24th Special Tactics Squadron

The 24th Special Tactics Squadron ( 24th STS ) ( German 24th Special Tactics Squadron ) is a squadron of the U.S. Air Force for rescue and recovery operations of all kinds, even under combat conditions and on any terrain (Para - Rescue). Administratively ( troops office) part of the Air Force Special Operations Command ( AFSOC ), but operationally subordinated to the Joint Special Operations Command ( JSOC ).

Order

The scenarios are:

• Search and rescue operations (SAR, Search and Rescue )
• Search and rescue operations under combat conditions ( CSAR Combat Search and Rescue )
• Rescue and recovery support for NASA, if requested.
• All other imaginable rescue and recovery operations.

Organization

The 24th Special Tactics Squadron is stationed at Pope Air Force Base in the U.S. state of North Carolina, where the headquarters of the JSOC is located, not far from Fort Bragg, the headquarters of the Delta Force.

The organization of the unit, unlike the other Special Tactics Squadrons secret, as well as means, tactics and performance characteristics.

Recruitment and training

First, the aspirant goes through the Combat Control / Pararescue Selection (combat air traffic controller / combat rescue aptitude test ), in which his basic fitness required for the career. This phase lasts 12 weeks and takes on the Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. It is then for five weeks made ​​in the Key West Naval Air Station in Florida to combat divers. This course is the Special Forces Combat Diver Course. Is this complete, the training of parachutists (U.S. Army Basic Airborne Course ), which takes three weeks and takes place at Fort Benning in the U.S. state of Georgia begins. Then the basic knowledge of the jump school at Fort Bragg, North Carolina to be deepened if the aspirant with HALO jump techniques in the U.S. Army Basic Military Freefall ( HALO) Course is familiar. This will take four weeks. When this is completed, the future Para- Rescue - soldier goes through a three-week survival training at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state ( U.S. Air Force Combat Survival Course ). Subsequently, the longest course (22 weeks), the Special Operations Combat Medic Course is present ( Special Ops medicine course for combat conditions ). Finally, the aspirant goes through the final training stage, the Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course ( rescue and recovery in combat ). This course lasts 20 weeks. Then he's finished trained for its later use in one of the Special Tactics Squadrons.

Equipment

The 24th Special Tactics Squadron ( 24th STS) is mainly equipped with helicopters of the type MH -60L Black Hawk, HH -60 Pave Hawk HH-60 medevac. Soldiers of the Special Tactics Squadrons of the Air Force wear a maroon colored beret forming ( Maroon Beret ).

History

About the practical use of history is little known because of the secrecy, but one can assume that since the inception of the JSOC unit was always involved when rescue missions for soldiers were required in an unfortunate situation.

On October 3, 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu (Operation Irene ) was the 24th Special Tactics Squadron participated in the rescue operation, which should involve the crew of the downed UH -60 Blackhawk.

From 15 to 20 September 2000, the unit took part together with the 23d Special Tactics Squadron at the Canadian Search and Rescue Exercise ( SAREX ), a maneuver of the Canadian Forces. That was the first time the U.S. units took part in this annual exercise.

The unit was part of the JSOC groupings Task Force 121, Task Force 6-26 and Task Force 145

On 6 July 2011, were killed three soldiers of this unit in a helicopter shooting by the Taliban. It was this is Air Force Tech. Sgt John W. Brown, Air Force Staff Sgt Andrew W. Harvell and Air Force Tech. Sgt Daniel L. Zerbe.