Special Tactics Airmen honored at memorial

Fellow Special Tactics Airmen pound their beret flashes into a board following a memorial ceremony for Tech Sgt. Timothy Officer Jr., a tactical air control party Airman, and Tech Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun, a combat controller, at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Aug. 7, 2015. Officer and Bettelyoun, both assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing, died from injuries sustained during an freefall training accident on Eglin Range, Fla., Aug. 3, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Callaway/Released)

Special Tactics Airmen honored at memorial

A traditional boots, helmet and weapon display stood as silent witnesses as more than 500 Airmen, friends and family members honored Tech. Sgt. Timothy Officer Jr., a tactical air control party Airman, and Tech. Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun, a combat controller, at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Aug. 7, 2015. These men died from injuries sustained Aug. 3 in a freefall training accident on Eglin Range, Fla. Both were assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing, and they will be buried with full military honors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Callaway/Released)

Special Tactics Airmen honored at memorial

More than 500 Airmen, friends and family members gathered to mourn the loss of Tech. Sgt. Timothy Officer Jr., a tactical air control party Airman, and Tech. Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun, a combat controller, at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Aug. 7, 2015. Both Airmen died from injuries sustained in a freefall training accident on Eglin Range, Fla., Aug. 3, 2015. Both Special Tactics Airmen, assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing, will be buried with full military honors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Callaway/Released)

Special Tactics Airmen honored at memorial

Published Aug. 7, 2015
By 1st Lt. Katrina Cheesman
24th Special Operations Wing

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Two Special Tactics Airmen were honored during a private memorial service here today.

More than 650 friends and family members gathered to mourn the loss of Tech. Sgt. Timothy Officer Jr. and Tech. Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun. They were fatally injured during a military freefall training accident on Eglin Range, Aug. 3, 2015.

During the ceremony, both Special Tactics Airmen posthumously received the Meritorious Service Medal for their impact on the Air Force’s ground special operations training and mission.

Members from the base lined Cody Avenue to honor the families on their way to the ceremony.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott ordered the state capitol flag and all Okaloosa county city hall flags today at half-staff in honor of their sacrifice.

Officer and Bettelyoun will be buried with full military honors at a later date.

“Both were fine men who were among a part of a band of brothers in the profession of arms dedicated to serving our great nation,” said Lt. Col. Jake Miller, 720th Operations Support Squadron commander. “They volunteered to protect the American way of life … these Airmen warriors volunteered to serve in two of the most dangerous career fields in the Air Force. They deployed to war zones far away, fighting with uncommon valor and always returning home heroes. Both were clearly warriors, but they were also sons, brothers, teammates and father … as long as there is a Special Tactics operator alive, the memory of Timmy and Marty will never be forgotten.”

Officer, 32, was a tactical air control party Airman assigned to the 720th OSS. He was a 14-year combat veteran with multiple deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He earned multiple medals including two Bronze Stars (one with Valor) for his bravery. Officer is survived by his parents.

Bettelyoun, 35, was a combat controller assigned to the 720th OSS. He was a 15-year combat veteran with multiple deployments to several combat zones and sensitive areas around the world. Bettelyoun is survived by his wife and five children.

The cause of the incident is not yet determined. More information will be released after the accident investigation is completed.

The 720th OSS is part of the 720th Special Tactics Group, 24th Special Operations Wing, at Hurlburt Field, Fla.