Air Force Special Tactics 830-Mile Memorial March Passing Through Escambia County

March 3, 2019

Two Special Tactics Airmen trekked across Escambia County Sunday in the name of their fallen brethren killed in combat.

They are among  20 airmen rucking from Medina Annex at Lackland Air Force Base, TX, to Hurlburt Field to pay tribute to Staff Sgt. Dylan J. Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller, who was killed in Afghanistan on Nov. 27, 2018, and in honor of the other 19 Special Tactics Airmen who have been killed in action since 9/11.

Elchin, along with U.S. Army Capt. Andrew Ross and U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Emond, were killed in action when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2018, while deployed in support of OPERATION Freedom’s Sentinel. U.S. Army Sgt. Jason McClary died later as a result of injuries sustained from the IED.

Another of the fallen includes Staff Sgt. Forrest Sibley of Pensacola, Special Tactics Combat Controller, killed on August 26, 2015. Sibley, 31, was one of two special tactics airmen deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel near Camp Antonik, Afghanistan. They were at a vehicle checkpoint when two individuals wearing Afghan National Defense and Security Forces uniforms opened fire on them. NATO service members returned fire and killed the shooters.

The Special Tactics Airmen departed Texas on February 22 and are scheduled to arrive at Hurlburt Field, March 4 at 1:00 p.m.

Monday at 3 a.m., they will depart the Gulf Islands National Seashore. For live tracking, click here.

What most people won’t see, is the Individual Duty Medical Technicians putting moleskin on painful blisters, or the communication Airman ensuring the operators are following the correct route, or supply Airmen servicing safety vehicles and the list goes on.

A support force of 19 Air Commandos from nine different career specialties are working around-the-clock, 24/7, behind the scenes of Air Force Special Operations Command’s Special Tactics Memorial March, as 10 two-man teams ruck 830 miles to Hurlburt Field.

“Mission support is the foundation that Special Tactics combat capability is built on,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Guilmain, command chief of the 24th Special Operations Wing and participant in the march. “As always, they have been pivotal in the accomplishment of this 830-mile, five state movement. My hat is off to all involved in the complex planning and execution of this incredible event.”

The 19 mission support Airmen consist of: IDMTs, a Special Operations Surgical Team emergency services physician, a vehicle maintenance technician, combat arms specialist, client systems technician, weather officer, office of special investigations representative, protocol and public affairs.

“I’m both incredibly humbled and fortunate to be a part of the team. It’s keeping guys in the fight, something small that we can give back to the community to show our support across the force.” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Billy Norad, the medical operations superintendent with the 24th SOW and an IDMT on the ruck. “The ruckers know that we’re here to make sure they succeed and they respect and rely on a level of expertise to help make that happen.”

When the support Airmen are not working their primary responsibilities, they can be found right alongside the 20 ST ruckers — turning steps into miles and honoring their teammates.

“There are two shifts of support folks, each on the road 12 hours a day,” said retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Steve Haggett, chief of protocol with the 24th SOW. “All the support teams, every day, are putting rucks on and rucking with the teams on the road.”

Special Tactics Airmen begin their training at Medina Annex, together, and become combat ready upon graduation of the Special Tactics Training Squadron at Hurlburt Field, thus the march route mimics the training passage our Airmen endure. The journey takes the Airmen across five states and 830 miles.

Historically, Air Force Special Tactics plans a memorial march when a member is killed in action. This is the 5th Special Tactics Memorial March since 2009 and since it originated as the “Tim Davis Memorial March.” The march was renamed to honor all fallen Special Tactics Airmen in 2011 to the “Special Tactics Memorial March.”

A memorial baton inscribed with each of the fallen Special Tactics Airman’s names will be carried throughout the way to honor the fallen.

Today, there are about 1,000 Special Tactics operators who combine the core skills of special operations forces with the tactical integration of the world’s greatest airpower, working to find unique solutions to ground problems. They are the most decorated community in the Air Force since the end of the Vietnam War, with one Medal of Honor, ten Air Force Crosses, and 44 Silver Stars.

Special Tactics is U.S. Special Operation Command’s tactical air and ground integration force, and the Air Force’s special operations ground force, leading Global Access, Precision Strike, Personnel Recovery and Battlefield Surgery operations on the battlefield.

A disciplined special operations force of hand-selected Airmen leading joint operations, Special Tactics Airmen are deliberate in their thoughts and actions to deliver solutions to the nation’s most complex military challenges. They conduct global air, space, and cyber-enabled special operations across the spectrum of conflict to prepare for, fight, and win our nation’s wars.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Air Force Special Tactics 830-Mile Memorial March Passing Through Escambia County”

  1. Robet Dandridge on March 4th, 2019 1:29 pm

    Afghanistan, it’s like e-coli septic, You’ve got to clean it out , not leave it to foment.

  2. 429SCJ Smith on March 4th, 2019 7:57 am

    After 17+ years, Afghanistan should be thoroughly cleansed of any enemy combatants or all life for that matter.

    If we are going to place our troops in harms way, let us give them full warrant to destroy the enemy.

  3. db on March 3rd, 2019 3:32 pm

    Much respect warriors.

  4. Grand Locust on March 3rd, 2019 1:11 pm

    President Trump has promised to get us out of Afghanastan, and it cannot happen soon enough as too many heroes have fallen. Prayers to the families and may President Trump end this occupation which has been the longest in American history.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News