Combat Controllers Seek Adventure

Kirk Carlson
Jan 5, 2025
3 min read

Combat Controllers Seek Adventure

By 2nd Lt Chris Larkin, AFDTC Public Affairs

I was geared up, sitting in a MH-60 helicopter with my team, tensely waiting for higher headquarters to give the word to go.

As I waited, I saw another scene unfolding in the distance. An AC-130 gunship unleashed an awesome display of firepower on La Commandancia -- the downtown headquarters of Manuel Noriega’s Panamanian Defense forces.

A few short miles away at Toccumen Torrillos Airport, a Special Tactics team accompanied by Army Rangers parachuted onto the steamy tarmac and stepped into the unknown...

This is how I spent much of the 12 years in what I’ve come to view as the best job in not only the Air Force, but the military -- Combat Control.

A Career of Thrills and Challenges

It all started after I’d turned 18. The Air Force recruiter asked me what job I wanted, and I had no idea how to respond. After a long process of reading, watching movies, and asking a thousand questions, two specialties intrigued me.

One was pararescue; however, the physical requirements seemed daunting. The other job, combat control, seemed equally as interesting with no mention of physical fitness requirements.

I volunteered for combat control and after six weeks of basic training, I was off to six months of combat control school at Pope AFB in North Carolina.

Everyone has seen movies of special operations, but reality is very different and, as I would soon find out, much more exciting.

Grueling Training

I’ll be the first to admit to being naive when I entered the training, but I soon received the wake-up call of my life.

Class began at 5 a.m. and lasted all day. We typically spent at least three hours running and exercising. After dinner, though exhausted, we then spent most of the night studying and preparing our gear for the next day’s activities.

Although I wasn’t prepared for this grueling training, I couldn’t bring myself to utter the two dreaded words the cadre seemed to love: “I quit.”

Somehow I survived training, but still didn’t have the full understanding of exactly what a combat controller did -- I would soon find out.

High-Stakes Operations

Combat controllers work near or behind enemy lines providing air traffic control, close air support, and radio communications for other special operators such as Army Rangers.

As an airman, I had responsibilities equal to that of many senior NCOs and company-grade officers. I was paid to participate in activities that many would spend a fortune to take part in -- skydiving, rock climbing, motorcycling, marksmanship, and scuba-diving to name a few.

Speaking of pay, as a staff sergeant I received an additional $500 each month for the privilege to wear the combat controller’s distinctive scarlet beret.

Exciting Travel and Lifelong Bonds

Travel is also a large part of the combat controller’s duties. I’ve been to every country in Europe, Central and South America, and the Far East -- all made possible by combat control.

All these things add up to make combat control a particularly exciting and rewarding career, but by far the best part of the job is working with people who would literally give their lives for you.

Don’t get me wrong, combat control isn’t for everyone. The training is incredibly difficult, and only the best survive -- I wouldn’t have it any other way.