Seriously everyone, the picture bylines are a wealth of information. they are U.S Airforce Combat Controllers From 23rd STS in Hurlburt Field field, Florida. They are FAA certified Air Trafic Controllers with Special Ops training. they are usually paired with other special forces team to communicate with pilots to provide airstikes and medivacs. If need be, they can take a strip of land and turn it into a landing strip or drop zone. Their history comes from the Pathfinders of WW2. The uniform are common for Special Ops of every branch.
The Special Tactics Squadrons consist of:
Combat Control Technicians (CCT)
Pararescue Specialist (PJ)
Combat Weather Technicians (CWT)
STS are part of the USAF Special Operations Command.
Read “No Room for Error” by John T. Carney, Col, USAF (ret.)
for the story of how he created the STS concept.
BTW the Teams flew down on 2 MC-130 Combat Talon SO aircraft.