An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Air Force Special Tactics

Air Force Special Tactics operators are a highly-trained ground force that integrates with air assets to accomplish strategic missions. These teams are comprised of Combat Controllers (CCT), Pararescuemen (PJ), Special Reconnaissance (SR), and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) specialists, led by Special Tactics Officers (STOs). Their expertise includes a range of insertion methods like parachuting and combat diving, as well as mission-critical tasks like close air support and airfield seizure operations.

Apply:

 

  • Global Access

    STO
    Cycle Application Deadline Selection
    27-01 Aug. 21, 2026 Oct. 18-23, 2026
    27-02 Jan. 22, 2027 March 8-12, 2027

  • Personnel Recovery

    SOST
    Cycle Application Deadline Selection
    26-01 Feb. 23, 2026 April 6-10, 2026
    26-02 July 6, 2026 Aug. 24-27, 2026

 

  • Global Access
    TACP
    Cycle Application Deadline Selection
    26-01 March 6, 2026 April 27-30, 2026
    26-02 Aug. 10, 2026 Sept. 21-25, 2026
  • Precision Strike
    SERE
    Cycle Application Deadline Selection
    26-01 March 6, 2026 April 27-30, 2026
    26-02 Aug. 10, 2026 Sept. 21-25, 2026
  • Personnel Recovery
    EOD
    Cycle Application Deadline Selection
    26-01 Dec. 1, 2025 Jan. 26-30, 2026
    26-02 To Be Announced To Be Announced

LEARN MORE:

STO

Special Tactics Officers provide leadership and subject matter expertise for special tactics forces. They are responsible for the strategic and tactical planning of special operations missions, and they manage the command and control elements required to employ their teams globally.

SOST

Special Operations Surgical Teams (SOSTs) are rapidly-deployable medical teams that provide life-saving surgical care in combat and non-permissive environments. Equipped with specialized gear, SOSTs operate independently and in austere conditions, delivering critical medical support to special operations ground forces far forward of any established hospital.

TACP

YOU MUST ALREADY BE A TACP WITHIN THE USAF TO APPLY

Tactical Air Control Party specialists in Air Force Special Tactics integrate with the Air Force's special operations ground force to provide joint fires expertise. In this role, these operators receive advanced training, including military freefall, and attach directly to other special operations teams from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. They are the subject matter experts for precision strike and also train for personnel recovery and global access missions as part of a special tactics team.

SERE

YOU MUST ALREADY BE A SERE SPECIALIST WITHIN THE USAF TO APPLY

Special Tactics SERE Specialists are the primary personnel recovery and escape and evasion experts for the Air Force's special operations ground force. They both deploy with special tactics teams and, in garrison, are responsible for developing and conducting realistic training scenarios to prepare operators for any environment. This role includes opportunities to attend numerous advanced qualification schools.

EOD

YOU MUST ALREADY BE AN EOD TECHNICIAN WITHIN THE USAF TO APPLY

Special Tactics EOD Technicians provide an internal explosive ordnance disposal capability for the Air Force's special operations ground force. These technicians integrate directly with a Special Tactics Team during training and deployments. The role provides opportunities to attend advanced courses such as Marine Special Operations Forces EOD Level 1, static-line airborne, and military freefall schools.