VAFC AFSOC
Organization
Active Duty Components
The 16th Special
Operations Wing, at Hurlburt Field, is the oldest and most seasoned unit in AFSOC. The
16th SOW is primarily responsible to Central, Atlantic and Southern commands, but also
provides augmentation forces to AFSOC groups forward deployed in Europe and the Pacific.
It includes the 4th Special Operations Squadron, which flies the AC-130U gunship; the 6th
SOS, which is the wing's combat aviation advisory unit; the 8th SOS, which flies the
MC-130E Combat Talon I; the 15th SOS, which flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II; the 16th
SOS, which flies the AC-130H gunship; and the 20th SOS, which flies the MH-53J/M Pave Low
helicopter. One squadron, the 9th SOS, is located on nearby Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.,
and flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow.
The 352nd Special
Operations Group , at RAF Mildenhall, England, is the Air Force component for Special
Operations Command Europe. Its squadrons are the 7th SOS which flies the MC-130H; the 21st
SOS equipped with the MH-53J; the 67th SOS with the MC-130P; and the 321st Special Tactics
Squadron.
The 353rd Special
Operations Group , at Kadena Air Base, Japan, is the Air Force component for Special
Operations Command Pacific. The squadrons are the 1st SOS which flies the MC-130H; the
17th SOS with the MC-130P; the 31st SOS at Osan Air Base, Korea, which flies the MH-53J;
and the 320th STS at Kadena.
The 720th Special Tactics
Group, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field has special operations combat controllers
and pararescuemen who deploy jointly in teams by air, land and sea into forward,
non-permissive environments. The unit's missions include air traffic control to establish
air assault landing zones, close air support for strike aircraft and gunship missions,
personnel recovery, trauma care for injured personnel and tactical meteorological
forecasting for Army Special Operations Command. Its squadrons include the 21st and 24th
STS at Pope AFB, N.C; the 22nd STS at McChord AFB, Wash.; and the 23rd STS and 10th Combat
Weather Squadron at Hurlburt Field.
The U.S. Air Force Special
Operations School at Hurlburt Field provides special operations-related education to
Department of Defense personnel, government agencies and allied nations. The school offers
20 courses covering everything from regional affairs and cross-cultural communications to
antiterrorism awareness and psychological operations.
The 18th Flight Test
Squadron, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field, provides expertise to improve the
capabilities of special operations forces worldwide. The squadron conducts operational and
maintenance suitability tests and evaluations for equipment, concepts, tactics and
procedures for employment of special operations forces. Many of these tests are joint
command and joint service projects.
Air Reserve Components
AFSOC gains some air reserve
component units when these organizations are mobilized. The Reserve unit is the 919th
Special Operations Wing (AFRC) at Duke Field, Fla. The wing includes the 711th SOS, which
flies the MC-130E, and the 5th SOS, which flies the MC-130P.
The 193rd SOW at Harrisburg
International Airport, Pa., is AFSOC's primary Air National Guard unit and flies the
EC-130E Commando Solo. Other Guard units include the 123rd Special Tactics Flight,
Standiford Field, Ky.; the 107th Air Weather Flight, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.; the 146th AWF,
Pittsburgh, Pa.; the 181st AWF, Dallas, Texas; and the 280th Combat Communications
Squadron at Dothan, Ala.
