The Air Force Recruiting Service has joined forces with Air Force Special Operations Command to attract young persons to fill slots for critically needed special tactics airmen, particularly combat controllers and pararescuemen. Under a recent agreement between AFRS, headquartered at Randolph AFB, Tex., and AFSOC’s 720th Special Tactics Group at Hurlburt Field, Fla., three special tactics airmen will be attached to AFRS recruiting units around the country to give these roles more exposure and improve the recruitment of qualified candidates into the special tactics training pipeline. “Because the Air Force is heavily involved in military operations all around the world, there is a great need for special operators,” said Brig. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot, the AFRS commander. “Therefore, we have to make sure Americans are aware of the important role they play in our national defense and the opportunities available in these rewarding career fields.” There are plans to increase the number of special tactics members attached to recruiting units around the country from three to 12. (Randolph report by Lt. Col. Sean McKenna)
The defense intelligence community has tried three times in the past decade to build a “common intelligence picture”—a single data stream providing the information that commanders need to make decisions about the battlefield. The first two attempts failed. But officials say things are different today.