Special tactics: Do you have what it takes? Published March 16, 2007 By 720th OSS/AST HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In special tactics, just getting to work is extreme. Special tactics Airmen freefall out of an aircraft and use ram-air parachute to land at a precise location - on land or at sea. They infiltrate by amphibious means by either rubber raiding craft or combat dive using SCUBA gear. They operate on airfields with motorcycles, travel cross-country on skis, or climb mountains - these are just a few of the ways to get to work. When these Airmen get to the job, lives can be saved or taken, whatever the mission requires. This is Air Force special tactics, and the motto is "First There...That Others May Live." Being in Air Force special tactics is exciting. The team members perform one of three important jobs: combat controller, pararescue or special operations weather. Airmen who have at least two years on active duty and have considered cross-training, are eligible to apply. Air Force special tactics is a challenging, exciting, rewarding career. Air Force special tactics operators play a key role in the Global War on Terrorism and are in great demand. Unfortunately, these critical warriors cannot be mass produced. Combat Control The combat controllers' mission is to deploy undetected into combat and hostile environments to establish assault zones or airfields, while simultaneously conducting air traffic control, air strikes, command and control, direct action, counterterrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance and special reconnaissance. Pararescue Pararescue Airmen, known as PJs, participate in search and rescue, combat search and rescue, recovery support for NASA and conduct other operations as appropriate. They primarily function as personnel recovery specialists, with emergency medical capabilities in humanitarian and combat environments. They deploy into restricted environments to authenticate, extract, treat, stabilize and evacuate injured personnel, while acting in an enemy-evading, recovery role. Special operations weathermen Special operations weathermen are meteorologists with advanced tactical training to operate in hostile or denied territory. They collect localized weather information, assist with mission planning, provide intelligence and generate accurate, mission-tailored target and route forecasts in support of special operations. The 720th Special Tactics Group will hold two events in March to assist interested Airmen to join our team. There will be a recruiting brief from 1-2 p.m. March 27 in the 720th Special Tactics Group conference room, Bldg. 90310. A pre-requisite physical ability stamina test will be held 8 a.m. March 31 starting at the base pool and finishing at the Aderholt Fitness Center. The goal is to identify, train, and prepare potential recruits for special tactics training. Interested Airmen should attend the recruiting brief on March 27 and find out how to cross train into one of these exciting career fields. Visit www.specialtactics.com to get information on career field requirements and background information. For more information, call Wayne Norrad at 884-4246 or 2nd Lt. Sam Schindler at 884-4250.