I am cross training. I am torn between TACP or CCT. Which one is better?

That is a question that cant be answered. You have got to decide what to do for yourself. You can find facts on both the career fields and make your decision that way, but i dont think you are going to find anyone that can answer that question without using a biased opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by jpratt0826:
That is a question that cant be answered. You have got to decide what to do for yourself. You can find facts on both the career fields and make your decision that way, but i dont think you are going to find anyone that can answer that question without using a biased opinion.

This post speaks nothing but the truth.

Does anyone know where I can find videos or information on CCT or TACP schools and what thier AFSC are like. I have already looked on Special Tactics.com.

Youtube

This is what I would do if I was in your situation....Look at the core jobs, not all the fancy chest candy...

For example, the core job of CCT is Air Traffic Control

THe Core job of TACP is to be a liason between our buddies (lt infantry, mech infantry, etc) on the ground and air assets, mainly for air support

If you look at the core job, it makes it easier...to me anyway...

Granted there has been a lot of moss grow on my north side since I was on a CCT, but I did serve during war time.
At least back then a CCT (three men and a jeep) was made up of two air trafic controllers that first off went through the same school as any other controller and one radio repairman (me) that first off went through the same repair school as any other radio repairman.
(So all I ever controlled was an on/off switch). It is only after this training that there is any specialized training.
Our team spent probably 90% of our time controlling air traffic at an army fire base (what traffic there was)Personally I spent most of my time repairing junk radios for the grunts. Not nearly as glamorous as one would think.
The hard part of the job, like most other jobs in the military, is becoming prepaired for whatever might get tossed in the way of completing a mission. Sometimes a CCT can find it's self waist deep in the ----, but that doesn't mean that it will be like that all the time or happen to every team.

tailpipe (blunder)

how in the world do you get that spell check to work?

Although CTT and TACP have slightly different focus, both enlisted AFSCs changed considerably during the 1980s and both have direct action role to direct aircraft.

TACP’s focus is to direct tactical engagement of targets in close proximity of friendly forces which is why they are embedded as support as part of Army units. TACP’s embedded in an Army's unit role is to direct the action of combat aircraft in providing close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position and engage targets in close proximity to friendly forces.

CCT’s role is to direct the airfield action of tactical airlift getting direct action assets and resources into air assault airfields, air assault helicopter landing zones, and establishing combat drop zones as the first in controlling ground party. In this regard CCT is instrumental in establishing the air head. (air head--A designated area in a hostile or threatened territory which, when seized and held, ensures the continuous air landing of troops and materiel and provides the maneuver space necessary for projected operations. Normally it is the area seized in the assault phase of an airborne operation. 2. A designated location in an area of operations used as a base for supply and evacuation by air. See also beachhead; bridgehead. –ref Joint Publication 1-02). The nature of CCT's employed participating and contributing to the mission drives the requirement that CCT members also have the capability to direct the action of combat aircraft in providing close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position and engage targets in close proximity to friendly forces.

BTW-PJs due to the nature of providing SERE and security also have some obligation to be able to direct the action of combat aircraft in providing close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position and engage targets in close proximity to friendly forces. Consequently one of the reasons on the special operations side of the house for STS being combined CCT&PJ teams. Of note there is no CCT on the conventional combat rescue/personel recovery side of the house.

Here’s a few History of CCT links:

quote:

Combat Control History:

15 January 1953 - Donaldson AFB, SC - Pictured here are members of the first Air Force Pathfinder Team; the name was changed in March 1953 to Combat Control Team. The photo was taken shortly after the group completed the Army Pathfinder School.

quote:

CCT Online History:

Extensive involvement in Vietnam helped form the basis of combat control operating methods in use today. Tailpipes, as they were commonly referred to in those days, assisted during countless airlifts. They helped to assure mission safety, expedite air traffic flow, and coordinate with local agencies and airlift control elements. The first controllers went in from Okinawa and Tachikawa in 1965 and the 8th Aerial Port stood up in 1966. True to the combat control motto "First In, Last Out", they were the last American unit to be evacuated from Khe Sahn on 1 Apr 71. In addition, two American combat controllers were among the last to be lifted by helicopter from the roof of the U.S. Embassy when Saigon collapsed in 1975.

Here’s a history of USAF TACP link:

quote:

Brief Overview of what the FAC's were/are all about:

Effective 30 April 1977, AFSC 275X0 was established to perform ROMAD duties exclusively. When the award of the AFSC took place, the Air Force needed people to man the new positions. Who better than the people that had been doing it prior to April?. Most of the personnel grabbed were either returning from overseas or were in overage slots in the 304 job. Most of the "New" ROMADs were not really happy about being drafted like this. The 304 personnel parachute qualified were able to move freely from TACP (Tactical Air Control Party FAC + ROMAD + M-151 = TACP) to CCT (Combat Control Team, overqualified Air traffic controllers).
The CCT was under the 24 man team concept. 6 Positions for 304s for radio repair and 18 Air Traffic controllers. The CCT were authorized berets, "High Speed" (Newer) equipment, and other amenities such as pay bonuses. The TACPs were treated rather like step children by Tactical Air Command. In 1979, Military Airlift Command (Owners of CCT) decided to eliminate the 304 slots. Now the 304s had to make a quick choice, find a job as a radio repairman, cross train to the CCT or cross train to the TACP. Most took the TACP. Since its inception in 1977, the 275X0 (1C4X0) has made a place for himself in history. The next time you watch CNN and see an air strike going into an enemy target, see if you can see the guy wearing Air Forces stripes and a microphone stuffed into his face.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: johca,

quote:

Originally posted by blunder1:
Granted there has been a lot of moss grow on my north side since I was on a CCT, but I did serve during war time.
At least back then a CCT (three men and a jeep) was made up of two air trafic controllers that first off went through the same school as any other controller and one radio repairman (me) that first off went through the same repair school as any other radio repairman.
(So all I ever controlled was an on/off switch). It is only after this training that there is any specialized training.
Our team spent probably 90% of our time controlling air traffic at an army fire base (what traffic there was)Personally I spent most of my time repairing junk radios for the grunts. Not nearly as glamorous as one would think.
The hard part of the job, like most other jobs in the military, is becoming prepaired for whatever might get tossed in the way of completing a mission. Sometimes a CCT can find it's self waist deep in the ----, but that doesn't mean that it will be like that all the time or happen to every team.

tailpipe (blunder)

how in the world do you get that spell check to work?

Bet I can guess which war that was. That explains why my CCT buddies cross-trained into radio repair after it ended. I always wondered about that.