720th Special Tactics Group

Mission
The 720th Special Tactics Group is an integral part of the Air Force Special Operations Command and is home-based at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The group is comprised of more than 800 Special Operations Combat Control, Pararescue, Combat Weather and support personnel.

The 720th STG organizes, trains and equips Special Tactics forces worldwide to provide airmanship expertise and establish and control the air-to-ground interface in an objective area.

It also provides long-range operational and logistics planning, and deploys command and control elements during special tactics force employment or deployment. Lastly, it functions as the command's proponent for military parachuting, diving and other special tactics-related matters.

Squadrons within the 720th STG are composed of Air Force Combat Controllers, Pararescuemen and Combat Weathermen. Combat Controllers and Pararescuemen are specifically organized, trained and equipped to control aviation assets and provide search and rescue, trauma care and evacuation staging of the wounded. Combat Weathermen support the Army Special Forces Groups, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment by generating accurate, mission tailored forecasts for ingress, employment, and egress of air, land and sea forces, and conduct special weather reconnaissance.


Units
The group has five units in the continental United States:
- 21st and 24th Special Tactics Squadrons, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
- 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
- 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
- 10th Combat Weather Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. The 10th CWS has five subordinate active duty detachments, and three Air National Guard combat weather flights.

The 720th STG is also the functional manager for AFSOC's two overseas Special Tactics squadrons: the 320th under command of the 353rd Special Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan, and the 321st under the command of the 352nd Special Operations Group at RAF Mildenhall, England.

The 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, an Air National Guard unit based at Standiford Field, Ky., augments the 720th STG in supporting national security objectives, humanitarian efforts and training.

Lineage
Established as 1720th Special Tactics Group, and activated, on 1 Oct 1987. Redesignated 720th Special Tactics Group on 31 Mar 1992.

Emblem Significance
Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The swords symbolize the eliteforces merged to form the Group. They are crossed above the globe, in a protective gesture signifying strength and unity. The globe stands for the worldwide mission of the Group. The division of the globe stands for day and night readiness. The three stars and the three parts of the shield reflect the insertion methods of the forces---land, sea and air.


Units