720th Special Tactics Group

Overview

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

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, perform battlefield surgery, 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

The 720th Special Tactics Group is assigned four special tactics squadrons and a support squadron.

• 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Field, North Carolina
• 22nd Special Tactics Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (McChord Air Force Base), Washington
• 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida
• 26th Special Tactics Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico
• 720th Operations Support Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida

Other missions

The 720th 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.

There are two Air National Guard units that augments the 720th for training and deployments, the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, based at Standiford Field, 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.

Chief Master Sergeant Aaron 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. CMSgt Aaron 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 CMSgt Aaron's two companions. CMSgt Aaron sprinted from his position to the exposed position of the two wounded teammates to defend them. Aaron 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.

Lineage

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

Assignments

• Twenty-Third Air Force (later Air Force Special Operations Command): 1 October 1987 – 12 June 2012
• 24th Special Operations Wing: 12 June 2012
• Air Force Special Operations Command: 16 May 2025 – present

Components

• 10th Combat Weather Squadron: 1 August 1996 – 7 May 2014
• 17th Air Support Operations Squadron (later 17th Special Tactics Squadron): 1 October 2008 – present : Ft. Benning, Georgia
• 21st Special Tactics Squadron: 21 May 1996 – present : Pope Air Force Base (later Pope Field, North Carolina
• 22d Special Tactics Squadron, 1 May 1996 – present : Joint Base Lewis-McChord, (McChord Air Force Base), Washington
• 1723rd Combat Control Squadron (later 1723rd Special Tactics Squadron, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron): 1 October 1987 – present
• 1724th Combat Control Squadron (later 1724th Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Tactics Squadron): 1 October 1987 – 29 April 2011

: Pope Air Force Base (later Pope Field), North Carolina26th Special Tactics Squadron: 28 February 2014 – present : Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico

• 720th Operations Support Squadron: 29 November 2004 – present
• Special Tactics Training Squadron, 1 June 2008 – 1 October 2008

Stations

• Hurlburt Field, Florida 1 Oct 1987 – present

Awards

Commanders

• October 1987 – May 1991, Col. John T. Carney
• May 1991 – 1995, Col. Robert W. Neumann
• 1995 – 1997, Col. Craig F. Brotchie
• 1997 – July 1999, Col. James L. Oeser
• July 1999 – July 2001, Col. Jeffrey Buckmelter
• July 2001 – July 2002, Col. Robert H. Holmes
• July 2002 – July 2004, Col. Craig D. Rith
• July 2004 – August 2006, Col. Kenneth F. Rodriguez
• August 2006 – July 2008, Col. Marc F. Stratton
• July 2008 – June 2010, Col. Bradley P. Thompson
• June 2010 – June 2012, Col. Robert G. Armfield
• June 2012 – July 2014, Col. Kurt Buller

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

References

1. (January 25, 2007). "Factsheet: 720th Special Tactics Group". 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs.
2. (July 15, 2010). "Factsheet 720 Special Tactics Group (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
3. "24th Special Operations Wing". Air Force Special Operations Command.
4. "Factsheet:24th Special Operations Wing".
5. (March 2025). "Battlefield Surgery}}{{dead link".
6. (May 14, 2014). "Hurlburt deactivates [sic] squadron". nwfdailynews.com.
7. (December 17, 2014). "PJ's extraordinary heroism earns an Air Force Cross". Air Force News Service.
8. Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organizational Status Change Report, October 2008
9. Lahue, Melissa. (19 October 2021). "21 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
10. Dollman, David. (15 May 2017). "22 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
11. (1 October 2021). "Factsheet 23 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
12. (9 June 2010). "Factsheet 24 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
13. (14 October 2021). "Factsheet 26 Special Tactics Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
14. (September 4, 2014). "Factsheet 24th Special Operations Wing". 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs.
15. Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organizational Status Change Report, June 2008
16. Marion, Forrest. (2018). "Brothers in Berets: The Evolution of Air Force Special Tactics, 1953-2003". Air University Press.
17. "Photochart of USAF Leadership (As of Sept. 1 1998)". Air Force Magazine.
18. (June 2009). "Brigadier General Robert H. Holmes". United States Air Force.
19. "Craig Rith".
20. "Photochart of USAF Leadership (As of Sept. 1, 2004)". Air Force Magazine.
21. "Photochart of USAF Leadership (As of Sept. 1, 2005)". Air Force Magazine.
22. Dick, Erin. (18 August 2006). "720th STG under new leadership". AFSOC Public Affairs.
23. (July 2011). "Colonel Marc F. Stratton". 37th Training Wing.
24. Cooper, Amy. (1 July 2008). "720th Special Tactics Group welcomes new commander". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs.
25. Norrad, Wayne G.. (July 2010). "CCA President's Corner". Combat Controller Association.
26. (May 2013). "Colonel Robert G. Armfeld". Air Force Special Operations Command.
27. "Kurt Buller".