Two airmen die in jump

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. – Two airmen from the 24th Special Operations Wing died during a free-fall parachute training accident Monday at Eglin Air Force Base. The two were identified as Tech. Sgt. Timothy A. Officer, 32, and Tech. Sgt. Marty B. Bettelyoun, 35. The accident happened at an Eglin range near Camp James E. Rudder. The airmen were assigned to the 720th Operations Support Squadron, part of the 24th SOW at nearby Hurlburt Field. The cause is being investigated. The airmen were taking part in routine training to help prepare them to be inserted into hostile environments where aircraft can't land. Special tactics airmen are the Air Force's ground special operations forces who often embed with Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces to integrate air power for the special operations ground force. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 08/04/15)