AFSOC | News

March 21, 2020
Special Tactics Airman involved in fatal swim training incident identified

Airman First Class Keigan Baker, 24, an Air Force Special Tactics combat controller assigned to the Special Tactics Training Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, was found unresponsive after he went missing during a surface training swim at Naval Support Activity Panama City, Florida, Thursday.
March 18, 2020
AFSOC commander visits 137th SOW

The 137th Special Operations Wing (137th SOW) hosted U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), and other AFSOC officials in Oklahoma City, March 7-8, 2020.
March 17, 2020
137th SOW Airman receives Oklahoma Star of Valor

A truck engulfed in flames, driver trapped inside. As each minute passed and the chances of survival diminished, the instinct and willingness of an Airman to act meant the difference between life and death. For his heroic actions, Staff Sgt. Benjamin Anderson, an air freight journeyman assigned to
March 4, 2020
Special Tactics MOH recipient honored with Annex renaming

The Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Medina Training Annex was renamed the Chapman Training Annex in honor of Special Tactics combat controller Master Sgt. John A. Chapman March 4, 2020. The ceremony, held on the 18th anniversary of his death, was attended by family, friends and fellow Airmen. In
March 3, 2020
Air Force develops hard-hitting Defender Challenge 2020 drills for Security Forces

The U.S. Air Force Defender Challenge will pit Security Forces teams against each other in San Antonio, Texas, May 11-15, 2020. Defenders will prove their abilities in dismounted skills, endurance, agility, individual weapons, and military working dog (MWD) teams through a series of gut-testing
Feb. 29, 2020
Fallen Special Tactics Airman honored with hometown bridge dedication

Family, teammates and local community members commemorated the life and legacy of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller, with a bridge dedication at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 128, Rochester, Pennsylvania, Feb. 29, 2020.
Feb. 20, 2020
Air Force changes path of entry for enlisted special warfare operators

To better afford enlisted recruits the time and opportunity to find the path of their greatest calling, the Air Force has created a single path of entry into the special warfare recruiting and initial training pipeline called the Special Warfare Operator Enlistment Vectoring program.
Feb. 5, 2020
Special Tactics operators simulate first-ever extreme cold weather FARP with next generation fighters

For the first time, aircrew with the 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, along with a team of Special Tactics Airmen carried out a simulated FARP for F-22 Raptors assigned to Pacific Air Forces’ 3rd Wing in an extreme cold weather environment during Emerald Warrior at
Dec. 17, 2019
2 pararescue Airmen receive Silver Star Medals for gallant actions in Afghanistan

Two U.S. Air Force pararescue Airmen received the Silver Star Medal in a ceremony Dec. 13 here for gallantry in action against enemies of the United States while deployed to Afghanistan.
Dec. 17, 2019
AFSOC Christmas tree honors the fallen

Leadership from the 24th Special Operations Wing, 1st SOW and Headquarters AFSOC gathered to place stars on the Honor Tree at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Together, they remembered and honored members of their commands who fell in 2019.