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17th Special Tactics Squadron

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17th Special Tactics Squadron
Redesignation ceremony of the 17th ASOS as the 17th STS on 8 August 2013 at Fort Benning
Active1994–present
Country United States of America
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSpecial Operations
Part ofAir Force Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQFort Moore, Georgia
Motto(s)Ex Id Aer Pro Id Terra (Latin: "Of the Air for the Ground")
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Gallant Unit Citation
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding unit Award[1]
Insignia
17th Special Tactics Squadron emblem (approved 6 June 1996)[1]

The 17th Special Tactics Squadron is one of the ten Special Tactics Squadrons of United States Air Force Special Operations Command. It is garrisoned at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), Georgia.

Overview

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Special Tactics operators with the 17th STS, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, deploy with special operations forces to provide joint terminal attack control and maximize the impacts of air power by controlling and directing precise strikes to destroy the enemy. The squadron's primary mission is to provide special tactics Tactical Air Control Party Specialists (TACP) to the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment for unconventional operations.[2][3]

Organization

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The 17th STS is made up of a headquarters unit and two operational detachments. The headquarters unit is stationed at Fort Moore, Georgia. Detachment 1 (Red Team) is stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia and is attached to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.[4] Detachment 2 (Silver Team) is stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington and is attached to the 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.[5]

The squadron is primarily made up of TACP airmen. In addition to the TACPs in the unit, there are special reconnaissance airmen, combat controllers, special tactics officers, and combat mission support airmen.[6]

Each detachment consists of 13 TACPs and one Tactical Air Control Party officer (TACP-O).

They have access to weaponry such as the MK46, M4, MK18, MK17, MK20, and sidearms such as the M9, Glock 19, and M17.[7][8]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron on 24 June 1994
Activated on 1 July 1994
  • Redesignated 17th Special Tactics Squadron on 8 August 2013[1]

Assignments

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Stations

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  • Fort Moore, Georgia, 1 July 1994 – present[1]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Bailey, Carl E. (24 April 2018). "Factsheet 17 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  2. ^ Savage, Craig (28 August 2013). "24th SOW re-designates 17th ASOS". 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. ^ "24th Special Operations Wing". 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Office. 20 February 2015. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  4. ^ "1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | Lineage and Honors | U.S. Army Center of Military History".
  5. ^ "2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | Lineage and Honors | U.S. Army Center of Military History".
  6. ^ Skovlund, Joshua (2 September 2020). "Air Force's 17th Special Tactics Squadron Surpasses 6,900 Days of Combat Alongside Rangers". Coffee or Die Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  7. ^ MiliSource (18 April 2017). Air Force Special Operations Night Jump – Static & HALO Jumps Out Of C-130H. Retrieved 4 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Soldiers fire SCAR heavy weapons". DVIDS. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  9. ^ "24th SOW transitions responsibility of the 17th STS". United States Air Force Academy. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

Bibliography

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Further reading

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  • Col. John T. Carney Jr.; Benjamin F. Schemmer (2003). No Room for Error: The Covert Operations of America's Special Tactics Units from Iran To Afghanistan. Presidio Press. ISBN 978-0345453358.
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