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| A U.S. Air Force service member prepares to fire simulated ammunition to take down opposing forces during an exercise scenario at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Nov. 8, 2012. Special operations forces utilize the range’s rough terrain and unique layout to conduct realistic training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal) |
OK. Wake up the lions cause I'm about to poke them with a stick.
Why does USAF Special Tactics Units exist?
They're do nothing but duplicate capabilities already found in SOCOM. Why do I say that? Para-Rescue. Even before the USMC joined SOCOM, Force Recon always traveled with a Navy Corpsman that was trained to Force Recon standards. Same with the Navy SEALs. US Army Special Forces once had Medics whose skill rivaled almost that of an Emergency Room doctor. US Army Rangers also have Ranger qualified Medics. So Para-Rescue while a storied organization doesn't bring anything to SOCOM that isn't already there.
What about Combat Controllers/Tactical Air Control Party (I really have a hard time understanding the difference). In the USMC they'd be called ANGLICO or JTAC. But its even more ominous than that. Calling in fire support is taught to a wider and wider group of servicemembers. While valuable, it is no longer a unique skill (as a sidenote, I wonder if it isn't time to consider disbanding ANGLICO as a relic of the past).
That brings us to Special Operations Weather! I've never understood it, can't tell you what they do and don't know how they got to be part of SOCOM, but the idea of a Combat Meteorologists just strikes me as weird!
USAF Special Ops might bring alot to the table when it comes to aircraft but when it comes to their Special Tactics Units I just don't see the need. It might be time to disband the unit, allow personnel to transfer to another SOCOM service and streamline this organization to keep it from becoming even more bloated than it is now.
