Air Guard takes steps to retain seasoned combat controllers.

• Author: Peck, Michael
• Position: NATIONAL GUARD

In response to shortages of Air Force special operators, the Air National Guard is setting up a squadron designed to help retain highly specialized troops when they leave active duty.

The Oregon Air National Guard's 125th Special Tactics Squadron is scheduled to become operational in 2007. The unit previously was the 244th Combat Communications Squadron.

Located at the Portland Air National Guard Base, the 125th has 47 slots for combat controllers and, so far, has filled about 10.

Finding those extra controllers won't be easy. The Air Force Special Operations Command is supposed to have about 384 combat controllers in its 10 active-duty and Guard special tactics squadrons, but currently it only has about 200, said Air Force Lt. Col. Terry Maki, a special tactics officer.

The sole Air National Guard special operations squadron is the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, in Kentucky. This leaves few options for special operators leaving active duty who may want to serve in the Guard, but don't want to have to move to Kentucky.

"Talk to any combat controller," Maki said. "They'll tell you that they're tired of moving, but they want to contribute."

Activating a Guard Special Tactics Squadron on the West Coast will offer geographic flexibility. Based in Portland, the 125th is an ideal location to scoop up controllers leaving the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, Maki said.

These operators are FAA-certified air traffic controllers. While that might conjure an image of a safe job in control towers, combat controllers have more in common with the elite ground forces they support.

Trained in numerous forms of infiltration, from high-altitude parachuting to combat diving, Air Force combat controllers accompany Army Special Forces, Rangers and Navy SEALs during missions.

"There's no movies made about us," said Sgt. Jim Hotaling, a decorated detachment commander with the 125th Special Tactics Squadron, reflecting a common attitude among controllers that their work often goes unacknowledged.

When seizing airfields, the controllers immediately begin directing the influx of warplanes and supply aircraft, no matter what the dangers or conditions.

"We'll do the mano a mano combat action, take the control tower down, and control the initial flow of aircraft," said Hotaling. "What that means is the full gamut--airborne operations, seizing airfields, providing close air support capabilities and controlling that initial 72 hours of...