'Coach' Carney | Air Force Special Tactics Shirt

Created by commission. Not available for public purchase.

Pay Tribute

It began with Brand X, the original six-man team Coach Carney was handpicked to build. As the Father of Air Force Special Tactics, he built the force, fought for the equipment, and made Special Tactics combat ready on Day One. His duty did not end when the mission did. He continued serving the men beside him by standing behind the families they left behind. The promise born at Desert One still stands: the children of those lost in service will never be left behind.

Raise Your Glass

Raise your glass to the courage, strength, and faith God grants the sky soldier. To those who ask for what others refuse, who choose the open door, trust the hands that packed the chute, and keep their eyes on the horizon as the ground comes up. And Lord, now and forever, grant the lower jumper the right of way. To Coach: twenty-seven years in uniform, traveling mostly by parachute.

Behind the Design

C-130 Hercules

The C-130 Hercules carries people, equipment and supplies into places where short runways and rough ground make getting there part of the mission.

Air Force Special Tactics

Special Tactics Airmen work alongside special operations teams to get aircraft into difficult places, direct strikes and bring people home. Their heritage includes combat control and pararescue, with John “Coach” Carney’s Brand X team helping shape the modern force beginning in 1977. Across multiple squadrons, these Airmen combine reconnaissance, air traffic control, rescue and medical skills to connect aircraft overhead with the mission on the ground.