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Posted: 2/10/2009 7:55:32 AM EDT
A really good friend (former flight student of mine) is a USAF Special Tacitics officer and he invited me out on a live fire exercise with his team while they were in town for an exercise to assault an airfield and use fighters for Close Air Support. Interestingly also the fighter's (2 ship of Strike Eagles) were guys from my former base where I used to fly.
It was amazing to see these guys in action - they were some of the most professional operators I've met and they were definitely the varsity team when it came to controlling Air. These guys, even though they are USAF, go through just as rigourous a training regimen as the Army Green Berets and the Navy Seals. Typically two years or more of jump school, HALO, scuba, and all the various warfare training that any other Special Forces guys do. In fact, these guys are typically embedded with SEAL and ODA teams anytime they are deployed in theater because they want the the AF Combat Controllers expertise to use Close Air Siupport when the SHTF. Anyway, it was eye-watering to see them in action from the ground side of things since I usually only talk to them on the radio from 15K feet above. And the coolest part was I got to shoot all the fun toys like the M4, M2, M240, M203 grenade launcher, SAW and LAW rocket. Unfortunatly the MK-19 broke early on. Anyway, I thought I'd share some pics of the day: 
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Posted: 2/10/2009 7:57:50 AM EDT
[#1]
Helo gunship shooting above us 
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:00:02 AM EDT
[#2]
F-15E in for a strafe pass |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:03:07 AM EDT
[#3]
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:04:18 AM EDT
[#4]
God bless all of you. Thanks for your service. Great pics. Glad you're on our side.
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:05:10 AM EDT
[#5]
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:06:31 AM EDT
[#6]
Wow, thanks for sharing these awesome pics!
-X |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:08:01 AM EDT
[#7]
Nice pics!
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:08:01 AM EDT
[#8]
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:11:24 AM EDT
[#9]
Setting up for an entry - "the stack"
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:15:50 AM EDT
[#10]
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:16:05 AM EDT
[#11]
....
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:16:17 AM EDT
[#12]
WHere was this and and was is just training??
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:19:03 AM EDT
[#13]
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:20:24 AM EDT
[#14]
wheres the muzzle discipline in "the stack"
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:22:05 AM EDT
[#15]
Finally, obligatory shots of my having fun!
And a blatent LaRue hat pic: 
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:22:37 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
WHere was this and and was is just training?? Judging by the Connex Boxes I would venture a guess for training, maybe in Yuma???? Great Pics OP!!! keep 'em comming |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:24:08 AM EDT
[#17]
looks alot of fun!
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:24:09 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
God bless all of you. Thanks for your service. Great pics. Glad you're on our side. +1 thank You guys! |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:26:17 AM EDT
[#19]
Thanks for what those guys do.......
You gotta' love your Combat Air Guy....God Bless Em |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:29:19 AM EDT
[#20]
Quoted:
.... Yes, CAS was an eye opener from the other end. I've worked with a lot of vanilla JTACS in combat and they ranged from awful to very good. But the CCT's were by far the best I've seen. I'm going to pass on posting the Sq on a public forum. I'd rather not "out" these guys - hence the blacked out faces and patches. It was an honor to go out with them and I don't want to abuse the trust they gave me to ride along and see them in action. As a fighter pilot though - I do have new respect for these guys - especially the enlisted folks who do all the hard work and go in harm's way the most. Thanks for you service! |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:33:23 AM EDT
[#21]
Wow. Very cool. Thx
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:33:56 AM EDT
[#22]
Very nice!
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:35:31 AM EDT
[#23]
SO MUCH AMMO!!! 
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:38:18 AM EDT
[#24]
So cool. I am envious.
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:41:33 AM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
SO MUCH AMMO!!! Dude, you have no idea! We went out with both HUMVEE's back ends stacked two deep in ammo cans of 50 cal, 7.62, and 5.56. We got into a notional "fire-fight" early on and were empty w/in about an hour. They did a mock helo resupply to simulate bringing more ammo and doing a CASEVAC of the wounded. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:44:40 AM EDT
[#26]
What this at Yuma? 29 Pams maybe?
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:50:47 AM EDT
[#27]
And since this is an AR tech forum - some interesting toys I noticed..... there was a mix of ACOGs and Eotechs, with one of the new ELCAN SpectreDR (can anyone spot it?). Also I noticed the weapon lights were almost exclusively the Surefire model that is similar to the Streamlight TLR-1 rather than the traditional flashlight tube style.
Also I asked about the mix of SOPMOD stocks and regular M4 stocks and they guys said it was personal preference and some didn't just like the SOPMOD. As far as the M4s - all the ones I saw were Colt M4s with the full-auto selector, not the 3 rnd burst. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:51:28 AM EDT
[#28]
Quoted:
What this at Yuma? 29 Pams maybe? Nope. NTTR |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:51:34 AM EDT
[#29]
Quoted:
Wow, thanks for sharing these awesome pics! -X |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:57:17 AM EDT
[#30]
MK19 FTW! |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 8:59:23 AM EDT
[#31]
Great post, great pics...awesome experience, I am 100% jealous!! Thanks for sharing this stuff.
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:06:31 AM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
MK19 FTW! given that it hard broke before the 1st shot was even fired - I would say MK19 FAIL! eta: the charging handle broke when the gunner went to chamber the 1st round as we hit the edge of the range. Here are pics of the Sq armorer they brought along trying to fix it. They finally gave up and mounted an M240 in it place and put the MK19 in the back on the floor. 
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:10:36 AM EDT
[#33]
God I wish I was there right now..... I sometimes regret that i got out.
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:11:47 AM EDT
[#34]
Quoted: wheres the muzzle discipline in "the stack" Eh. I don't see any muzzles pointed at the good guys. If you wanted to educate proffessional soldiers, you've got to offer more specific critiques than " "Indulge us. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:20:02 AM EDT
[#35]
I see some multicam. Is multicam issued to some of these units?
I didn't think any U.S. units used multicam. Has that changed? I like multicam because I can wear camo, w/o looking like I'm trying to pose as a Soldier or Marine. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:28:20 AM EDT
[#36]
 Very nice! Thank you and all for your service! Awsome pics!
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:33:23 AM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
I see some multicam. Is multicam issued to some of these units? I didn't think any U.S. units used multicam. Has that changed? I like multicam because I can wear camo, w/o looking like I'm trying to pose as a Soldier or Marine. What is multi-cam? |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:35:55 AM EDT
[#38]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I see some multicam. Is multicam issued to some of these units? I didn't think any U.S. units used multicam. Has that changed? I like multicam because I can wear camo, w/o looking like I'm trying to pose as a Soldier or Marine. What is multi-cam? It's a camouflage pattern. In the last picture above, the guy's pants on the right are multicam. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:41:23 AM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I see some multicam. Is multicam issued to some of these units? I didn't think any U.S. units used multicam. Has that changed? I like multicam because I can wear camo, w/o looking like I'm trying to pose as a Soldier or Marine. What is multi-cam? Isn't Mult-Cam what Airsofters usually show off in? |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:47:35 AM EDT
[#40]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I see some multicam. Is multicam issued to some of these units? I didn't think any U.S. units used multicam. Has that changed? I like multicam because I can wear camo, w/o looking like I'm trying to pose as a Soldier or Marine. What is multi-cam? It's a camouflage pattern. In the last picture above, the guy's pants on the right are multicam. Oh, I didn't know that. I know I stood out in my ABU's. The rest of the team had the other camo pattern you are referring to. Maybe they just like to be different from the rest of the regular Mil. I'm sure there's a tactical reason for it. I never asked. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:50:14 AM EDT
[#41]
Badass!
Thanks for sharing the pics. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:50:48 AM EDT
[#42]
You'll find a lot of the SF guys in Afghanistan wear what they want....to an extent. The delta guys stationed at our FOB in stan rarely if ever had on ACU's or DCU's. We did a few missions with some of them and from talking with them, they kinda get to do use/wear what they want within reason.
Great pics bro! All that shit is even more fun when the MK19 works and when it's the real deal. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:52:18 AM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:
And since this is an AR tech forum - some interesting toys I noticed..... there was a mix of ACOGs and Eotechs, with one of the new ELCAN SpectreDR (can anyone spot it?). Also I noticed the weapon lights were almost exclusively the Surefire model that is similar to the Streamlight TLR-1 rather than the traditional flashlight tube style. Also I asked about the mix of SOPMOD stocks and regular M4 stocks and they guys said it was personal preference and some didn't just like the SOPMOD. As far as the M4s - all the ones I saw were Colt M4s with the full-auto selector, not the 3 rnd burst. The light appears to be the Insight M3X. It is an issued and supply item. Here is a pic http://www.midwesthuntersoutlet.com/item.aspx?pid=78550 I wonder if the ELCAN is issued or personally purchased. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:57:05 AM EDT
[#44]
Quoted:
You'll find a lot of the SF guys in Afghanistan wear what they want....to an extent. The delta guys stationed at our FOB in stan rarely if ever had on ACU's or DCU's. We did a few missions with some of them and from talking with them, they kinda get to do use/wear what they want within reason. Great pics bro! All that shit is even more fun when the MK19 works and when it's the real deal. Yeah, I was REALLY disappointed the MK19 went Tango Uniform. I was looking forward to squeezing off a few rounds. The Ma Deuce was fun though..... 
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Posted: 2/10/2009 9:58:51 AM EDT
[#45]
Quoted:
Quoted:
And since this is an AR tech forum - some interesting toys I noticed..... there was a mix of ACOGs and Eotechs, with one of the new ELCAN SpectreDR (can anyone spot it?). Also I noticed the weapon lights were almost exclusively the Surefire model that is similar to the Streamlight TLR-1 rather than the traditional flashlight tube style. Also I asked about the mix of SOPMOD stocks and regular M4 stocks and they guys said it was personal preference and some didn't just like the SOPMOD. As far as the M4s - all the ones I saw were Colt M4s with the full-auto selector, not the 3 rnd burst. The light appears to be the Insight M3. It is an issued and supply item. I wonder if the ELCAN is issued or personally purchased. That;s cool. I never really got a close look at the lights. I could swear one was a Surefire because it was hanging right next to my head in the HUMVEE. The ELCAN was issued. They had a couple more back at the STOC still in the box waiting to get handed out. ETA: I REALLY liked the ELCAN. Nice optics and reticle. I got to shoot the guy's M4 with the ELCAN in the pic and it was really nice. The switch that flips it between 1x and 4x was really nice. It was either 1x or 4 x, nothing in between, so you didn't dick around with a rotating knob. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 10:00:01 AM EDT
[#46]
Notso...long live the sunken check-six....how's it going brother? I thought that was your ugly mug in those shots!
KBAD |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 10:02:46 AM EDT
[#47]
ma deuce and the mk 19 were my bread and butter in the field artillery days. i've broke a handle or two in my time. great pics and thanks for sharing. my father in law was/is an air traffic controller and always wanted to be a CC. He wimped out when they told him the washout rate and the possible reclass out of traffic if you fail tech school.
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Posted: 2/10/2009 10:04:38 AM EDT
[#48]
Quoted:
Setting up for an entry - "the stack" http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee14/notso69/STS%20at%20Red%20Flag/IMG_0610-blackout.jpg just saying this doesn't look like the "professional" stacks i'm used to being in.
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Posted: 2/10/2009 10:07:09 AM EDT
[#49]
Quoted:
Quoted:
wheres the muzzle discipline in "the stack" Eh. I don't see any muzzles pointed at the good guys. If you wanted to educate proffessional soldiers, you've got to offer more specific critiques than " "
Indulge us. not trying to hijack as the pics are pretty sweet, just pointing out what i saw in a couple of the photos. looks like guys standing around with daddy's shotgun in the back of the stack, while operators up front are starting to move. if you don't agree that it looks a little fubar, than no amount of explanation from me is going to help you. |
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Posted: 2/10/2009 10:12:09 AM EDT
[#50]
Quoted:
Notso...long live the sunken check-six....how's it going brother? I thought that was your ugly mug in those shots! KBAD IM sent |
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