Reserve squadron to become backbone of active-duty training center

Published June 2, 2008
By Jasmine DeNamur
919th SOW Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- As tradition has it, transferring possession of a squadron's flag from one leader to the next signifies a shift of responsibilities between the two. But when members of 5th Special Operations Squadron transferred their flag during a May 23 ceremony, tradition just would not do.

To signify the beginning of their new mission, 5th SOS reservists transported their squadron flag on what would be their final MC-130P Combat Shadow flight to a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, transferring possession of the flag from its previous duty station to its new one there.

"I get the distinct honor of being the first to welcome the 5th SOS to Hurlburt," said Col. Marshall Webb, 1st Special Operations Wing commander. "You are true warriors. You had a great history with the 'P' Model - you're going to have a greater history at Hurlburt Field."

The 5th SOS will merge with the new Air Force Special Operations Training Center, where its mission will be to augment training units for the U-28, the AC-130U Gunship and aviation foreign internal defense. The move comes as a result of Total Force Integration initiatives to streamline operations within the regular Air Force and the Air Force Reserve.

The key aspect is that the AFSOTC isn't just about the Reserves. It's a TFI effort, bringing together the strengths of the active duty, the Reserves, Department of Defense civilians and contract personnel to form a focused organization dedicated to training new Air Commandos and indoctrinating them into our unique mission, said Lt. Col. Reid Henley, 5th SOS commander.

The history behind the 5th SOS's unique mission dates back to World War II, where it took its first steps in the heart of extensive combat action in the Asiatic-Pacific theater operating C-46 and C-47 aircraft. The squadron was disbanded shortly after the war ended but was then reactivated in 1965 to conduct psychological operations, humanitarian programs and other Special Operations Forces activities in South Vietnam. The squadron was later inactivated in 1969.

Twenty-six years later, the 5th SOS was reactivated at Duke Field as an Air Force Reserve unit under the 919th Special Operations Wing, where it was assigned the MC-130P Combat Shadow mission. In 1999 the squadron moved on to Eglin Air Force Base to form an associate unit with Air Force Special Operations Command's 9th Special Operations Squadron, becoming the first-ever associate unit in the command.

The 5th SOS has a proud and highly decorated history. It encapsulates the great force the Reserve has to offer, which is crucial to the success of the squadron's new mission, said Colonel Chapman.

As the backbone of the AFSOTC, the squadron will be able to provide continuity for trained and new pilots coming in and out of the center.

The strength that the AFSOC-gained Reserve components bring to this new mission is experience. Almost all of the current 5th SOS members have extensive combat time, deploying multiple times to a theater of operations, said Colonel Henley.

"I've served in special operations for more than 18 years. My experience is not unique in the 5th SOS; many of our aircrew have even more experience than I do, and now we're going to focus on bringing that experience and all of our hard-won lessons learned to our new mission in AFSOTC," he said.

The 5th SOS will still perform combat tours and pass their knowledge on to Airmen. This move expands the capability and the capacity to fight this war. This is definitely not just a training mission, said Col. Paul Harmon, AFSOTC commander.

"This is the beginning, not the end," said Colonel Chapman. "It's a bookmark in one of the chapters we're starting."

Under the TFI movement the 919th SOW has flipped through many chapters of change, with the most recent one encompassing the change of the 719th Maintenance Squadron's role of supporting the 5th SOS at Eglin AFB to directly supporting the wing's other flying unit, the 711th Special Operations Squadron, on Duke Field.

Though change is never easy, the senior leadership has maintained focus on the war time mission. The TFI is the right thing to do here, for the country and for the war fighter - to merge and build a stronger force. The 5th SOS is definitely going to be a cornerstone of the AFSOTC, said Colonel Chapman.

"One team, one fight - that says it all," he said.