hello all. few questions from a CCT wannabe that is currently a freakin cop. i have been scouring this site for the past few months getting every piece of info i could about combat control. i have one question that i cannot seem to clear up though...i have heard that the CCT STO's don't go to the field. please tell me this isn't fact. i want to be an oficer controller, but not if it means i have to ride a desk. rollin in the dirt is the only life for me, and if that means i can't be an officer...then thats what it means. please somebody, help me clear these myths that i have heard from folks who more than likely don't have a freakin clue. thanks a lot fellas!

This has been covered many, many times in various forums so I'll give you the short version. As a new STO LT you will go to field to work LZs and for training but not nearly as much as your NCOs and Airmen. You'll start as a Team Leader and that means a lot of paper work and setting things up but you still train. As you gain rank, you go to the field less and less. Senior Captains and Majors pretty much pull staff duties. Exceptions do happen. Captain @*$) was the STO at the Joint Fire Control Course (CAS stuff) and found himself in Iraq as an LNO. When a TAC was needed, he went to the front and killed hundreds of bad guys with CAS aircraft and 12 with his M-4 carbine. As a 2LT I was a shift leader at 3 airfields in Iraq and ran the STOC at Bagram. My duties were corrdination and admin in naturebut very rewarding. I did get to work as a TAC once (due to high ops tempo and few available TACs) and I did get to train when my duties allowed.

thanks for the info Guard. i know somebody has to do the staff work, i just don't wanna be that guy. my path is clear now, thanks a lot.