Rdxfbgrtj

Air Force Special Operations Command
	; Shield of Air Force Special Operations Command;
Active	10 February 1983 - present ; (36 years); ; Detailed; 22 May 1990 – present (as Air Force Special Operations Command) ; 10 February 1983 - 22 May 1990 (as 23d Air Force); ; ; ;
Country	; United States of America;
Branch	; United States Air Force;
Type	Major Command
Role	"Provide our Nation’s specialized airpower, capable across the spectrum of conflict … Any Place, Any Time, Anywhere";
Size	17,967 personnel authorized:; 15,724 military personnel; ; 2,243 civilian personnel; ; ;
Part of	; United States Special Operations Command;
Headquarters	; Hurlburt Field, Florida, U.S.
Nickname(s)	"Air Commandos";
Motto(s)	"Any place. Any time. Anywhere";
Decorations	; ; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award; ; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award;
Website	www.afsoc.af.mil
Commanders
Commander	; Lt Gen Marshall B. Webb;
Deputy Commander	; Maj Gen Michael T. Plehn
Command Chief	; CCM Gregory A. Smith
Insignia
Twenty-Third Air Force shield (former) (approved May 1983);
Aircraft flown
Attack	; AC-130U/W/J, MQ-1B, MQ-9;
Reconnaissance	U-28A
Transport	; C-145A, C-146A, CV-22B;
Tanker	MC-130H/P/J

United States Air Force major command responsible for special operations

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida, is the special operations component of the United States Air Force. An Air Force major command (MAJCOM), AFSOC is also the U.S. Air Force component command to United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), a unified combatant command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. AFSOC provides all Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF) for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified combatant commands.

Before 1983, Air Force special operations forces were primarily assigned to the Tactical Air Command (TAC) and were generally deployed under the control of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) or, as had been the case during the Vietnam War, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). Just as it had relinquished control of the C-130 theater airlift fleet to Military Airlift Command (MAC) in 1975, TAC relinquished control of Air Force SOF to MAC in December 1982.

AFSOC was initially established on 10 February 1983 as Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF), a subordinate numbered air force of MAC, with 23 AF headquarters initially established at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. On 1 August 1987, 23 AF headquarters moved to Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Predecessor USAAF and USAF special operations units

World War II

1st Air Commando Group: Late 1943 – November 1945

Operation Carpetbagger: Early 1944 – July 1945^[9]^[10]^[11]

Korean War

Air Resupply and Communications Service: 23 February 1951 – 12 October 1956

Combined Command Reconnaissance Activities, Korea: December 1951 – December 1953

B Flight, 6167th Operations Squadron: 1 April 1952 – 31 December 1953

6004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron: c. March 1951 – 1955

6006th Air Intelligence Service Squadron: c. 1953 – 1955

22nd Crash Rescue Boat Squadron: c. July 1952 – 1954

581st Air Supply and Communications Wing: July 1951 – September 1955

582nd Air Supply and Communications Wing

580th Air Supply and Communications Wing^[11]^[12]

Early Cold War era

129th Air Resupply Group: April 1955 – c. 1975

130th Air Resupply Group: October 1955 – c. 1960

135th Air Resupply Group: August 1955 – c. 1971

143rd Special Operations Group: November 1955 – 1975

1045th Observation, Evaluation, and Training Group: 23 February 1951 – 1 January 1954^[11]^[13]

Vietnam War era

Jungle Jim / 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron

Farm Gate^[14]

Operation Waterpump

Raven Forward Air Controllers

Project 404

Palace Dog

56th Air Commando Wing^[11]^[15]^[16]

Late Cold War era

4400th Combat Crew Training Group

1st Special Operations Wing

Twenty-Third Air Force^[11]^[17]

Lineage

Established as Twenty-Third Air Force on 10 February 1983

Activated on 1 March 1983

Redesignated Air Force Special Operations Command and made a major command on 22 May 1990^[6]

Assignments

Military Airlift Command, 1 March 1983

United States Air Force, 22 May 1990 – present^[6]

Stations

Scott AFB, Illinois, 1 March 1983

Hurlburt Field, Florida, 1 August 1987 – present^[17]

Components

Air Forces Special Operations Center (redesignated 623d Air and Space Operations Center): 13 Dec 2005 – 1 Jan 2008

Twenty-Third Air Force (Air Forces Special Operations Forces): 1 Jan 2008 – 4 April 2013

AFSOC Operations Center: 4 April 2013 – present^[18]

2d Air Division, 1 March 1983 – 1 February 1987

Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, 1 March 1983 – 1 August 1989

Air Rescue Service, 1 August 1989 - 1993

1st Special Operations Wing, 1 February 1987 – present

24th Special Operations Wing, 12 June 2012 – present

27th Special Operations Wing, 1 Oct 2007 – present

41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 October 1983 – 1 August 1989

352d Special Operations Wing, 1 October 1983 – present

353d Special Operations Group, 6 April 1989 – present

375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing: 1 January 1984 – 1 February 1990

492d Special Operations Wing: 10 May 2017 – present

720th Special Tactics Group: 1 October 1987 – 12 June 2012

724th Special Tactics Group: 29 Apr 2011 – 12 June 2012

1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing (later, 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing): 1 October 1983 – 21 May 1990

USAF Special Operations School, 1 February 1987 – 22 May 1990

Air Force Special Operations Training Center, 8 October 2008 – 11 February 2013

Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, 11 February 2013 – 10 May 2017^[19]

Units

Air Force Special Operations Command OrBat

Several U.S. and Russian-built aircraft of the
Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center belonging to the 6th Special Operations Squadron

MH-53J Pave Low III helicopters near Hurlburt Field, circa 2001; upgraded to MH-53M Pave Low IV configuration, the last examples were retired from AFSOC service in late 2008 and replaced by the
CV-22B Osprey

AC-130U Spooky gunship over Hurlburt Field

MC-130H Combat Talon II infiltration/exfiltration and aerial refueling aircraft

MC-130J Commando II aircraft on the tarmac at the Lockheed Martin / Air Force Plant 6 facility at Dobbins ARB, Georgia

EC-130J Commando Solo III psychological warfare/information warfare aircraft

1st Special Operations Wing,^[20]Hurlburt Field, Florida

4th Special Operations Squadron, AC-130U Spooky

8th Special Operations Squadron, CV-22B Osprey

11th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron

15th Special Operations Squadron, MC-130H Combat Talon II

23rd Special Operations Weather Squadron

34th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A

65th Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9

73d Special Operations Squadron, AC-130J Ghostrider^[21]

319th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A

24th Special Operations Wing, ^[22]Hurlburt Field, Florida

720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Florida

17th Special Tactics Squadron, Fort Benning, Georgia

21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, North Carolina

22d Special Tactics Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

23d Special Tactics Squadron,

26th Special Tactics Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico

724th Special Tactics Group, Pope Field, North Carolina

24th Special Tactics Squadron

27th Special Operations Wing, ^[23]Cannon AFB, New Mexico

3d Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9 Reaper

9th Special Operations Squadron, MC-130J Commando II

12th Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9 Reaper, Launch and Control

16th Special Operations Squadron, AC-130W Stinger II

20th Special Operations Squadron, CV-22B Osprey

33d Special Operations Squadron, MQ-9 Reaper

318th Special Operations Squadron, U-28A

352d Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom (AFSOC support to USEUCOM, SOCEUR and USAFE)

7th Special Operations Squadron, CV-22B Osprey

67th Special Operations Squadron, MC-130J Commando II

321st Special Tactics Squadron

353d Special Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan (AFSOC support to USINDOPACOM, SOCPAC and PACAF)

1st Special Operations Squadron MC-130H Combat Talon II

17th Special Operations Squadron MC-130P Combat Shadow

320th Special Tactics Squadron

492d Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida^[24]

6th Special Operations Squadron, UH-1N Iroquois, Mi-8, C-130E Hercules, An-26, C-47T

18th Flight Test Squadron

Det 1, 18th Flight Test Squadron is a GSU at Edwards AFB, California

19th Special Operations Squadron, AC-130U, MC-130H

371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron

551st Special Operations Squadron, AC-130H, AC-130W, MC-130J

551 SOS is a GSU at Cannon AFB, New Mexico

United States Air Force Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Florida^[25]

Air National Guard (ANG) units

193d Special Operations Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Pennsylvania^[26]

193d Special Operations Squadron, EC-130J Commando Solo III

150th Special Operations Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard, McGuire AFB, New Jersey; C-32B^[26]

AFSOC-gained ANG units aligned under AMC-gained or ACC-gained ANG wings^[26]

123d Special Tactics Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, Louisville ANGB, Kentucky

125th Special Tactics Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard, Portland ANGB, Oregon

137th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, Will Rogers ANGB, Oklahoma

209th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Mississippi Air National Guard, Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Mississippi

280th Special Operations Communications Squadron, Alabama Air National Guard, Dothan Regional Airport ANGS, Alabama

107th Weather Flight, Michigan Air National Guard, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan (inactivated 30 Sep 2017)

146th Weather Flight, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania

181st Weather Flight, Texas Air National Guard, NAS Fort Worth JRB/Carswell Field, Texas (inactivated 30 Sep 2017)^[27]

Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) units

919th Special Operations Wing, Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #3 / Duke Field, Florida

2d Special Operations Squadron (GSU at Hurlburt Field, Florida), MQ-9 Reaper

5th Special Operations Squadron, U-28

711th Special Operations Squadron, C-145A Skytruck

Personnel and resources

Air Force Special Tactics Commandos training in Jordan

AFSOC has about 15,000 active-duty, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian personnel.^[28]

The commander of AFSOC is Lieutenant General Marshall "Brad" Webb.

Major General Eugene Haase^[29] is Vice Commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Matthew Caruso^[30] is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Air Force Special Operations Command.

The command's SOF units are composed of highly trained, rapidly deployable airmen who are equipped with specialized aircraft. These forces conduct global special operations missions ranging from precision application of firepower, to infiltration, aviation foreign internal defense, exfiltration, resupply and aerial refueling of SOF operational elements.

In addition to the pilots, combat systems officers, and enlisted aircrew who fly AFSOC's aircraft, there is a highly experienced support force of maintenance officers and enlisted aircraft maintenance personnel who maintain these complex aircraft and their support systems, a cadre of premier intelligence officers and enlisted intelligence specialists well versed in special operations, as well as logisticians, security forces and numerous other support officers and personnel.

Another aspect of AFSOC is Special Tactics, the U.S. Air Force's special operations ground force. Similar in ability and employment to Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC), U.S. Army Special Forces and U.S. Navy SEALs, Air Force Special Tactics personnel are typically the first to enter combat and often find themselves deep behind enemy lines in demanding, austere conditions, usually with little or no support.

The command's Special Tactics Squadrons are led by Special Tactics Officers (STOs). Special Tactics Squadrons combine Combat Controllers, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Special Operations Weather Technicians, Pararescuemen (PJs) and Combat Rescue Officers (CROs) to form versatile SOF teams. AFSOC's unique capabilities include airborne radio and television broadcast for psychological operations, as well as combat aviation advisors to provide other governments military expertise for their internal development.

Due to the rigors of the career field, Special Tactics' year-long training is one of the most demanding in the military, with attrition rates between 80 and 90 percent. In an attempt to reduce the high attrition, Special Tactics is very selective when choosing their officers. Special Tactics Officers (STO) undergo a highly competitive process to gain entry into the Special Tactics career field, ensuring only the most promising and capable leaders are selected. STO leadership and role modeling during the difficult training reduces the attrition rate for enlisted trainees.

STO selection is a two-phase process. Beginning with Phase One, a board of veteran STOs reviews application packages consisting of letters of recommendation, fitness test scores, and narratives written by the applicants describing their career aspirations and reasons for applying. Based on Phase One performance, about eight to 10 applicants are invited to the next phase. Phase Two is a weeklong battery of evaluations, ranging from physical fitness and leadership to emotional intelligence and personality indicators. At the end of Phase Two, typically two to four applicants are selected to begin the year-plus Special Tactics training pipeline.

Aircraft

Current

AFSOC regularly operates the following aircraft:^[31]

AC-130H Spectre / AC-130U Spooky II / AC-130W Stinger II

CV-22B Osprey

C-32 (Boeing 757)

EC-130J Commando Solo III

MC-130H Combat Talon II / MC-130J Commando II / MC-130P Combat Shadow

C-145A Skytruck

C-146A Wolfhound

U-28A

MQ-1 Predator

MQ-9 Reaper

RQ-11 Raven

Scan Eagle

Wasp III

Additionally, AFSOC, through its Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, possess and operates a small number of the following aircraft for its special training mission and Aviation Foreign Internal Defense (FID) missions:

C-130E Hercules

An-26 Curl

C-47T Sky Train

C-212 Aviocar

CN-235-100

Mi-17 Hip

UH-1H and UH-1N Huey^[32]

Future

New AC-130J and MC-130J aircraft based on the Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules tanker variant are being acquired and sent to certain AFSOC units. MC-130J aircraft have already entered service while the AC-130J continues developmental testing in preparation for an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with AFSOC projected for FY 2017^[33]^[34]^[35]

History

Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF)

In December 1982, the Air Force transferred responsibility for Air Force special operations from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to Military Airlift Command (MAC). Consequently, in March 1983, MAC activated Twenty-Third Air Force (23 AF) at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. This new numbered air force's responsibilities included worldwide missions of special operations, combat rescue, weather reconnaissance and aerial sampling, security support for intercontinental ballistic missile sites, training of USAF helicopter and HC-130 crewmen, pararescue training, and medical evacuation.^[11]

Operation Urgent Fury

In October 1983, 23 AF helped rescue Americans from the island nation of Grenada. During the seven-day operation, centered at Point Salines Airport, 23 AF furnished MC-130s, AC-130s, aircrews, maintenance, and support personnel. An EC-130 from the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Air National Guard (ANG) also played a psy-war role. Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) James L. Hobson, Jr., an MC-130 pilot and commander of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, was later awarded the Mackay Trophy for his actions in leading the air drop on the Point Salines Airport.^[36]

U.S. Special Operations Command

In May 1986, the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act led to the formation of the United States Special Operations Command. Senators William Cohen and Sam Nunn introduced the Senate bill, and the following month Congressman Dan Daniel introduced a like measure in the House of Representatives. The key provisions of the legislation formed the basis to amend the 1986 Defense Authorizations Bill. This bill, signed into law in October 1986, in part directed the formation of a unified command responsible for special operations. In April 1987, the DoD established the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and Army GEN James J. Lindsay assumed command. Four months later, 23 AF moved its headquarters from Scott AFB to Hurlburt Field, Florida.

In August 1989, Gen Duane H. Cassidy, USAF, CINCMAC, divested 23 AF of its non-special operations units, e.g., search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, etc. Thus, 23 AF served a dual role: still reporting to MAC, but also functioning as the air component to USSOCOM.^[11]

Operation Just Cause

From late December 1989 to early January 1990, 23 AF participated in the invasion of the Republic of Panama during Operation Just Cause. Special operations aircraft included both active duty AC-130H and Air Force Reserve AC-130A Spectre gunships, EC-130 Volant Solo psychological operations aircraft from the Air National Guard, HC-130P/N Combat Shadow tankers, MC-130E Combat Talons, and MH-53J Pave Low and MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. Special tactics Combat Controllers and Pararescuemen provided important support to combat units.^[11]

Spectre gunship crews of the 1 SOW earned the Mackay Trophy and Tunner Award for their efforts, with an Air Force Reserve AC-130A Spectre crew from the 919th Special Operations Group (919 SOG) earning the President's Award. An active duty 1st SOW MC-130 Combat Talon crew ferried the captured Panamanian President, Manuel Noriega, to prison in the United States. Likewise, the efforts of the 1 SOW maintenance people earned them the Daedalian Award.^[11]

On 22 May 1990, General Larry D. Welch, USAF, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, redesignated Twenty-Third Air Force as Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). This new major command consisted of three wings: the 1st, 39th and 353rd Special Operations Wings as well as the 1720th Special Tactics Group (1720 STG), the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, and the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center.^[11]

Currently, after major redesignations and reorganizations, AFSOC direct reporting units include the 16th Special Operations Wing, the 352nd Special Operations Group, the 353rd Special Operations Group, the 720th Special Tactics Group (720 STG), the USAF Special Operations School and the 18th Flight Test Squadron (18 FLTS). During the early 1990s a major reorganization occurred within AFSOC. The 1720 STG became the 720 STG in March 1992; the transfer of ownership of Hurlburt Field from Air Mobility Command (AMC, and formerly MAC) to AFSOC in October 1992, followed by the merger of the 834th Air Base Wing (834 ABW) into the 1 SOW, which assumed host unit responsibilities. A year later the 1 SOW became the 16 SOW in a move to preserve Air Force heritage.^[37]^[38]^[39]

Meanwhile, the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center (SMOTEC), which explored heavy lift frontiers in special operations capabilities, while pursuing better equipment and tactics development, was also reorganized. In April 1994, the Air Force, in an effort to standardize these types of organizations, redesignated SMOTEC as the 18th Flight Test Squadron (18 FLTS).^[40]

Gulf War

From early August 1990 to late February 1991, AFSOC participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, the protection of Saudi Arabia and liberation of Kuwait. Special tactics personnel operated throughout the theater on multiple combat control and combat rescue missions.
Special operations forces performed direct action missions, combat search and rescue, infiltration, exfiltration, air base ground defense, air interdiction, special reconnaissance, close air support, psychological operations, and helicopter air refuelings. Pave Low crews led the helicopter assault on radars to blind Iraq at the onset of hostilities, and they also accomplished the deepest rescue for which they received the Mackay Trophy.^[41]

MC-130E/H Combat Talons dropped the BLU-82, the largest conventional bombs of the war and, along with MC-130P Combat Shadows, dropped the most psychological warfare leaflets, while AC-130A and AC-130H Spectre gunships provided valuable fire support and armed reconnaissance. However, the AC-130 community also suffered the single greatest combat loss of coalition air forces with the shoot down of an AC-130H, call sign Spirit 03, by an Iraqi SA-7 Grail surface-to-air missile. All fourteen crew members aboard Spirit 03 were killed.^[42]^[43]

AFSOC

Post-Gulf War

In December 1992, AFSOC special tactics and intelligence personnel supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. In late 1994, AFSOC units spearheaded Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, and in 1995 Operation Deliberate Force in the Balkans.^[44]

Operation Enduring Freedom

Then-MSgt Bart Decker from the 23rd STS, on horseback in the Balkh valley, during the initial days of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon, Washington D.C., on 11 September 2001 pushed the United States special operations forces to the forefront of the war against terrorism. By the end of September 2001, AFSOC deployed forces to southwest Asia for Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan to help destroy the al Qaeda terrorist organization and remove the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. AFSOC airpower delivered special tactics forces to the battle ground and they in turn focused U.S. airpower and allowed Afghanistan's Northern Alliance ground forces to dispatch the Taliban and al Qaeda from Afghanistan. AFSOC personnel also deployed to the Philippines to help aid that country's efforts against terrorism.^[44]

US Air Force Special Operations had a long-term presence in the Philippines during Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines.^[45]

Operation Iraqi Freedom

In March 2003, AFSOC again deployed forces to southwest Asia this time in support of what would become Operation Iraqi Freedom – the removal of Saddam Hussein and his Baathist government. The command's personnel and aircraft teamed with SOF and conventional forces to quickly bring down Saddam Hussein's government by May 2003. AFSOC forces continued to conduct operations in support of the new Iraqi government against insurgents and terrorists.^[44]

Commanders

AFSOC has had eleven commanders since its inception in 1990.

List of AFSOC Commanders
Name	Tenure start	Tenure End
Maj Gen Thomas E. Eggers	22 May 1990	20 Jun 1991
Maj Gen Bruce L. Fister	21 Jun 1991	21 Jul 1994
Maj Gen James L. Hobson, Jr.	22 Jul 1994	8 Jul 1997
Maj Gen Charles R. Holland	9 Jul 1997	4 Aug 1999
Lt Gen Maxwell C. Bailey	5 Aug 1999	15 Jan 2002
Lt Gen Paul V. Hester	16 Jan 2002	30 Jun 2004
Lt Gen Michael W. Wooley	1 Jul 2004	26 Nov 2007
Lt Gen Donald C. Wurster	27 Nov 2007	24 Jun 2011
Lt Gen Eric E. Fiel	24 Jun 2011	1 Jul 2014
Lt Gen Bradley A. Heithold	1 Jul 2014	19 Jul 2016
Lt Gen Marshall B. Webb	19 Jul 2016	Incumbent

Contingency operations

A PJ from the 23rd STS searching for survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake in Port-au-Prince

Operations supported by Air Force Special Operations Forces since the Vietnam War.^[46]
Date(s)	Operation
1975	Mayaguez incident, Cambodia
1975	Operation Eagle Pull, Cambodia
1975	Operation Frequent Wind, Vietnam
1976	Operation Fluid Drive, Lebanon
1978	Zaire Airlift
1980	Operation Eagle Claw, Iran
1981	Kidnapping of U.S. Army Brigadier General James Dozier, Italy
1981	Gulf of Sidra incident, Libya
1983	Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada
1983	Operation Big Pine, Honduras
1983–1985	Operation Bat, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos
1983–1988	Operation Bield Kirk, Operation Blue Flame, Operation Blinking Light, El Salvador
1984	Salvadorean President José Napoleón Duarte's daughter kidnapping, El Salvador
1985	TWA Flight 847 plane hijacking, Algeria/Lebanon
1985	Achille Lauro hijacking, Mediterranean Sea
1986	Operation El Dorado Canyon, Libya
1986	Pan Am Flight 73 plane hijacking, Pakistan
1987–1988	Operation Earnest Will, Operation Prime Chance, Persian Gulf
1988	Operation Golden Pheasant, Honduras
1989	Operation Safe Passage, Afghanistan
1989	Operation Poplar Tree, El Salvador
1989	1989 Philippine coup attempt, Philippines
1989	Operation Just Cause, Panama
1990	Operation Promote Liberty, Panama
1990	Civilian evacuation, Liberia
1990–1991	Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq
1991	Operation Eastern Exit, Somalia
1991–2003	Operation Provide Comfort I–III, Operation Northern Watch, Turkey, Iraq
1991	Operation Sea Angel, 1991 Bangladesh cyclone relief, Bangladesh
1991	Operation Fiery Vigil, Philippines
1991	Operation Desert Calm, Saudi Arabia
1991–2003	Operation Southern Watch, Kuwait
1992	Operation Silver Anvil, Sierra Leone
1992–1994	Operation Provide Promise I–II, Italy, Yugoslavia
1992–1993	Operation Restore Hope, Somalia
1993–1995	Operation Continue Hope I–III, Somalia
1993	Operation Deny Flight, Yugoslavia
1993	Operation Silver Hope, Ukraine
1994	Operation Restore Democracy, Operation Uphold Democracy, Haiti
1994	Operation Support Hope, Rwanda
1995	Operation United Shield, Somalia
1995–1996	Operation Deliberate Force, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Joint Guard, Italy, Yugoslavia, Bosnia
1996	Search and Rescue support for U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown CT-43 crash, Croatia
1996	Operation Assured Response, evacuation, Liberia
1996	Operation Guardian Retrieval, Uganda
1996	Operation Pacific Bridge, Palau
1996	Operation Guardian Assistance, Rwanda
1997	Operation Silver Wake, evacuation, Albania
1997	Operation Guardian Angel, Yugoslavia
1997	Operation Firm Response, evacuation, Republic of Congo
1997	Operation High Flight, Namibia
1998	Operation Desert Thunder, Persian Gulf
1998	Operation Desert Fox, Iraq
1999	Operation Allied Force, Serbia, Kosovo
2000	Operation Atlas Response, flood relief, Mozambique
2000	Operation Fiery Relief, volcano relief, Philippines
2001	Operation Valiant Return, China
2001–present	Operation Enduring Freedom, Global War on Terror
2002	Operation Autumn Return, evacuation, Côte d'Ivoire
2003	Operation Shining Express, evacuation, Liberia
2003–2011	Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq
2003–2008	Operation Willing Spirit, Columbia
2004	Operation Atlas Shield, Greece
2004	Operation Secure Tomorrow, Haiti
2005–2005	Operation Unified Assistance, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia
2005	Task Force Katrina, hurricane relief, United States
2006	evacuation, Lebanon
2008	Operation Aster Silver, evacuation, Chad
2008	Operation Assured Delivery, Georgia
2008	Operation Olympic Titan, Pacific Ocean
2010	Operation Unified Response, earthquake relief, Haiti
2011	Operation Tomodachi, earthquake and tsunami relief, Japan
2011	Operation Odyssey Dawn, Libya
2013	Operation Damayan, typhoon relief, Philippines

Gallery

AFSOC's first CV-22B Osprey at sunset, Hurlburt Field, Florida

Combat Controllers practice seizing an airfield

AFSOC Special Operations Weathermen

MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft punching flares

References

^ "Air Force Special Operations Command (USAF)". af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}

^ "AFSOC "About Us"". afsoc.af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.

^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

^ "Air Commandos". af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.

^ "United States Air Force". m.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.

^ ^a^b^c Bailey, Carl E. (9 November 2010). "Factsheet Air Force Special Operations Command (USAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.

^ "Air Force Special Operations Command > About Us > AFSOC Senior Leaders". www.afsoc.af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.

^ Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Naval Imaging Command. 1988-ca. 1993 (Predecessor); Department of Defense. Defense Audiovisual Agency (Predecessor); Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Center. 1994- (12 May 1983). "Approved insignia for: 23rd Air Force". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018 – via US National Archives Research Catalog.

^ "The Carpetbagger Photographic Archives". Archived from the original on 7 March 2015.

^ ZenosWarbirds (29 May 2013). "Operation Carpetbagger: B-24s drop agents and supplies into occupied Europe in WW2". Archived from the original on 27 January 2016 – via YouTube.

^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^g^hⁱ^j "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

^ Haas, Michael E., "Apollo’s Warriors: US Air Force Special Operations during the Cold War", Air University Press, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1997, page 36.

^ Haas, Apollo's Warriors: U.S. Special Operations During the Cold War

^ "Topic: A-26A/B-26K Counter Invader Farm Gate Program - Bien Hoa AB Association". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

^ "Nakhon Phanom During The Secret War 1962-1975". Archived from the original on 23 February 2011.

^ "The Air Commando Association - Air Commando and Special Operations Combat". Archived from the original on 3 October 2015.

^ ^a^b "Air Force Special Operations Command Brief History > Air Force Special Operations Command > Display". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

^ 23rd AF deactivates Archived 15 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Afsoc.af.mil. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.

^ AFSOC stands up Air Warfare Center Archived 17 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Afsoc.af.mil. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.

^ "1st SOW units". Hurlburt Field Public Affairs. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

^ "Hurlburt Field reactivates 73d SOS". Hurlburt Field Public Affairs. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

^ "24th SOW units". 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

^ . 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 1 Jan 2017 http://www.cannon.af.mil/units/27th-Special-Operations-Group.aspx. Retrieved 25 May 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

^ "Air Force Special Operations Command > Units > Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

^ ^a^b^c "Air Force Special Operations Command > Home". Archived from the original on 20 January 2015.

^ https://www.dvidshub.net/video/542841/181st-weather-flight-conducts-static-line-jumps-over-corpus-christi-texas

^ U.S. Seeks Faster Deployment; Smaller, More Flexible Special-Operations Teams Would Tackle Emerging Threats Under New Plan Archived 27 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine 7 May 2012

^ "MAJOR GENERAL EUGENE HAASE > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.

^ "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT MATTHEW M CARUSO > Air Force Special Operations Command > Display". Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.

^ USAF Special Operations Command Archived 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine Official Site.

^ "6th Special Operations Squadron - Defense Media Network". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

^ FlightGlobal.com: Lockheed Martin C-130J selected for new special operations role Archived 30 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, by Stephen Trimble, Washington DC, 18 Jun 2008; accessed: 20 Feb 2012

^ "MC-130J Commando II > U.S. Air Force > Fact Sheet Display". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

^ "AC-130J Ghostrider > U.S. Air Force > Fact Sheet Display". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

^ "MAJOR GENERAL JAMES L. HOBSON JR. > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

^ Pike, John. "Air Force Special Operations Command". Archived from the original on 2 May 2016.

^ Pike, John. "Hurlburt Field". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

^ Pike, John. "18th Flight Test Squadron [18th FLTS]". Archived from the original on 11 September 2015.

^ "25th Anniversary of Desert Storm". Archived from the original on 9 March 2016.

^ "In Memory Of "Spirit 03" Jan 31, 1991". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

^ "In memory of Spirit 03". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

^ ^a^b^c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

^ Neville, Leigh, Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military), Osprey Publishing, 2015
ISBN 978-1472807908, p.184-185

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-05.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

^ Trest, Warren A., "Air Commando One: Heinie Aderholt And America's Secret Air Wars", Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., London, 2000, Library of Congress card number 99-053643,
ISBN 978-1-56098-807-6

External links

Air Force Special Operations Command home page—Official AFSOC public site

AFSOC Factsheet public site

United States Air Force official website

ShadowSpear Special Operations: AFSOC

[1] "Air Force Special Operations Command (USAF)". af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}

[2] "AFSOC "About Us"". afsoc.af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.

[3] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

[4] "Air Commandos". af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.

[5] "United States Air Force". m.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.

[AFSOCfacts-6] Bailey, Carl E. (9 November 2010). "Factsheet Air Force Special Operations Command (USAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.

[7] "Air Force Special Operations Command > About Us > AFSOC Senior Leaders". www.afsoc.af.mil. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.

[8] Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. Naval Imaging Command. 1988-ca. 1993 (Predecessor); Department of Defense. Defense Audiovisual Agency (Predecessor); Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Center. 1994- (12 May 1983). "Approved insignia for: 23rd Air Force". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018 – via US National Archives Research Catalog.

[9] "The Carpetbagger Photographic Archives". Archived from the original on 7 March 2015.

[10] ZenosWarbirds (29 May 2013). "Operation Carpetbagger: B-24s drop agents and supplies into occupied Europe in WW2". Archived from the original on 27 January 2016 – via YouTube.

[dtic.mil-11] ⁱ^j "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

[12] Haas, Michael E., "Apollo’s Warriors: US Air Force Special Operations during the Cold War", Air University Press, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1997, page 36.

[13] Haas, Apollo's Warriors: U.S. Special Operations During the Cold War

[14] "Topic: A-26A/B-26K Counter Invader Farm Gate Program - Bien Hoa AB Association". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

[15] "Nakhon Phanom During The Secret War 1962-1975". Archived from the original on 23 February 2011.

[16] "The Air Commando Association - Air Commando and Special Operations Combat". Archived from the original on 3 October 2015.

[ReferenceA-17] "Air Force Special Operations Command Brief History > Air Force Special Operations Command > Display". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

[afsoc.af.mil-18] 23rd AF deactivates Archived 15 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Afsoc.af.mil. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.

[19] AFSOC stands up Air Warfare Center Archived 17 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Afsoc.af.mil. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.

[20] "1st SOW units". Hurlburt Field Public Affairs. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

[21] "Hurlburt Field reactivates 73d SOS". Hurlburt Field Public Affairs. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

[22] "24th SOW units". 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

[23] . 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. 1 Jan 2017 http://www.cannon.af.mil/units/27th-Special-Operations-Group.aspx. Retrieved 25 May 2018. Missing or empty |title= (help)

[24] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

[25] "Air Force Special Operations Command > Units > Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[ReferenceB-26] "Air Force Special Operations Command > Home". Archived from the original on 20 January 2015.

[27] ttps://www.dvidshub.net/video/542841/181st-weather-flight-conducts-static-line-jumps-over-corpus-christi-texas

[28] U.S. Seeks Faster Deployment; Smaller, More Flexible Special-Operations Teams Would Tackle Emerging Threats Under New Plan Archived 27 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine 7 May 2012

[29] "MAJOR GENERAL EUGENE HAASE > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.

[30] "CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT MATTHEW M CARUSO > Air Force Special Operations Command > Display". Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.

[31] USAF Special Operations Command Archived 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine Official Site.

[32] "6th Special Operations Squadron - Defense Media Network". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

[33] FlightGlobal.com: Lockheed Martin C-130J selected for new special operations role Archived 30 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, by Stephen Trimble, Washington DC, 18 Jun 2008; accessed: 20 Feb 2012

[34] "MC-130J Commando II > U.S. Air Force > Fact Sheet Display". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

[35] "AC-130J Ghostrider > U.S. Air Force > Fact Sheet Display". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

[36] "MAJOR GENERAL JAMES L. HOBSON JR. > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

[37] Pike, John. "Air Force Special Operations Command". Archived from the original on 2 May 2016.

[38] Pike, John. "Hurlburt Field". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.

[39] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

[40] Pike, John. "18th Flight Test Squadron [18th FLTS]". Archived from the original on 11 September 2015.

[41] "25th Anniversary of Desert Storm". Archived from the original on 9 March 2016.

[42] "In Memory Of "Spirit 03" Jan 31, 1991". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

[43] "In memory of Spirit 03". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.

[hurlburt.afaflorida.org-44] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

[45] Neville, Leigh, Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military), Osprey Publishing, 2015
ISBN 978-1472807908, p.184-185

[46] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-05.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

[47] Trest, Warren A., "Air Commando One: Heinie Aderholt And America's Secret Air Wars", Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., London, 2000, Library of Congress card number 99-053643,
ISBN 978-1-56098-807-6

v t e United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Portal:Military of the United States
United States Army USASOC	.mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} Units U.S. Army Special Forces Command U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School 75th Ranger Regiment 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment 4th Psychological Operations Group 8th Psychological Operations Group 95th Civil Affairs Brigade 528th Sustainment Brigade Types Special Forces Rangers Psychological Operations
United States Marine Corps MARSOC	Units Marine Raiders Marine Raider Regiment Marine Raider Support Group Marine Special Operations School Types United States Marine Corps Critical Skills Operator
United States Navy NAVSPECWARCOM	Units Naval Special Warfare Group 1 Naval Special Warfare Group 2 Naval Special Warfare Group 3 Naval Special Warfare Group 4 Naval Special Warfare Group 10 Naval Special Warfare Group 11 Naval Special Warfare Center Types Navy SEALs Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen
United States Air Force AFSOC	Units 1st Special Operations Wing 24th Special Operations Wing 27th Special Operations Wing 352d Special Operations Wing 353d Special Operations Group Types Pararescue Combat Control Team Special Operations Weather Technician Combat Rescue Officer Special Tactics Officer
Special Mission Units JSOC	DoD Joint Communications Unit Army 1st SFOD - Delta (Delta Force) Intelligence Support Activity Regimental Reconnaissance Company Navy Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU / SEAL Team Six) Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron
Theater Special Operations Commands	SOCAFRICA SOCCENT SOCEUR SOCKOR SOCPAC SOCNORTH SOCSOUTH SOCJFCOM
Source: SOCOM 2013 Fact Book

Air Force Special Operations Command
Shield of Air Force Special Operations Command
Active	10 February 1983 - present (36 years) Detailed 22 May 1990 – present (as Air Force Special Operations Command) 10 February 1983 - 22 May 1990 (as 23d Air Force)^[1]
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Major Command
Role	"Provide our Nation’s specialized airpower, capable across the spectrum of conflict … Any Place, Any Time, Anywhere"^[2]
Size	17,967 personnel authorized:^[3] 15,724 military personnel 2,243 civilian personnel
Part of	United States Special Operations Command
Headquarters	Hurlburt Field, Florida, U.S.
Nickname(s)	"Air Commandos"^[4]
Motto(s)	"Any place. Any time. Anywhere"^[5]
Decorations	Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award^[6]
Website	www.afsoc.af.mil
Commanders
Commander	Lt Gen Marshall B. Webb^[7]
Deputy Commander	Maj Gen Michael T. Plehn
Command Chief	CCM Gregory A. Smith
Insignia
Twenty-Third Air Force shield (former) (approved May 1983)^[8]
Aircraft flown
Attack	AC-130U/W/J, MQ-1B, MQ-9
Reconnaissance	U-28A
Transport	C-145A, C-146A, CV-22B
Tanker	MC-130H/P/J

Air Force Special Operations Command

Contents