I was privileged to have the 24th STS conduct TXs on my ranger district in NW Wyoming. They typically trained for deep snow operations, winter mountaineering, and Class 4 and 5 high-angle rope work.

"Rappel demonstrations are risky, but common among elite units"

The football stadium demo in which an airman was killed Saturday was a tragedy, but highly trained troops frequently put on training events before large crowds.

Matt White
Published Oct 20, 2026 4:21 PM EDT

The details behind the death of an Air Force special operations instructor killed during a rappelling demonstration Saturday will likely not be known for weeks or even months.

But rappelling demonstrations by military members at large public events, particularly involving highly trained special ops units, are not new...

...Though the Air Force has made no statement on the cause of the accident, some media commentary has suggested that Patterson’s death traces to recent recruiting and marketing blitzes under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has pushed the military to project an action- and combat-oriented public persona.

The Air Force did not immediately respond to questions on what chain of command may have ordered or approved the demonstration, but military members rappelling into football games has been a common event across the country for at least a decade...

Complete article:

https://taskandpurpose.com/new...nstration-air-force/

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sigmund,

^^^^

quote:

some media commentary has suggested that Patterson’s death traces to recent recruiting and marketing blitzes under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

Yeah, “some media commentary”. I can smell ‘em.

The deceased is TSgt. Ian Patterson, a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) instructor. God Bless him, his family (husband and father of 2), his friends, and teammates.

He was a TACP

Air Force suspends rappelling events for special ops training unit after fatal fall

The 6th Combat Training Squadron, which trains TACP airmen, has paused all rappel and ropes training and demonstrations following the death of Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson.

by Austin Campbell
Published Oct 23, 2026 12:41 PM EDT

An Air Force unit that trains special operations airmen suspended rappelling and ropes training after an instructor in the squadron died during a demonstration at a college football game in San Antonio, Texas, officials confirmed to Task & Purpose.

Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year Air Force veteran and instructor at the 6th Combat Training Squadron, fell during a rappelling demonstration before the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Oct. 17 football game against Navy at the Alamodome. Patterson fell from the stadium’s 160-foot-high rafters onto the playing field. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died...

Complete article:

https://taskandpurpose.com/new...nds-rappel-training/