The Air Force's most secretive ground force operates within the shadows of elite commands.

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 24th Special Tactics Squadron is the Air Force's premier tier-one unit, serving as the ground-force component for the Joint Special Operations Command. While they often act as enablers for Delta Force and SEAL Team 6, these airmen execute high-stakes, clandestine missions ranging from hostage rescue to complex counter-terrorism operations.

Garrisoned at Pope Field, North Carolina, the 24th Special Tactics Squadron (STS) represents the pinnacle of Air Force special operations. Unlike conventional units, its members—including Pararescuemen, Combat Controllers, and Special Reconnaissance personnel—are tasked with the most dangerous assignments directed by the president and the secretary of defense. Their expertise is frequently leveraged by the Army’s Delta Force and the Navy’s DEVGRU, providing specialized air-ground integration that is essential for the success of elite joint operations.

The squadron’s history is long and complex, tracing its roots back to an interceptor control unit established in California in October 1941. After decades of reorganization and name changes, it emerged in its current form in 1992. Its combat pedigree is extensive, spanning from the 1989 invasion of Panama to the intense combat environments of Iraq and Afghanistan. In the early days of the war in Afghanistan, the unit conducted at least 10 high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) combat jumps to secure desert landing strips for heavy aircraft, a testament to their specialized tactical role.

The unit’s sacrifice is profound, marked by the loss of operators in high-intensity conflicts. Combat Controller Scott Sather became the first airman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and the squadron suffered further losses in 2011 when a Chinook helicopter was downed in Afghanistan. Recognition for their valor has occasionally been delayed; for instance, Combat Controller John Chapman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 16 years after his death at the Battle of Takur Ghar, a delay attributed to friction between military branches. Today, the 24th STS remains a critical, albeit often invisible, pillar of American special operations capability.

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