – Air Commando
Airpark
1300 – CCA Business Meeting – Ramada Inn
1730 – Cocktail hour – Ramada Inn
Pay as you go bar
1830 – CCA Banquet – Ramada Inn
Cost: $45 per person

Sunday - 4 November 2007 - Departure Day

John Norsworthy has passed

I have some sad news to report today, John Norsworthy passed away last night.

The pastor of the church is wanting stories of John e mailed to his address ednjude@gci.net.

Johns widow's address is Karen Norsworthy, PO BOX 211866, Anchorage, Alaska, 99526.

The President of the CCA Wayne Norrad took the time to assist Karen in her time of need while he was on a mission here in Alaska.

The members here in Alaska are saddened at the loss of John

The service for MSgt (Ret. ANG) John Norsworthy is on Thursday, 28 June 2007 at 1500. It's being held at the Eagle River Community Church. He'll be creamated and later buried at Arlington Cemetary.

Emmet said he was a Bronze Star w/Valor and Purple Heart Medal recipient.

He died from cancer caused by a brain tumor. After leaving CCT, he went to workwith the FAA as a Air Traffic Controller until losing his job during the strike.

After spending a few working for the school department, he hired on the police force in Anchorage, Alaska.

Wayne Norrad

Make a Wish Foundation and CCT

Click on the link shown and see how our guys at Hurlburt made this young mans dream come true.


http://community.emeraldcoast.com/news/airyque_16400___article.html/spe

AFA and USAF Announce the 2007 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

The Air Force Association is pleased to announce the United States Air Force's selection of the Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2007.

SSgt David Orvosh, Combat Control Journeyman, Pope AFB, North Carolina, AFSOC

AFA initiated the Outstanding Airman award in 1956 to recognize outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements. AFA honors the Twelve Outstanding Airmen at a special banquet held during our Air & Space Conference in Washington, DC. The Twelve are chosen by an Air Force selection board made up of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, a general officer and selected MajCom Command Chiefs. The Air Force Chief of Staff approves the final selections.

Searching for Joe Mahurin?

Locator Action: Searching for Joe Mahurin?

It appears someone is looking for Joe Mahurin. If so, a good contact for him is his son at Hill AFB, UT. His name is MSgt J. Wesley Mahurin and he is a crew supervisor in the tower there.

AST Building Dedication

This link should take you to the article covering the Advanced Skills Training Facility opening ceremony at Hurlburt Field.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123055377


RC

Warriors Thanks

Commander and Staff
123rd Special Tactics Squadron
Kentucky Air National Guard
Louisville Kentucky,

Dear Warriors:
It is with the utmost respect and admiration I write you today. Your support to the legacy and memory of your teammate MSGT Danny Ray Page truly exemplifies your quite professional image.

I and Danny’s family and friends lost a brother and a friend. You each lost a leader, mentor, friend and fellow warrior. We will be forever grateful for your steadfast service to us knowing you had to put aside your own mourning and grief to meet our needs. You did not falter in your service to your unit or your teammate; know that Danny would be both humbled and proud of each of you as you bid him God’s Speed as he journeyed to his next mission.

I know that you are each volunteers and that you will be looking at future deployments and even greater service for the freedoms that each of us in America enjoy; often time with little or no recognition. I also know that you have served valiantly in places like Roberts Ridge, Africa, and all over South-West Asia. I and Danny’s adopted family will pray for your continued safety and that of your families while you are away. You have a special place in our hearts and we will be here for you as well. To quote one of my former rival teams (Silver Team) “Danger gleams like sunshine in a brave mans eyes” and from where I sit, I have never met a more braver, compassionate and selfless group of men or women serving our nation. I leave you this final thought; Danny would want you to celebrate his life and not mourn his passing, because to him life was an adventure or it was nothing at all.

Sincerely,

//Signed//
Robert G Rankin CMST (USAF, CCT, Ret)

Combat Control School Association Restructuring

A Memo to all Combat Controllers

Subject: Restructuring of the Combat Control School Association and WebSite Update

Restructuring

The staff of the Combat Control School Association (CCSA) is in the process of restructuring the association. The goal is to better serve the Combat Control community through improved historical preservation and fund raising techniques.

Over the past 60 days the CCSA staff has looked at other organizations and historical programs; ie, groups and programs with similar interests as the CCSA. The goal is to improve the preservation of Combat Control history. The investigation suggested that we need to restructure and become a Historical Foundation. As a Historical Foundation we will operate under the umbrella of the 501(C) 3. This will give us more flexibility and

* Allow us to earmark funds under the one account for numerous projects.

* Open doors to federal funding for qualified projects.

These two examples are just a few of the benefits that will be open for us as a Foundation insofar as funding. In addition, the new foundation will select members to serve on the Board of Governors. As an example,we would anticipate that governing members of the CCA would be selected to serve on the Board of Governors. This would serve to improve communications between the new foundation and the community it is designed to support.

Web Site Update

In the past we were a .com we are now a .org.

The correct site address is

www.combatcontrolschoolassociation.org< http://www.combatcontrolschoolassociatiion.org/>

Thanks,
Chief Lyons

720 STG STO/CCT of the Year winners

On behalf of Col Stratton,
The 720th STG would like to congratulate this years 720 STG Combat Controllers of the Year. These milestones were achieved based on the outstanding performance and accomplishments of these individuals. Their dedication to AFSOC, and specifically to the ST mission, truly set them apart. Again, congratulations for being singled out for this truly prestigious award.

STO of the Year: 1Lt Stewart Parker 21 STS

CCT SNCO of the Year: MSgt Anthony Baldwin 24 STS

CCT NCO of the Year: TSgt Richard Jaillett 24 STS

CCT Amn of the Year: SrA Dean Conner 23 STS

Please congratulate them for their outstanding achievements.

AFSOC 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year Banquet

The ST community did exceptionally well this year by sweeping the enlisted categories -

Airman: SrA David Orvosh, (CCT) 21st Special Tactics Squadron

NCO: SSgt Jonathan McCoy, (PJ) 24th Special Tactics Squadron

SNCO: MSgt Michael West, (CCT) 23rd Special Operations Squadron

The banquet is a way to publicly support our winners and congratulate them. I would like to invite you to attend the event and pack the convention center with Special Tactics!

I am the squadron POC for the event so please direct any and all questions to me.

Here is the info on the event:

What: 12 OAY Banquet

When: 4 May @ 1800

Where: Emerald Coast Conference Center

Cost: $30 per person - Cash or Checks only - Checks made out to AFSOC Enlisted Fund

Dress: Military - Mess Dress/Semi Formal...Civilian - Black Tie/EveningGown

V/R,MSgt Troy Dobson
720 OSS/CCF
Com: (850) 884-5158
DSN: 579-5158

Danny Page Final Jump and DZ Boogie

Danny Page Final Jump and DZ Boogie: “Who’s your Danny Day”


28 April 2007, Raeford DZ, Raeford NC DZ Link

(http://www.jumpraeford.com/index.htm)


1000: Show at DZ

1030-1600: Pay as you go fun Jumps

1600: Practice jump for the ash scattering

1930: 123rd jumps Flags for presentation

1935: Ash Load departs for drop

1950: Exit for ash release

2000: Flags presented then Condition X begins (Old Pope Team Phrase) Miller (Lite) Time

Please note:

Inclement weather may accelerate the time-line or cause a slip to Sunday the 29th in the early morning

Feel free to distribute this to your contacts

Thank you all for you support and remembrances of my Brother MSgt Danny Page

V/r

Robert Rankin
DHS/Arizona Fusion Center
robert.g.rankin@dhs.gov