Air Force Special Operations Command News

Airmen interested in learning aviation fundamentals, becoming a rated officer can apply for Rated Prep Program until Dec. 2

Capt. Kenya Pettway — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 00:51:00 GMT

Active duty Air Force officers and enlisted personnel interested in becoming rated officers have until Dec. 02, 2021 to apply for the Spring 2022 Air Force Rated Preparatory Program (RPP), scheduled for March 20-25, 2022, and March 27-April 01, 2022 in Denton, Texas. Program participants will receive self-paced ground training, approximately eight flight hours in a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 Skylane, and additional training in FAA-certified simulators—helping them become more competitive for rated selection boards.

TF Liberty ground transportation crew is pulling their weight

Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:30:00 GMT

Members of Task Force Liberty Ground Transportation work daily to transport passengers and cargo around Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, in support of Operation Allies Welcome.

COMMENTARY: Where Does Time Go?

Forrest Olson — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 20:21:00 GMT

The news of Gen. Colin Powell (ret.) passing recently brought a memory to mind that I would love to

MC-130H Combat Talon II return from deployment

Staff Sgt. Rito Smith — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:18:00 GMT

Two MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft and their crews returned to Hurlburt Field, Oct. 6, 2021. Families patiently awaited the arrival of their loved ones as the aircraft flew in and landed. The aircraft most recently supported Operation ALLIES REFUGE and the final evacuation of Afghanistan.

Athletic trainer invaluable to special operations mission

Michelle Gigante — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 11:00:00 GMT

It was the perfect day to shoot hoops with the kids. Master Sgt. Jedidiah Payne, 2nd Special

DAF expands civilian employee assistance program

Debbie Aragon — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:16:00 GMT

JOINT BASE SAN-ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The Department of the Air Force expanded its Employee

Wing welcomes new process manager

Tech. Sgt. Jonathan McCallum — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 11:00:00 GMT

For the past 50 years, the 919th Special Operations Wing has delivered around-the-clock support to

Religious Accommodation Requests: What to Expect

Capt. Allison Kirk — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Air Education and Training Command officials continue their aggressive approach to ensure Airmen are

AFSOC hosts Virtual Resiliency Summit

Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 19:38:00 GMT

Air Force Special Operations Command Integrated Resilience Optimization Network (IRON) team recently hosted a Virtual Resiliency Summit September 28, 2021. The summit was held as a platform to address a range of emotions relating to personal and unfolding current world events.

Duke Field medics tackle myths surrounding COVID-19 vaccination

Michelle Gigante — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 09:00:00 GMT

In an effort to protect the health and wellbeing of the force, the Department of Defense has directed all Air Force Reserve members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 2, 2021.

AFSOC deputy commander visits FSU, FAMU cadets for Diversity and Inclusion event

Staff Sgt. Rito Smith — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 22:19:25 GMT

Florida State University and Florida A&M University hosted U.S Air Force Maj. Gen. Eric Hill, deputy commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, and service members from Hurlburt Field, Florida, Sept. 23, 2021, to speak to ROTC cadets about leadership, career opportunities, diversity and inclusion within the force. The day kicked off with a speech from Hill about the current security environment and future of the force.

Hurlburt Field recognizes Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day

Senior Airman Miranda Mahoney — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:45:00 GMT

Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, the last Sunday in September, is reserved to honor the family of those service members and remember the loss they have suffered. There are 35 gold star and Air Force Families Forever members assigned to Hurlburt Field.

Special Tactics unites with South American partners on training to save lives

Capt. Alejandra Fontalvo — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 17:50:00 GMT

"United to save lives” or “Unidos para salvar vidas”… is the powerful motto behind exercise Ángel de los Andes Cooperación VII, a Colombian-led search and rescue disaster relief exercise bringing together over 740 participants from across the Americas from Aug. 30-Sept. 10, 2021 in Rionegro, Colombia.

Myths and facts about the vax — debunking common COVID-19 vaccine myths

DoD News — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:05:00 GMT

The COVID-19 vaccine has been mandated across the Department of Defense and despite its demonstrated effectiveness and safety, a host of myths have left some Airmen and Guardians hesitant to receive it. While social media posts and some news outlets may make it harder to keep up with what is fact or fiction, the science is clear … approved COVID-19 vaccines work.

IRON team hosts resiliency summit

Senior Airman Dylan Gentile — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 20:32:00 GMT

The Integrated Resilience Optimization Network hosted its second annual Building Resilient Leaders

Hurlburt Field 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

Senior Airman Miranda Mahoney — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 18:18:00 GMT

A Hurlburt Field 9/11 Memorial Ceremony was held to pay tribute to the almost 3,000 victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Exercise Gryphon Thunder Showcases ACE Across the Pacific

1st Lt Rachael Parks — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 05:31:00 GMT

Fully-vaccinated members from 353rd Special Operations Wing deployed from Okinawa, Japan to Hawaii, where they practiced establishing refueling capabilities, maintenance operations, and personnel/equipment drops alongside conventional Air Force partners and joint military partners in the Army, Marines, and Navy. This exercise demonstrates how the 353 SOW extends the reach of U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces anywhere and to anyone across the Indo-Pacific.

Answering the call: Special Tactics Airmen conclude Haiti earthquake relief efforts

Capt. Alejandra Fontalvo — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 21:58:00 GMT

Special Tactics Airmen assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing concluded their response to augment humanitarian aid efforts in Haiti on Sept. 2, 2021 following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which hit the country Aug. 14. The Special Tactics Airmen were alerted on the morning of Aug. 16 that they would augment Joint Task Force-Haiti relief efforts. With the help of C-146A Wolfhound aircrews, assigned to the 492nd and 919th Special Operations Wings, the team touched down in Port Au Prince, Haiti within 36 hours.

Teaching the Commando new tricks

Staff Sgt. Brandon Esau — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 17:26:22 GMT

The C-130J is an incredibly versatile aircraft, and since it’s creation, it’s landed on rough fields, in arctic locations and even an aircraft carrier Yet, it cannot land on water, which covers about 71% of the planet. As national strategic objectives shift focus to littoral regions, Air Force Special Operations Command is advancing new approaches to expand the multi-mission platform's runway independence and expeditionary capacity. In partnership with the Air Force Research Lab's Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (AFRL-SDPE) directorate, AFSOC is developing an MC-130J Commando II Amphibious Capability (MAC) to improve the platform's support of seaborne special operations. "The development of the MAC capability is the culmination of multiple lines of effort," said Lt Col Josh Trantham, AFSOC Science, Systems, Technology, & Innovation (SST&I) Deputy Division Chief. "This capability allows the Air Force to increase placement and access for infiltration, exfiltration, and personnel recovery, as well as providing enhanced logistical capabilities for future competition and conflict."

2021 Building Partner Aviation Capacity Seminar in Krakow, Poland

Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Nelson — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:52:00 GMT

The U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, in collaboration with United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa and the Polish Air Force, hosted the bi-annual European Partnership Flight Building Partner Aviation Capacity Seminar (BPACS), Aug. 30 - Sept. 3, 2021 in Krakow’s Grand Sheraton hotel in Poland. The five-day seminar brought together aviation professionals from across the U.S. security cooperation enterprise, the NATO alliance, as well as other strategic European partners to exchange lessons learned on the integration of civil and military operations.