Senior leaders from the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Air Force Air Staff met recently to discuss the role of airpower in special operations.

The talks involved 16 senior leaders, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Army Gen. Bryan Brown, commander of SOCOM.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide information to senior Air Force and SOCOM leaders on mutual operational and doctrinal developments, discuss and resolve key warfighting issues, and determine a mutual way ahead in support of national defense strategy.

“These high-level talks principally focused on how the Air Force can enhance its considerable support for SOCOM’s mission,” said Maj. Gen. R. Mike Worden, Air Force director of operational plans and joint matters. “Additionally, there was a healthy sharing of ideas on how to build capabilities to better prosecute the global war on terror.”

Primary topics of discussion included the state of Air Force Special Operations Command, how Air Force warfighting headquarters relate to SOCOM and what effects aircraft program updates will have on SOCOM and AFSOC. They also discussed how to work the transfer of new bases from opening or seizure forces to base operating forces, basing and manpower issues, and future sourcing support for the ongoing operations.

A major concern for both was recapitalization of the fleet.

“The aging aircraft fleet was the primary issue,” General Worden said. “We’ve agreed to cooperate and support each other in highlighting this critical issue in upcoming testimony before Congress.”

Aircraft age and the high operations tempo are having a negative effect on the availability and readiness of equipment.

“For instance, something must be done to alleviate the growing maintenance costs of the MC-130E (Combat Talon I/II) aircraft and bring new equipment into the inventory,” the general said. “The fleets are the oldest in the careers of both Air Force and SOCOM leaders.”

The Air Force provides most of SOCOM’s airlift, attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance air power. The general said both groups are also looking to enhance Air Force space support.

“The Air Force fits in very well with SOCOM,” General Worden said. “In fact, General Brown complimented the Air Force, through AFSOC, as being the most innovative of the services in providing potential solutions to new problems.”

General Worden also said SOCOM and AFSOC work well together providing well-trained, equipped and motivated forces that perform critical SOCOM missions.

New ideas on how they are trained were also generated by the talks.

“We will be exploring several training enhancements,” the general said. “We’ll start by looking at generating common standards and establishing joint dive, free fall and air control training schools.”

This was the first of what will become annual meetings between the two staffs to discuss and resolve mutual interests.