About 2 years ago I spoke to a PJ for the Alaska AG who said that special tactics squadrons and rescue squadrons were night and day different. After reading a post on here from a while ago that seems to contradict this info I was just wondering what the pros and cons to either would be. I would imagine STS falling under SOCOM would have way more funding thus better training. Also, what is the selection process like for 24th STS? They seem kind of like the unsung heroes of JSOC. thanks in advance.
So, I'll address a little bit here.
@Freefalling is 100% dead on. The 724 STG requires a selection, and that selection is secret like our sister service selections are. No big deal, just moving on that's all.
As for the STS/RQS difference- it's way, way different. Different mission sets (well, different way that we approach mission sets, let's say), different command structure, different command, etc. There are pros and cons. I have worked both and have things that I loved and things that I disliked about both. It's just a personality choice, really. As an AD guy, you are assigned to an STS/RQS nearly purely off manning, skill position, rank, needs of the AF, etc. Some guys can come out of the pipeline and work only RQS's, through their lives, and never have an STS rotation.
I will say that depending on the team and who's running it, you can have a great RQS (trained/funded/opportunities for advanced missions) and a bland STS. Very personality dependent.
Hope I answered a bit of your questions.
