A combat controller, deployed with a U.S. Army Special Forces team in Afghanistan, communicates with overhead aircraft before calling in airstrikes during an engagement with insurgents. A Special Tactics combat controller integrates air power into ground special operations for mission success, deploying into forward hostile areas to control offensive airstrike operations (also known as Joint Terminal Attack Control), as well as establish assault zones and provide air traffic control capability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Released)