High flying Chief

Chief Master Sgt. Of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley soars high above North Carolina during a tandem parachute jump with a member of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron from Pope Air Force Base, N.C. The rare opportunity to jump with special tactics Airmen took place when Chief McKinley was accompanying Chief Master Sgt. Michael Gilbert, command chief of Air Force Special Operations Command, on a recent tour of AFSOC units. Special tactics Airmen - combat controllers, pararescuemen and special operations weathermen ? work with special operators from all services on missions deep in enemy territory. Their expertise includes conducting personnel recovery missions, collecting intelligence and providing terminal guidance for air attacks against valuable enemy targets. They also generate high fidelity, localized, mission tailored weather forecasts for the ingress, employment, and egress of air, land and sea forces. (Courtesy photo)