Expanding spec ops

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Combat control and pararescue trainees from the 720th Operations Support Squadron Advanced Skils Training flight at Hurlburt Field, Fla., run to their rally point after off-loading a helicopter Sept. 7, 2007. The special tactics Airmen were conducting a combat search and rescue training scenario on the Eglin Air Force Base range. AST is the last phase of training for combat controllers before they report to operations special tactics squadrons.


Expanding spec ops
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 1, 2008 8:03:34 EDT

The Army’s and Navy’s special operations forces have grown by 25 percent, and the Air Force has to keep up.

So Air Force leaders plan to open up more than 2,000 slots from 2010 to 2015 for airmen to either cross-train or get reassigned into the Air Force Special Operations Command.

And you don’t have to be a snake eater to join up.

AFSOC needs more combat controllers, pararescuemen and combat weathermen, but there is an urgent and even greater need to add imagery analysts and special ops pilots, said Brig. Gen. Bradley Heithold, AFSOC’s director of plans, programs, requirements and assessments.

The request for additional personnel and aircraft is included in a budget document sent to the president that outlines military needs over a five-year period.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/08/airforce_afsoc_growth_082808/%2e