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Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), with headquarters
at Hurlburt Field, Fla., was established May 22, 1990. AFSOC is a major
command and the Air Force component of U.S. Special Operations Command,
a unified
command.
Mission
AFSOC is America's specialized air power. It is a step ahead in a changing
world, delivering special operations combat power anytime, anywhere.
The command is committed to continual improvement to provide Air Force
special operations forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to
regional unified commands to conduct: unconventional warfare; direct
action; special reconnaissance; counter-proliferation; foreign internal
defense; information and psychological operations; personnel recovery
and counter-terrorism operations.
 Personnel and Resources
AFSOC has approximately 12,500 active, reserve and national guard personnel,
20 percent of whom are stationed overseas. The command's three active
duty flying units epitomize the composite wing/group concept. They are
composed of over 100 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
Organization
The 16th Special Operations Wing, at Hurlburt Field, is the oldest and
most seasoned unit in AFSOC. It includes the 6th Special Operations Squadron,
which is the wing's combat aviation advisory unit; the 4th SOS, which
flies the AC-130U gunship; the 8th SOS, which flies the MC-130E Combat
Talon I; the 15th SOS, which flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II; the 16th
SOS, which flies the AC-130H Spectre gunship; the 20th SOS, which flies
the MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter; and the 55th SOS, which flies the
MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. One squadron, the 9th SOS, is located on
nearby Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. and flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow.
The 352nd Special Operations Group, at RAF Mildenhall, England, is the
designated Air Force component for Special Operations Command Europe.
Its squadrons are the 7th SOS, which flies the MC-130H; the 21st SOS,
equipped with the MH-53J; the 67th SOS, with the MC-130P; and the 321st
Special Tactics Squadron.
The 353rd Special Operations Group, at Kadena Air Base, Japan, is the
Air Force component for Special Operations Command Pacific. The squadrons
are the 1st SOS, which flies the MC-130E Combat Talon II; the 17th SOS,
with the MC-130P Combat Shadow; the 31st SOS at Osan Air Base, Korea,
which flies the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter; and the 320th STS.
The 720th Special Tactics Group, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field
has special operations combat controllers and pararescuemen who work
jointly in special tactics teams. Its squadrons include the 21st STS
and 24th STS at Pope AFB, N.C; the 22nd STS at McChord AFB, Wash.; and
the 23rd STS and the 10th Combat Weather Squadron at Hurlburt Field.
Their missions include: air traffic control for establishing air assault
landing zones, close air support for strike aircraft and gunship missions,
establishing casualty collection stations, providing trauma care for
injured personnel and tactical meteorological forecasting for Army Special
Operations Command (USASOC).
The U.S. Air Force Special Operations School at Hurlburt Field, provides
special operations-related education to Department of Defense personnel,
government agencies and allied nations. Subjects covered in its 17 courses
range from regional affairs and cross-cultural communications to antiterrorism
awareness, revolutionary warfare and psychological operations.
The 18th Flight Test Squadron, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field,
provides expertise to improve the capabilities of special operations
forces worldwide. The center conducts operational and maintenance suitability
tests and evaluations for equipment, concepts, tactics and procedures
for employment of special operations forces. Many of these tests are
joint command and joint service projects.
Air Reserve Components
AFSOC gains some air reserve component units when the organizations
are mobilized. One is the 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRC) at Duke
Field, Fla. Its 711th SOS flies the MC-130E Combat Talon, while its 5th
SOS flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow.
Air National Guard units include the 193rd Special Operations Wing, Harrisburg
International Airport, Pa., the 123rd Special Tactics Flight, Standiford Field,
Ky.; the 107th Air Weather Flight, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.; the 146th AWF, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; and the 181st AWF, Dallas, Texas.
POINT OF CONTACT
Air Force Special Operations
Command, Public Affairs Office; 100 Bartley
St., Hurlburt Field FL 32544-5273; DSN 579-5515 or (850) 884-5515.
Above Information Courtesy
of United States Air Force
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