Air Force Combat Controllers are the US Air Force Special Operations Command's ground forces. Their mission is to deploy into enemy held territory to establish assault zones for air traffic control, emplace enroute navigation aids, communication and control, and the removal or demolition of obstacles. Combat Controllers use many methods of insertion such as SCUBA, HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening), HAHO (High Altitude, High Opening), low level static-line parachuting, mountaineering, and many other means of tactical insertion.

Combat Controllers are assigned to one of four Special Tactics Squadrons which are all commanded by the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the 21st and 24th STS both stationed at Pope AFB, NC; the 22nd STS, stationed at McChord AFB, WA; and the 23rd STS, stationed at Hurlbert Field, FL. 

To become a combat controller, an airman must first attend the Combat Control Orientation Course, located at Lackland AFB, TX,  which lasts 12 weeks. After a rigorous physical fitness program, training in sports medicine and nutrition, small arms qualification, and CPR qualification, selected students then attend the 5 week Combat Diver Course, located at Key West Naval Air Station, FL.

Here they will learn open-circuit scuba and closed-circuit rebreather equipment and underwater search and recovery. Upon completion, they will then attend the Army Airborne School, located at Fort Benning, GA, for 3 weeks. From there, they will head to Fort Bragg, NC to participate in the Military Free Fall Course for 4 weeks. While in this course, soldiers will learn High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) operations. After completion they will attend the USAF Combat Survival Course at Fairchild AFB, WA for 3 weeks and the USAF Air Traffic Control Course at Keesler AFB, MS for 16 weeks. After all of this training, their final course is the Combat Control Course at Pope AFB, NC. This course lasts for 12 weeks, here they will learn the skill specific to being a combat controller.

The primary mission of pararescue is personnel recovery with emergency medical capabilities in combat and nonhostile environments. They deploy by sea air or land into forward areas and provide medical care for injured personnel and may act as aircrew or gunners on both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

To earn the distinctive maroon beret and flash of a pararescueman an airman must complete approximately 12-15 months of training. Training begins with the 10 week Pararescue Indoctrination Course, located at Lackland AFB, TX. This course includes extensive physical training, weapons qualification, leadership reaction, CPR qualification, and training in dive physics. Upon graduation of candidates earn the privilege to "ride the pipeline" of courses to qualify them as pararescuemen.

Their next stop is the 5 week Combat Diver Course, located at Key West Naval Air Station, FL. Here they will learn open-circuit scuba and closed-circuit rebreather equipment and underwater search and recovery. Upon completion, they will then attend the Army Airborne School, located at Fort Benning, GA, for 3 weeks. From there, they will head to Fort Bragg, NC to participate in the Military Free Fall Course for 4 weeks. While in this course, soldiers will learn High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) operations. From here they will proceed to Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL to attend the 1 day Navy Underwater Egress course where they will learn principles and techniques necessary to exit a sinking aircraft. After completion they will attend the USAF Combat Survival Course at Fairchild AFB, WA for 3 weeks. This course teaches basic survival skills needed in remote areas using a minimum of equipment.

After graduating, they will move to Fort Bragg, NC where they will attend the 22 week Special Operations Combat Medic Course. This course will train them to manage trauma patients prior to evacuation. Upon graduation an EMT-Paramedic certification is awarded. The final course on the pipeline is the Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course. This 20 week course, located at Kirtland AFB, NM will educate them in field, mountaineering, and combat tactics. In addition they will learn advanced parachuting, helicopter insertion/extraction.

Combat weather is not a separate career field. They learn to weathermen first, then volunteer to have the additional combat aspect with their jobs. Most weathermen need to serve almost three years before they are able to volunteer as a combat weatherman. Almost all combat weather personnel are located with units from other services such as the US Army Special Forces.

To earn the gray beret, combat weathermen must attend and graduate Weather Observer and Forecaster Schools and the Army Airborne School. To maintain technical proficiency they may also be required to participate in courses in satellite imagery, electro-optics, tropical weather forecasting, and oceanography. Depending on their particular assignment, selected members may also need to take the following US Army courses; Military Free Fall, Combat Diver, Pathfinder, and Ranger.