1999 Air Force Combat Controller of the Year recipients announced

Released: 27 Mar 2000

Capt. Jeff Marshall, combat controller, was recognized as the 1999 Combat Controller of the Year in the company grade officer category. He is assigned to 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (Courtesy photo)

WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- In a Pentagon ceremony here March 22, Maj. Gen. Michael Kudlacz, Air Force director of Operations and Training, presented the 1999 Air Force Combat Controller of the Year Awards.

The recipients were Senior Airman Brian Crum, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Staff Sgt. Tony Bryant, 21st STS, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.; Master Sgt. Dave Holcomb, 320th STS, Kadena Air Base, Japan; and Capt. Jeff Marshall, 23rd STS, Hurlburt Field.

Combat controllers are a unique special force. They rapidly assess, establish and control landing and drop zones in areas ranging from easily accessible to the most austere and inhospitable regions of the world, and control air and surface fire support assets in hostile environments.

They also control forward area refueling and rearming points, operate as part of personnel recovery teams to rescue people in trouble, support contingencies and humanitarian aid missions worldwide, and participate in Air Force foreign internal defense efforts.

Among their many special tactics skills are static line and military free fall parachuting, SCUBA and amphibious operations and overland infiltration. They operate equally well out of either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft.

RELATES SITES

** Maj. Gen. Michael Kudlacz
** Combat Control Mission
** 720th Special Tactics Group