do the USAF have any type of infantry special forces units?

Question

and if so, are they REALLY elite? have they done something during war time?

Answer 1

They have Para-rescue, which has higher standards for their Indoc than any other Special Ops unit. They do rescue and recovery misisons, not infantry missions.

They also have combat controllers, who are also Special ops. They call in missile and bomb strikes from airplanes.

Answer 2

Yep. There are several career fields in Air Force Special operations comand, a few of which are ground combat jobs, but the two that rise to the level you're looking for are Pararescue & Combat Control. Check the link below for more information than you ever wanted to know. You'll find that virtual no Seal, Ranger, or Army Special Forces detatchment ever deploys anywhere without an Airman as a member of their team. So far as elite, let me just cut & paste the schools you go to AFTER passing the indoc course (about 6 out of 100):

6.1 Parachute operations (Jumpmaster directed spotting for accuracy)
6.1.1 Static line (low altitude)
6.1.1.1 With combat equipment
6.1.1.2 With SCUBA equipment
6.1.1.3 Into forested areas
6.1.1.4 Into vast bodies of water

6.1.2 High Altitude Low Opening (military free fall)
6.1.2.1 With combat equipment
6.1.2.2 With oxygen

6.1.3 High Altitude High Opening (cross country canopy flight)
6.1.3.1 With combat equipment
6.1.3.2 With oxygen

6.2 Waterborne Infiltration's
6.2.1 SCUBA/Draegger
6.2.2 Submarine lock-outs
6.2.3 Aircraft boat drops
6.2.4 Rubber Raiding Craft operations
6.2.5 Scout (surface) swimming

6.3 Mountain Operations
6.3.1 Rock/ice climbing
6.3.2 Rappelling
6.3.3 High angle evacuations

6.4 Helicopter Operations
6.4.1 Rappelling
6.4.2 Fast rope
6.4.3 Rope Ladder
6.4.4 Hoist operations (PJs)
6.4.5 Gunner/scanner (PJs)

6.5 Overland Movement
6.5.1 Motorcycles
6.5.2 All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
6.5.3 Motor vehicle
6.5.4 Team navigation

6.6 Arctic Operations
6.6.1 Cross country skiing
6.6.2 Downhill skiing
6.6.3 Skijoring
6.6.4 Snowmobiles
6.6.5 Snowshoes
6.6.6 Akhio

Answer 3

Combat controllers are air force SF but I know little about them

their Para rescue guys have cool training as well from what I am told

I have worked with their Security Forces guys and this is the closest thing they have to infantry. In Vietnam these guys patrolled an area of a few miles around every air base and would close with and destroy the enemy.

I did not see them doing any of that when I was in Iraq but I think they may be doing it now due to force requirements.

Answer 4

They DO have special operations troops, but they're not infantry. The comab control teams, and Para-rescue units are air force. Infantry, is the stereotypical patrol, ambush, fighter who's put on a piece of real-estate, to KEEP the real estate. Para-rescue "P-jock" are sent in to locate and rescue downed aviators. Is actually about as tough to get into and elite as any other branche's special ops. P-jocks have about the coolest job, as they can honestly say, their mission is to SAVE lives.

Answer 5

There is not an ELITE force persay... if you want ELITE and are serious of doing something of that nature... Go Army Ranger, Green berets.. Delta or the best.. SEAL TEAMS. But ya know Navy/MArine or Army is the place to go for Real SOF. But those programs ARE serious and tough to get into. so you must be comitted!

Answer 6

No,they are not the Airborne Rangers that is an Army unit.
The Airforce have a unit that specifically jumps in behind enemy lines to recover down pilots or if Airforce One, The President's plane, goes down they would extract the President. That is pretty much as elite as you get. I think that they are called U.S. Airforce Para-jumpers they are fully trained including medically trained.

Answer 7

Yes they do operate Spec Ops teams that are part of SOCOM. These units were the first to go into Afghanistan.

Answer 8

No, they don't... Rangers are Army, not Air Force.

Answer 9

yes, they are the airborne rangers