24th STS
| 24th Special Tactics Squadron | |
|---|---|
24th STS unit emblem
|
|
| Active | 14 October 1941 – 31 March 1944 1 May 1987 – present |
| Country |
 United States of America
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Type | Special Operations Force |
| Role | Special Operations |
| Part of |
 24th Special Operations Wing 724th Special Tactics Group
|
| Garrison/HQ | Pope Field, North Carolina |
| Engagements |
Operation Just Cause |
| Decorations |
Gallant Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Operation Just Cause
Persian Gulf War
Operation Gothic Serpent
The 24th Special Tactics Squadron is one of the Special Tactics units of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). It is the U.S. Air Force component to Joint Special Operations Command. It is garrisoned at Pope Field, North Carolina.
The 24th Special Tactics Squadron participated in the United States invasion of Panama in 1989. The 24th STS deployed 11 personnel including the unit commander, Lt. Col. Jim Oeser, as part of JSOC's Task Force Ranger during Operation Restore Hope in 1993. Due to their actions during the Battle of Mogadishu multiple decorations were awarded to the airmen. Pararescueman (PJ) TSgt Tim Wilkinson received the Air Force Cross and fellow PJ MSgt Scott Fales received the Silver Star, both for providing lifesaving medical care to wounded soldiers. Combat Controller (CCT) SSgt. Jeffrey W. Bray also received the Silver Star for coordinating helicopter attack runs throughout the night around their positions.
From 15 to 20 September 2000 the 24th STS with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron took part in the annual Canadian military exercise, Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX). This was the first time Special Tactics units took part in SAREX.
In recent years the squadron has been heavily involved in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan where the unit was part of the JSOC groupings Task Force 121, Task Force 6-26 and Task Force 145. In 2003 members of the unit were involved in two combat jumps in the initial phases of the Iraq War alongside the 3rd Ranger Battalion. The first combat jump was on 24 March 2003 near the Syrian border in the Iraqi town of Al Qaim where they secured a small desert landing strip to allow follow-on coalition forces into the area. The second combat jump was two days later near Haditha, Iraq, where they secured the Haditha Dam.
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