Yes, I noticed the Sapper tab on the other photo. A worthless tab authorized for use starting in 2004. As worthless as a Pathfinder badge. The guy in the picture is just looking for attention and praise. The patch is barely being held on by the Velcro. I bet he's got Ranger or SF plates in his car and stickers on all windows. He just wants to make sure people know he is 'special.' Why go Air Force after being in the Army as a Green Beret Ranger qualified? Don't know. Is the pay better? Is the quality of life better?
The Q Course for SF is not like going to Ranger school. To go to the Q Course, you have to sign up to be SF for a certain amount of time in the Army. At least that is how it used to be. You can get the Ranger tab and not go to the Ranger Regiment. The Army has gotten rid of Reserve Special Forces Units (11th and 12th), but it does have two National Guard Units (19th and 20th). There used to be a way to get the SF tab as a Reservist years ago. I believe late 70s and early 80s. You would not do the course in one shot on Active Duty, but in portions. It would take much longer to complete. The quality of the operators was found not to be the same as their Active counterpart and the Army got rid of the program. Those that had completed the program and qualified were slowly pushed out of the units over time. They kept the tab. It would be like going through the 3 phases of Ranger school over 3 summers (3 years).
I'm not sure what is so special about these Air Force Combat Control Teams. Fire support is thought to 2nd Lieutenants in the Army Infantry. We called in our own artillery and air strikes. The fixed wing air strikes (coordination) might have gone through some additional Air Force channels. The Infantry Basic course for Officers and NCOs teaches a soldier how to call-for-fire (mortars, artillery, and fixed wing). We had Army NCOs in Afghanistan calling in B-1 bomber airstrikes. Not sure what happened to the CCT guy. Never needed one and never worked with one.
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