720th Special Tactics Group

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720th Special Tactics Group
720th Special Tactics Group airmen jump 20071003.jpg
720th Special Tactics Group airmen jump from a C-130J Hercules
Active October 1, 1987 – present
Country  United States of America
Branch  United States Air Force
Type Special Operations Forces
Role Organize, train and equip ST forces worldwide to integrate, synchronize, and/or control air power during operations.
Size 800[1]
Part of 20px U.S. Special Operations Command
Shield of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.svg Air Force Special Operations Command
24th Special Operations Wing insignia.jpg 24th Special Operations Wing
Garrison/HQ Hurlburt Field
Engagements Persian Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Decorations Gallant Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device
Insignia
720th Special Tactics Group emblem (Approved 9 June 1988)[2] 720th Special Tactics Group insignia.jpg

The 720th Special Tactics Group is one of the special operations ground components of the 24th Special Operations Wing, assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) of the United States Air Force. The group is headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The group is composed of geographically separated squadrons in five separate states; Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina and Washington.

Overview

The Group's Special Tactics Squadrons are made up of Special Tactics Officers, Combat Controllers, Combat Rescue Officers, Pararescuemen, Special Operations Weather Technicians, Air Liaison Officers, Tactical Air Control Party personnel, and a number of combat support airmen which comprise 58 Air Force specialties.[3]

Special Tactics Squadrons are organized, trained and equipped specifically for various special operations missions facilitating air operations on the battlefield. They conduct combat search and rescue missions, collect intelligence, as well as call in close air support or airstrikes against enemy combatants and are often partnered with other U.S. special operations forces overseas.

Subordinate units

File:720th STG 2008.jpg
720th STG airmen during the transition ceremony of the 17th ASOS from Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command.

The 720th Special Tactics Group is assigned five special tactics squadrons and a support squadron.[3]

Other missions

The 720th STG also serves as the functional manager for two Special Tactics squadrons stationed outside the United States, the 320th Special Tactics Squadron under the 353d Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and the 321st Special Tactics Squadron under the 352d Special Operations Wing at RAF Mildenhall, England.[1]

There are two Air National Guard units that augments the 720th STG for training and deployments, the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, based at Standiford Field,[1] and the Oregon Air National Guard's 125th Special Tactics Squadron, based at Portland International Airport.

History

Prior to May 2014, special operations weather technicians were assigned to the 10th Combat Weather Squadron. The decision was made to integrate these technicians with the other special operators serving in the special tactics squadrons and the squadron was inactivated upon their transfer.[4]

Master Sergeant Ivan Ruiz, deployed from the group's 22d Special Tactics Squadron to Kandahar Province Afghanistan, was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions on 10 December 2013. Sgt Ruiz and two Army Special Forces teammates had become separated from the main friendly body of troops while infiltrating enemy territory. The three were trapped in a courtyard by intense enemy fire that wounded Sgt Ruiz's two companions. Sgt Ruiz sprinted from his position to the exposed position of the two wounded teammates to defend them. Ruiz continued to fight the enemy alone until reinforcements arrived. Once they did, he dragged his teammates to a nearby position of concealment and administered life-saving trauma care.[5]

Lineage

  • Designated as the 1720th Special Tactics Group and activated on 1 October 1987
  • Redesignated 720th Special Tactics Group on 31 March 1992.[2]

Assignments

Components

  • 10th Combat Weather Squadron: 1 August 1996 - 7 May 2014[4][6]
  • 17th Air Support Operations Squadron (later 17th Special Tactics Squadron): 1 October 2008 – Present
Ft. Benning, Georgia[7]
  • 21st Special Tactics Squadron: 21 May 1996 – Present
Pope Air Force Base (later Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina[8]
  • 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, unknown - Present
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
  • 1723d Special Tactics Squadron (later 23rd Special Tactics Squadron): unknown - Present
  • 1724th Special Tactics Squadron (later 24th Special Tactics Squadron): 1 October 1987 - 29 April 2011
Pope Air Force Base (later Pope Army Airfield), North Carolina[9]
  • 26th Special Tactics Squadron: 28 February 2014 – Present
Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico[10]
  • 720th Operations Support Squadron: 29 November 2004 – Present
  • Special Tactics Training Squadron, 1 June 2008 - 1 October 2008[7][11]

Stations

Awards

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
GUC Streamer.JPG Gallant Unit Citation 1 January 2008-30 September 2009 [2]
AF MUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Meritorious Unit Award 1 January 2008-30 September 2009
AFOUA with Valor.jpg Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device 1 September 2001-31 August 2003 [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 August 1991-31 July 1993 [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 August 1993-31 July 1995 [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 August 1995-31 July 1997 [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 September 1999-31 August 2001 [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 August 1997-31 July 1999 [2]

Commanders

  • July 2001 - July 2002 Col. Robert H. Holmes[12]
  • August 2006 - July 2008, Col. Marc F. Stratton[13]
  • July 2008 - June 2010, Col. Bradley P. Thompson[14]
  • Jun 2010 - Jun 2012, Col. Robert G. Armfield[15]
  • June 2012 - unknown, Col. Kurt Buller

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Unless indicated, group components are stationed with the group headquarters.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organizational Status Change Report, October 2008
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16819
  10. ↑ See Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (list of groups and squadrons assigned to 24th Wing)
  11. ↑ Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organizational Status Change Report, June 2008
  12. ↑ http://www.defense.gov/home/blog/docs/Holmes_bio.pdf
  13. ↑ http://www.37trw.af.mil/library/biographies/bio_print.asp?bioID=14941&page=1
  14. ↑ http://www.colorado.edu/afrotc/sites/default/files/Bio%20-%20Bradley%20P%20%20Thompson.pdf
  15. ↑ http://www.afsoc.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/141/Article/495021/colonel-robert-g-armfield.aspx
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