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WHAT IS A
COMBAT CONTROLLER?

U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers (CCTs) are some of the most highly trained, special operations forces in the world.

Trained as elite air traffic controllers, their unique skill sets make them the deadliest warriors on the planet.
 
They specialize in controlling airspace in combat and austere environments, calling in precision air strikes and delivering humanitarian support around the world as the first, “first responders” to arrive during a disaster.

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Combat Controller in training

Combat Control Mission Objectives

Air Force Special Operations Command's Combat Controllers are elite Battlefield Airmen within Special Tactics Squadrons.

 

These exceptional operators are both highly trained Special Operations Forces and certified FAA air traffic controllers.

 

The mission of a Combat Controller is to infiltrate hostile environments undetected, establish critical assault zones or airfields, and provide expert air traffic control, all while executing a wide array of high-risk operations. These include:

  • Fire support

  • Command and control

  • Direct action

  • Counterterrorism

  • Foreign internal defense

  • Humanitarian assistance

  • Special reconnaissance in joint operational theaters.
     

Their powerful motto, "First There...Last Out," underscores their relentless commitment to leading the charge in the most dangerous missions and ensuring that they are the last to leave, staying behind to secure success until the very end.

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Becoming an Air Force Combat Controller (CCT) is one of the most grueling and demanding training pipelines in the U.S. military, lasting nearly two years.

 

This rigorous program shapes elite operators who are experts in air traffic control and a broad range of specialized skills, including infiltration tactics, parachuting (both static line and freefall), scuba diving, all-terrain vehicle operation, rappelling, and fast roping.

 

Combat Controllers also become proficient as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs), coordinating close air support with precision.

 

The training process has a washout rate of 90-95%, largely due to the intense physical, mental, and academic challenges, as well as injuries and self-eliminations.

Some of the military’s most difficult missions have been and continue to be executed by Combat Controllers.

They act as a lone operator who is attached other special operations forces. 

 

Their certifications include open and closed-circuit combat diving, military free fall (HALO) and static line parachuting, unconventional vehicle insertion such as motorcycle/ATV and snowmobile, and fast rope.

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Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controllers go through extensive training to become experts in everything from weapons and demolition to communication and air traffic control to undertake combat and humanitarian missions all over the world.

 

These specialists combine mental fortitude and physical strength in order to represent the Air Force and act as a one-man attachment to special operations teams across all United States military branches.

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Each CCT is a certified FAA air traffic controller.

 

They can more effectively establish control of all airspace and assets available to these unique operators. 

 

This skill makes them truly, the most lethal individuals to walk a battlefield in the history of human warfare. 

Combat Controller Qualifications & Skills

Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Combat Controllers are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct air traffic control operations. They:

  • Establish control of airspace in combat zones or disaster areas where no formal ATC exists.

  • Manage air movements for aircraft, including fighters, bombers, helicopters, and cargo planes.

  • Operate in temporary or covert airfields, often under hostile fire or in austere conditions.

  • Coordinate airstrikes, medical evacuations, and supply drops by ensuring safe and precise aircraft operations.

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Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE)

This intensive training ensures CCTs are prepared for survival in extreme conditions. Key components include:

  • Survival: Learning to build shelters, find water, forage for food, and navigate in harsh environments.

  • Evasion: Techniques to avoid detection by enemy forces, including camouflage and stealth movement.

  • Resistance: Training to resist interrogation methods if captured, including both mental and physical techniques.

  • Escape: Strategies and skills to break free from captivity and rejoin friendly forces.

Airborne Operations

CCTs are qualified in static-line parachuting, a rapid deployment method where parachutes automatically deploy upon exiting an aircraft. This enables:

  • Infiltration into contested or inaccessible areas.

  • Rapid deployment into zones where traditional land or air transport isn’t viable.

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HALO/HAHO (High Altitude Low Opening / High Altitude High Opening)

These advanced parachuting techniques involve:

  • HALO: Jumping from altitudes up to 35,000 feet and deploying parachutes at low altitudes for covert infiltration.

  • HAHO: Deploying parachutes shortly after exiting the aircraft to glide long distances silently into target areas, often bypassing enemy defenses.

Combat Diving

CCTs are certified combat divers skilled in:

  • Using both open-circuit (SCUBA) and closed-circuit (rebreathers) systems for underwater missions.

  • Conducting reconnaissance of beaches, ports, and waterways to prepare for amphibious assaults.

  • Infiltrating enemy-held territories via rivers, oceans, or lakes.

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Small & Heavy Weapons Expertise

CCTs are proficient in:

  • Small arms like rifles, designated marksman rifles and handguns

  • Heavy crew-served weapons, such as M240 machine guns and M2 .50 caliber machine guns

  • Operating and maintaining foreign weapon systems, enabling them to adapt to diverse combat environments.

Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)

JTAC certification is one of the most critical aspects of CCTs’ capabilities. It involves:

  • Directing close air support (CAS) missions, ensuring aircraft deliver precise firepower to support ground forces.

  • Coordinating multiple aircraft, artillery, and naval gunfire to achieve tactical objectives.

  • Operating in high-pressure situations where split-second decisions can change the course of battles.

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Tactical Driving

CCTs are trained in advanced vehicle-handling techniques, including:

  • Off-road driving to navigate rugged terrain.

  • High-speed evasive maneuvers to avoid ambushes or enemy fire.

  • Conducting convoys and protecting VIPs or mission-critical assets under threat.

Assault Zones (Landing & Drop Zones)

Combat Controllers are responsible for:

  • Establishing and marking drop zones (DZs) for paratroopers and equipment.

  • Clearing and marking landing zones (LZs) for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

  • Conducting airfield assessments and surveys of potential assault zones to ensure they meet operational requirements.

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Close Quarters Battle (CQB)

CQB training prepares CCTs for engagements in tight, confined spaces such as urban buildings or ships. This includes:

  • Rapid room clearing and target identification.

  • Coordinating movements with other team members for maximum effectiveness and safety.

  • Neutralizing threats with precision to minimize collateral damage.

Demolition and Breaching

CCTs are experts in the use of explosives for:

  • Destroying enemy infrastructure, such as bridges, vehicles, or weapon caches.

  • Breaching doors, walls, or fortified positions during raids and assaults.

  • Safely handling and disposing of unexploded ordnance.

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Radios and Communications

CCTs are communication experts, trained to:

  • Use advanced radios to establish secure communication networks in remote or hostile environments.

  • Operate satellite communication (SATCOM) systems to maintain contact with higher command.

  • Jam or intercept enemy communications when necessary.

Alternate Insertion and Extraction (AIE)

Combat Controllers are trained in unconventional methods to infiltrate and exfiltrate from challenging environments. This includes techniques like:

  • Fast-Roping and Rappelling: Quick descents from helicopters in areas where landing isn't possible.

  • SPIE Rigging (Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction): A method of lifting personnel via rope systems under a helicopter.

  • Hoist Operations: Utilizing rescue hoists for precision insertions or extractions.

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Direct Action

Direct action involves offensive operations such as:

  • Conducting raids on enemy strongholds.

  • Seizing and securing high-value targets (HVTs).

  • Working seamlessly alongside other Special Operations Forces like Navy SEALs, Delta Force, and Army Rangers.

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)

TCCC equips CCTs to provide lifesaving medical care in combat. Training includes:

  • Stopping severe bleeding with tourniquets or hemostatic agents.

  • Managing airway and breathing issues, such as inserting chest tubes for pneumothorax.

  • Stabilizing injuries to prolong survival until evacuation to higher medical care.

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Combat Control Training Pipeline

The training pipeline begins with Basic Military Training (BMT) at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, where recruits are introduced to military life.

 

From there, they enter the Special Warfare Candidate Course (SWCC), a seven-week preparatory program to prepare them for the specialized training ahead.

 

Next comes the four-week Special Warfare Assessment and Selection, which tests physical fitness and mental toughness.

The core of Combat Controller training includes 15.5 weeks of the Combat Control Operator Course, where candidates focus on air traffic control and CCT basics, followed by 15 weeks of FAA-certified Air Traffic Control School.

 

The intense training continues with 13 weeks at Combat Control School, where candidates learn advanced tactics specific to their mission, including small unit tactics, land navigation, and fire support.

Specialized courses then push their capabilities further: the Military Freefall Parachutist Course (five weeks) for high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) parachuting, and the Combat Diver Course (five weeks) for scuba diving expertise.

 

To cap off their training, Combat Controllers undergo an approximately 12-month Special Tactics Advanced Skills Training course, where they integrate all previously learned skills and hone their abilities for mission readiness.

Throughout their careers, Combat Controllers maintain their air traffic control qualifications while continuously refining their special operations skills.

 

The journey to becoming a qualified Combat Controller is one of the most rigorous in the military, requiring over two years of intense training before they are operationally ready to join a Special Tactics Squadron.

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Combat Control Awards for Valor

9 x Air Force Cross
 The Air Force Cross with drop shadow

The second highest military decoration for U.S. Air Force airmen who distinguish themselves with extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. 

1 x Medal of Honor
 The United States Air Forces Medal of Honor with drop shadow

The U.S. Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize those who have distinguished themselves by extraordinary acts of valor.

61 x Silver Star Medal
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The third-highest military decoration for valor in combat is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

Learn more about Combat Controllers at the links below

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Combat Control
History

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Combat Control
Acts of Valor

 Combat controllers saluting a fallen comrade

Combat Controller
Fallen Heroes

Combat Control Foundation

PO Box 432
Mary Esther, FL 32569-0432

1 (850) 684-4296

info@combatcontrolfoundation.org

Combat Control Foundation is a 2023 Top Rated Nonprofit

You are not alone.

If you’re in emotional distress or a suicide crisis, call/text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 988 (Veterans press 1).

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Combat Control Foundation is a

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

EIN: 83-3980682

Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense.

© 2024 Combat Control Foundation

All Rights Reserved.

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