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Two Special Ops Airmen Killed During Free-Fall Training in Florida
NBC ^ | Aug 5 2015, 8:41 am ET | Henry Austin, F. Brinley Bruton and Shamar Walters

Posted on 08/05/2015 11:00:33 AM PDT by BenLurkin

A two-time recipient of the Bronze Star and a father of five were killed during military free-fall training in Florida, the Air Force announced late Tuesday.

Tech. Sgt. Timothy Officer Jr., 32, and Tech. Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun, 35, were rushed to local hospitals after the accident at Eglin Air Force Base on Monday.

Both were Special Tactics Airmen, a force made up of specially-trained air traffic controllers, pararescuemen specializing in rescue operations, and military weathermen and forecasters.

... Special tactics airmen are the Air Force's ground special operations forces. They often embed with Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces to integrate air power for the special operations ground force.

The cause of the incident had not been determined and was being investigated, the Air Force statement added

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: airforce; usaf

1 posted on 08/05/2015 11:00:33 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Very sad loss - these are among America’s finest.


2 posted on 08/05/2015 11:04:20 AM PDT by MarchonDC09122009 (When is our next march on DC? When have we had enough?)
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To: BenLurkin

This is horrible. Their poor families... Thank you for posting.


3 posted on 08/05/2015 11:04:31 AM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15 - 1030am - Obama's advance team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: BenLurkin

Prayers up for the families. Hate hearing things like this.


4 posted on 08/05/2015 11:06:55 AM PDT by dware (Yeah, so? What are we going to do about it?)
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To: BenLurkin

Two of America’s finest lost.


5 posted on 08/05/2015 11:09:35 AM PDT by McGruff (Eat a snickers...)
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To: McGruff

sad...best wishes to their families.


6 posted on 08/05/2015 11:12:01 AM PDT by brivette (lol~)
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To: BenLurkin

Very sad to hear this about these patriots.

Prayers for their families.


7 posted on 08/05/2015 11:14:11 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
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To: BenLurkin

My son is meeting with a recruiter tonight to talk about Pararescue.


8 posted on 08/05/2015 11:16:08 AM PDT by IronJack
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To: jazusamo

“Very sad to hear this about these patriots.”

With all the military purges going on in the 0bama regime, you have to wonder.


9 posted on 08/05/2015 11:17:28 AM PDT by grumpygresh (We don't have Democrats and Republicans, we have the Faustian uni-party)
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To: IronJack

“My son is meeting with a recruiter tonight to talk about Pararescue.”

These were the guys we never wanted to call during our missions.

PJs have the highest washout rate of any special forces due to the medical knowledge required. NatGeo has a series called Inside Combat Rescue.


10 posted on 08/05/2015 11:22:24 AM PDT by Azeem (There are four boxes to be used in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury and ammo.)
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To: BenLurkin

Mid air collision?


11 posted on 08/05/2015 11:25:57 AM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Azeem
NatGeo has a series called Inside Combat Rescue

Saw it. Excellent coverage and fantastic personnel.

12 posted on 08/05/2015 12:09:59 PM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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To: 2banana

That’s what I was thinking. Get crossed and over correct. Sad case.


13 posted on 08/05/2015 12:16:03 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (2 Timothy 4:7 deo duce ferro comitante)
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To: Azeem

The physical requirements are pretty stringent too. My son can do all of them separately, but I understand they administer the qualifying tests one after another. He’s got another year to train, and he’s pretty disciplined. But it’s an intimidating course, for sure.


14 posted on 08/05/2015 2:08:51 PM PDT by IronJack
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