ANOTHER FALLEN WARRIOR-CCT KIA

[raexcct2]

ANOTHER FALLEN WARRIOR (http://combatcontrolnet.blogspot.com/)

My old carrer field has suffered two KIA's in Sep 10. Just thought I'd let the folks here know about these great kids in this generation of CCT and honor their sacrifice.

Two deaths in a month may not seem like much but when the whole career field is less than 400 Air Force wide, it touches home to alot of folks.

RIP SrA Mark A. Forester and SrA Danny Sanchez.

[martin35]

By CCT do you mean a Forward Air Controler? That job does involve some high hazards, in any case thanks to the fallen and rest in peace.
Semper Fi

[raexcct2]

CCT stands for Combat Control Team. Forward Air Control is just one of their duties.

When the US Air Force split off from the US Army, the Air Force did not want Army pathfinders controlling their aircraft so the Army pathfinder mission was transferred to the US Air Force.

All CCT's are qualified air traffic controllers plus are airborne, HALO and SCUBA qualified in addition to getting training to certify them as JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controllers) in order to call in fire, whether it's from helicopters, AC-130 gunships, or fighters.

Just think Grenada, Panama, and even Somalia, CCT was first there, inserting the air traffic control navaids for the invasion aircraft and then working the air traffic control.

As for Somalia, CCT was first there working the airfields for the humanitarian relief missions (I would know as I was there on the first mission to Wajir, Kenya and other airfields in Somalia proper) and CCT was there in Mogadishu, as well.

For example, in the movie, ,"Black Hawk Down", the guy on the ground controlling the little bird helicopter gunships was actually a CCT SSgt who received a Silver Star.

The last guy who ran out of Mogadishu was actually a CCT MSgt (retired as a CMSgt).

When the earthquake hit Haiti last year, it was CCT that ran the airfield for the first couple of weeks until they were relieved by an FAA/Air National Guard Air traffic control joint team.

There is a lot to CCT besides call for fire. Just a little info.

CCT HISTORY (http://www.ccshf.org/Introduction.pdf)

[martin35]

Youse guys could be Marines if can pass the physical and the IQ test.
Semper Fi CCT and thanks for the service.

[raexcct2]

Youse guys could be Marines if can pass the physical and the IQ test.

Our guys accept Marines if they can get one of the 30 prior service slots the Air Force reserves for prior service airman or other service personnel to try and enter the Air Force.

The 30 slots are for the WHOLE Air Force not just CCT, PJ's, or TACP and they still need to pass the CCT physical, IQ tests and security clearance. CCT has had several ex-Navy SEALs, Marine Recon types, and even a few ex-Army types in our career field.

In fact one of the ex-Recon guys was KIA in 2008, TSgt Will Jefferson.

Total CCT KIA or aircraft related deaths in OIF/OEF are as follows:

TSGT John Chapman KIA 4 Mar 2002-KIA-Awarded Air Force Cross
SSGT Scott Sather KIA 8 Apr 2003-KIA

SSGT Casey Crate KIA 30 May 2005-Aircraft crash
CAPT Derek Argel KIA 30 May 2005-Aircraft crash
CAPT Jeremy Fresques KIA 30 May 2005-Aircraft crash

SrA Adam Servais KIA 19 Aug 2006-KIA
TSGT William Jefferson KIA 21 Mar 2008-KIA
SSGT Tim Davis KIA 20 Feb 2009-KIA
SrA Danny Sanchez KIA 16 Sep 2010-KIA
SrA Mark A Forrestor KIA 30 Sep 2010-KIA

[Andy the Aussie]

Men of that caliber are a loss to any nation....sorry to hear of the recent losses mate .... :(

Andy :beer:

[raexcct2]

Men of that caliber are a loss to any nation....

My sentiments exactly.

CCT was my old career field plus the fact that my son (infantryman serving in an Army Special Operations unit) that works frequently with CCT and is almost the same age as the latest two KIA is why I started this thread.

I hope all our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airman, and even coast guardsman can make it home safely.

[bar2260]

Amen, Bro. Some of the toughest, finest young men you will ever meet

[martin35]

I appreciate the information.