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  • U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, pins the Silver Star Medal onto U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Chris Grove, a Special Tactics combat controller assigned as the 720th Special Tactics Group superintendent, during a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Nov. 15, 2019. Grove was awarded the nation’s third highest medal against an armed enemy of the United States in combat for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan in November 2007. Grove was originally awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, but his award package was reviewed and resubmitted for an upgrade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rachel Williams)

    Special Tactics Chief awarded Silver Star for countering overwhelming Afghan ambush

    What began as a typical reconnaissance patrol during a brisk November in Afghanistan quickly took a devastating turn for the worst. U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Chris Grove, a Special Tactics combat controller assigned as the 720th Special Tactics Group superintendent, delivered thousands of pounds of munition, securing the safety of his joint and partner forces, and now he’s receiving the Silver Star Medal.
  • U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Jon "AJ" Ciechomski, Special Tactics officer.

    Special Tactics Officer passes after battle with cancer

    U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Jon "AJ" Ciechomski, 27, a Special Tactics officer with the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, died after a battle with cancer at home with his family in St. Clairesville, Ohio, Wednesday.
  • U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff, Special Tactics combat controller.

    Special Tactics Airman identified, recovery efforts ongoing

    The Special Tactics Airman who had an unplanned parachute departure from a C-130 aircraft, November 5, 2019, over the Gulf of Mexico, south of Hurlburt Field, has been identified. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff, 29, was a Special Tactics combat controller with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command.
  • Family members and teammates of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin pose in front of the #43 Coca-Cola Chevy, which bares Elchin’s name on the windshield, before the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 Miles of Remembrance race on May 26, 2019, Concord, North Carolina. Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller, was killed in action when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2018, while deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rachel Yates)

    NASCAR honors fallen Special Tactics Airman

    Family members and teammates of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin attend the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 Miles of Remembrance race on May 26, 2019, Concord, North Carolina. Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller, was killed in action when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2018, while deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Special Tactics operators are U.S. Special Operations Command’s tactical air-to-ground integration force and the Air Force’s special operations ground force leading global access, precision strike, personnel recovery, and battlefield surgery operations.
  • U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Airmen with the 24th Special Operations Wing perform avalanche training at Moran, Wyoming, Dec. 13, 2016. Special Operations Weather Team Airmen have been an integral piece of Special Tactics with unique training to conduct multi-domain reconnaissance and surveillance across the spectrum of conflict and crisis. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sandra Welch)

    Air Force transitions enlisted specialty, grows Special Tactics capabilities

    Enlisted Airmen have been analyzing weather since the very beginning of American military flight in 1917. Decades of hard-earned experience led to Special Operations Weather Team Airmen being designated with their own Air Force Specialty Code in 2008. By combining the core skills of Special Operation Forces with their meteorology skills, SOWTs have been a critical asset to the War on Terror. Alongside Special Tactics teammates from forward deployed locations, SOWTs would gather, assess, and interpret environmental data in order to forecast weather impacts to operations. In a location like Afghanistan, this was vital to successful air-ground operations.
  • A Special Tactics Airmen with the 24th Special Operations Wing salutes a baton carrying the name of a fallen brethren during the Special Tactics Ruck March Memorial Ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, March 4, 2018.

    Special Tactics Airmen culminate 830-mile ruck march to honor fallen brethren

    Aches, blisters, exhaustion, pain…830 miles, five states, 11 days…are a minute price to pay to honor the fallen. The push to continue on for these Air Commandos come from their communities’ legacy of never forgetting a fallen comrade, from the pride instilled within themselves, and from reaching down and grabbing one of 20 batons that contained an inscribed name of a fallen teammate. Air Force Special Operations Command Special Tactics Airmen, along with a mission support force of 19 Air Commandos assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing, began the 5th iteration of the Special Tactics Memorial March in the pre-lit dawn, Feb. 22 at Medina Annex at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to pay tribute to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin. 
  • U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Guilmain, command chief of the 24th Special Operations Wing, narrates the promotion ceremony of U.S. Air Force Col. Claude K. Tudor, Jr., at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Feb. 8, 2019.

    Commander of Special Tactics enterprise promoted to brigadier general

    Hundreds of family, friends and teammates gathered as U.S. Air Force Col. Claude K. Tudor, Jr., commander of the 24th Special Operations Wing, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general during a ceremony Feb. 8, here.
  • Elchin, along with U.S. Army Capt. Andrew Ross and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Emond, were killed in action when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2018, while deployed in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel. U.S. Army Sgt. Jason McClary died later as a result of injuries sustained from the IED.

    ‘Til Valhalla’: Special Tactics combat controller laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

    Known for his grit, loyalty, unwavering character, and the author of quick-witted military cadences, often referred to as “jodies,” Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin was tough, dedicated, and easy going—often making light of difficult situations. He was a good teammate, a selfless friend and a true patriot who expressed a willingness to lay down his life for what he believed in—God and country. Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller assigned to the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, was honored as hundreds gathered in the rain and he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Jan. 24, 2019.
  • The Special Warfare Technical Integration Support Center opened its doors during a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Jan. 11, 2018.

    Special Warfare TISC opens doors to solve tomorrow’s problems, dedicated to ST founder

    The Special Warfare Technical Integration Support Center opened its doors during a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony in Fort Walton Beach, Jan. 11, as the newly named Col. John T. Carney Center of Excellence. With the name of “Coach” Carney embodied within the 25,000 square foot facility, the roots of Special Tactics aim to inspire employees of the SW-TISC every day.
  • Airmen and family members perform memorial pushups in honor of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller with the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, during a memorial service in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, Dec. 6, 2018.

    Fallen Special Tactics operator remembered during hometown memorial

    Hundreds of Special Tactics Airmen, family and friends gathered to commemorate a fallen teammate, son, fiancé, and warrior during a memorial service, Dec. 6, 2018, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The memorial honored the life and legacy of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller assigned to the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, who was killed Nov. 27, 2018, when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb while deployed in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.
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