JTAC is NOT a job...it's a qualification

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***UPDATE: SOWT to SR Transition***

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Tired of seeing "JTAC" patches every where...me too ! !

Introduction

JTAC is NOT a job...it's a qualification.

In this guide we will cover who is/can be qualified as a JTAC as well as other Air Force Special Operation Forces.

Air Force Special Ops Command

AFSOC
Air Force Special Operatoins Command
^^^This is outdated^^^

AFSOC has several "Wings" under its Operational Control (OPC) and the 492nd Special Operations Wing (Warfare training center).

These "Wings" are very much like Special Forces Groups (SFG) in that they are a combination of specialized combat and combat support assets

Each "Wing" has at least one "Group"' under its OPC

These "Group"s have mostly:

• Special Tactics Squadrons

• Special Operation Squadrons

• Operations Support Squadrons

***Only Special Tactics Squadron (STS) are considered "Special Forces" Units.***

ALL AFSOC units are considered Special Operation Forces (SOF), while only STS and its Operators are the only "Special Forces" in the AFSOC

1st Special Operations Wing

The 1st Special Ops Wing provides
Combat Service and Support by way of:

• infiltrate/exfiltrate platforms

• resupply/refuel logistics

• other SOF elements on the ground/air

Combat Service by way of:

• CAS

• intelligence

• surveillance and reconnaissance

• analysis/sitautional/targeting projection

• CSAR (Combat Search & Rescue) platforms

24th Special Operations Wing

24th Special Ops Wing provides:

• 720th Special Tactics Squadron
  • "Combat Controllers"s
  • "Tactical Air Party Contol Airmen"s
  • "Pararescumen"s
  • "Special Operations Weather Technicians"s
  
  
• 724th Special Tactics Squadron
  • ***24th STS***
  • "Combat Controllers"s
  • "Tactical Air Party Contol Airmen"s
  • "Pararescumen"s
  • "Special Operations Weather Technicians"s
  • Special Tactics Training Squadron

27th Special Operations Wing

The 27st Special Ops Wing provides

Combat Service and Support by way of:

• infiltrate/exfiltrate platforms

• resupply/refuel logistics

• other SOF elements on the ground/air

Combat Service by way of:

• CAS

• intelligence

• surveillance and reconnaissance

• analysis/sitautional/targeting projection

• CSAR (Combat Search & Rescue) platforms

352nd and 353rd Special Ops Wing

Both the 352nd and 353rd Special Ops Wing provides:

• 352nd - USEUCOM and USAFRICOM (Europe/Africa regions)

• 353rd - USPACOM (Pacific region)

with aircraft and combat support/services as well as Special Tactics Squadron Operators

They are a hybrid version of the other SOWs which are mostly either Combat Support/Service or STS Operators.

492nd Special Operations Wing

This SOW contains the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School and is:

• AFSOC's formal school conducting SOFs education/professional development

429nd SOW also contains several Squadrons that:

• have a AF Reserve command

• trains/assits foreign aviation units

• the operational effectiveness and suitability of aircraft, equipment and tactics

• are responsible for the training of combat-ready SOFs

• Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Irregular Warfare integrated skills training

• provide Civil engineer and Communication services

AF Reserve SOWs

Air Force Reserve Special Operation Wing include:

• 137th

• 193th

• 919th

Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)

TACP
Tactical Air Control Party

***Not all TACP were created equal***
2 types of TACP exist:

• TACP for 'big" Army (is not SOF TACP)

• Special Tactics for SOFs (is SOF TACP)

SPECIAL TACTICS TACP primary mission is to provide:

• terminal attack control

• fire support

• integrating air combat power

• surface fires into the ground scheme of maneuver

Their services are rendered to:

• all three Ranger Battalions (75th Ranger RTG)

• Ranger Regiment's Reconnaissance Company (75th Ranger Special Troops BN)

• SF ODA teams

• Navy SEAL Team platoons

• other Special Mission Units (SAD)

As a pre-requisite to become a TACP, they MUST be JTAC qualified

Combat Control Team (CCT)

CCT
Combat Control Team


CCTs are civilian-certified FAA air traffic controllers. On the battlefield they are similar to Pathfinders.

Their primary mission is to:

• establish Landing Zones (rotary winged)

• establish Drop Zones (fixed winged)

• establish airfields

• conduct air traffic control (ATC)

Their secondayr mission is to:

• fire support by CAS/artillery

• Command and Control (C2)

• foreign internal defense (FID)

They execute this mission by:

• covertly deploy into hostile and non-pervasive environments

• use several SOF infiltration/exfiltration techniques

Pararescue (PJ)

PJ
Pararescue

Pararescue (PJ) primary function is to:

• perform personnel recovery operations

• provide battlefield emergency medical care

• uthenticate, extract, treat, stabilize and evacuate injured or isolated personnel.

• CSAR (Combat Search & Rescue)

They deploy:

• anywhere/anytime

• via air-land-sea tactics

• into restricted/non-pervasive environments

Special Operations Weather Technicians (SOWT)

(SOWT)
Special Operations Weather Technicians



SOWTs are the Air Force's equivalent to a meteorologists but with advanced tactical training to operate any where in the world, under any circustance and at any time. They are instrumental to ensure rotary/fixed winged have correct and up-to-date weather information to include future projected patterns. They are also key to informing other units as to the meteorogistic reality in any theater.

Their primary mission is to:

• collect and interpret weather data

• colect intelligence on the battlefield

They too can infiltrate/exfiltrate using various SOF techniques

***UPDATE*** SOWT Transition to SR

In the Spring of 2019, SOWT changed its title and main job description from weather analysis to SR (Special Reconnaissance).

Many AFSOF specialties allow friendly forces to operate in non-pervasive areas in what are known as "access packages". These assets traditionally allow for AFSOF to prepare DZ/LZ for follow-on friendly forces, supplies and equipment.

Examples of these core mission profiles include:

• DZ/LZ reconnaissance (now a SR capability)

• DZ/LZ set-up

• DZ/LZ management and aircraft deconfliction

• Terminal munition control

• SR (SOWT capability) to analyze current and future weather patterns to better advise pilots and CAS operations

SR personnel will focus less on weather analysis training and much more on reconnaissance abilities.

Since AFSOF does not have a culture or tradition of SR tasking, their training, employment and intelligence analysis will certainly be a challenge to manage. Until AFSOF training courses with qualified SR cadre, ISR support and intelligence analysis units are fielded, AFSOF will need to rely heavily on sister SOF units to fill the gap.

Reconnaissance roles and abilities for the U.S. Military have drastically changed over the years. Because of the reorganization of recon units and the introduction of always improving technologies, a guide on Reconnaissance: Units, Equipment and Employment will be created in the near future.

Special Operations Surgical Teams (SOST)

SOST
Special Operations Surgical Teams

These teams are:

• mobile surgical specialists with advanced medical/tactical training

When a SOF Airman is injured, SOST is there to provide critical care to their patients


SOST provide 4 specific medical services:

• Advanced trauma resuscitation

• Tactical damage control surgery

• Post-op critical care

• Critical care evacuation

SOST work in austere/non-pervasive environments
Special "man-pack mobile" units are their possession so that they can quickly respond/support as the need arises

Operations can occur in:

• fixed land or sea platforms

• aboard any SOF aircraft/vehicle

• in field expedient structures

SOSTs deploy in 6 member team:
1) Emergency physician
2) General surgeon
3) Nurse anesthetist
4) Critical care nurse
5) Surgical technician
6) Respiratory therapist

Conclusion

If you are to take one thing away from this guide be it this:

JTAC is 'just' a qualifier...it is NOT a job description

On a similar note, TACP are JTAC qualified and some CCTs are too

For Arma III, a TACP is much more useful than a CCT BUT can/should be used as Pathfinders

[MFd00m1775]

lmao DEAD ass....... LMAO

[yukiboi]

This is the most boot fuckin post I've ever seen, its a game, calm the fuck down

[Finger Jam]

JTAC is a Joint qualification, any service member who passes the course can earn that qualification.

[Sir Cumsicion]

utter boot shit

[First Sea Lord Kiwi]

k

[Haruna Ryou]

thanks for the article, I was always confused with JTAC/TACP and CCT.

[Greybeard]

Very true...it will be interesting to see the transition ! However, SOWT skills will remain a small part of their duties.

[Tyman2323]

SOWT is now Special Recon

[Greybeard]

CCTs do NOT have to be JTAC qualified but many can be and are qualified. TACPs are the only ones where JTAC is considered the basis of their qualification...

[DirectReputation]

I have a question. Do CCT member have to be JTAC certfied or is FAA certified the only requirement? Then, do only some CCTs become JTAC certified?