Careers

Career Description

Who sits on a ridge alone outside a hostile city acting as a one-man air traffic controller while at the same time being fully prepared to join the fight if necessary? You do as a Combat Control specialist. Combat Controllers are part of the Air Force's Special Operations team and are FAA-certified air traffic controllers. They operate in remote and sometimes hostile areas helping the Air Force accomplish its mission by directing air traffic and alerting pilots and command of the location of hostile forces on the ground.

Download the Warrior Fact Sheet for more information.

Career Tasks

• Perform precision parachute jumps to penetrate hostile areas
• Be proficient in water operations using both scuba and amphibious techniques
• Learn to be proficient on motorcycles, snowmobiles and skis
• Learn to rappel and fast-rope
• Be an expert with maps and compasses
• Be capable of overland travel in any environment
• Function under the most demanding weather conditions
• Establish assault zones and direct aircraft within those zones

Relevant Interests & Skills

• Weaponry
• Intelligence
• Special Operations

Training

After eight-and-a-half weeks of Basic Military Training, every Airman goes to technical training to learn their career. Here's the basic information about Combat Control (Males Only) technical training:

School locations: Keesler AFB [MS], Lackland AFB [TX], Fairchild AFB [WA], Ft. Benning [GA], Pope AFB [NC]

Length of course: varies

College degree earned: Airway Science

College credits earned: varies