VAFC Air Force
Special Operations Command
Mission
AFSOC is America's
specialized air power. It provides Air Force special operations forces for worldwide
deployment and assignment to regional unified commands. AFSOC's core tasks have been
grouped into four mission areas:
Forward presence and
engagement
Includes training, assisting
and assessing foreign aviation organizations to integrate, employ, sustain and defend
their resources during internal conflict, regional crisis or war. It also includes
advising and assisting U.S. theater commanders to determine the capabilities of forces
within the area of responsibility, including the interaction between civil and military
organizations.
Information operations
Focuses on the information
systems, command and control systems, perceptions, and decision-making cycles of
adversaries while defending corresponding friendly elements. Information operations span
the spectrum of peace through conflict and major theater warfare and are valued primarily
for their indirect effect and ability to enhance the effectiveness of other operations.
Precision employment and
strike
Includes precise and
responsive support to special operations or conventional forces. PE/S surface elements and
airborne platforms provide adverse weather weapons delivery and aerospace surface
interface across the full spectrum of conflict. The ability to deploy globally and strike
precisely from the air or ground provides force multiplication, minimizes collateral
damage, allows the discriminate employment of asymmetric force and permits freedom of
maneuver for supported forces. By the year 2027, this mission area will include nonlethal
weapon systems and nondestructive attack against an adversary and its physical
infrastructure.
Special operations forces
mobility
Includes rapid, global
airlift of personnel and equipment through hostile air space to conduct special
operations. This mission area also includes specialized refueling operations of special
operations forces assets and covert, clandestine or overt tasks.
