United States Air Force Combat Control Team

The United States Air Force Combat Control Teams, singular Combat Controller (CCT) (<a href="/facts/Air_Force_Specialty_Code/kRJWYj5P">AFSC</a> 1Z2X1), are an elite special operations force (specifically known as "special tactics operators") who specialize in all aspects of air-ground communication, as well as <a href="/facts/Air_traffic_control/G2cQebVb">air traffic control</a>, <a href="/facts/Fire_support/10XyVgHn">fire support</a> (including rotary and fixed-wing <a href="/facts/Close_air_support/buqaXGIp">close air support</a>), and <a href="/facts/Command_and_control/t1huKNbX">command, control, and communications</a> in covert, forward, or austere environments.
Assigned to <a href="/facts/List_of_United_States_Air_Force_special_tactics_squadrons/r2m5Iyv9">Special Tactics Squadrons</a> and Special Tactics Teams along with <a href="/facts/Pararescuemen/lqLTwcjh">Pararescuemen</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Special_Reconnaissance/TS9RH0ez">Special Operations Reconnaissance</a>, and <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Tactical_Air_Control_Party/AG56Sbe7">Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) operators</a>, Combat Controllers are an integral part of <a href="/facts/Air_Force_Special_Operations_Command/23nBz3Dj">Air Force Special Operations Command</a> (AFSOC), the Air Force component of <a href="/facts/United_States_Special_Operations_Command/eEf4JyAv">United States Special Operations Command</a> (USSOCOM), and of <a href="/facts/Joint_Special_Operations_Command/nlkChEz6">Joint Special Operations Command</a> (JSOC). Trained in underwater and maritime operations, freefall parachuting, and many other deployment methods, Combat Controllers are often assigned individually or as a team to <a href="/facts/United_States_Army_Special_Forces/jT2G7KWy">Army Special Forces</a>, <a href="/facts/75th_Ranger_Regiment/o1VebfBW">Army Ranger</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy_SEAL/1pWEb66m">Navy SEAL</a>, and <a href="/facts/Delta_Force/ML1hDKrD">Delta Force</a> to provide expert airfield seizure, airstrike control, and communications capabilities.
Combat Controllers are <a href="/facts/FAA/PYsXt3YT">FAA</a>-certified <a href="/facts/Air_traffic_controllers/HmzpS6qu">air traffic controllers</a> and maintain proficiency throughout their career. Along with <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Tactical_Air_Control_Party/AG56Sbe7">TACPs</a>, many Combat Controllers also qualify and maintain proficiency as <a href="/facts/Joint_terminal_attack_controller/GLHt0QEa">joint terminal attack controllers</a> (JTACs) where they call in and direct <a href="/facts/Air_strikes/FehKpSt5">air strikes</a>, <a href="/facts/Close_air_support/buqaXGIp">close air support</a> and <a href="/facts/Fire_support/10XyVgHn">fire support</a>. Out of the seven <a href="/facts/Air_Force_Cross_(United_States)/98mTsqsm">Air Force Crosses</a> awarded since the <a href="/facts/Global_War_on_Terror/CTGl4eto">Global War on Terror</a> started in 2001, five have been awarded to Combat Controllers for extraordinary heroism in combat.
CCTs provided vital intelligence and deployed with joint air and ground forces in support of direct action, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance, special reconnaissance, austere airfield, and combat search and rescue missions.

United States Air Force Combat Control Team open-in-new

United States Air Force Combat Control Team