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  • Honoring a legend

    Retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” Cole, the last surviving member of the Doolittle Raid and an original Air Commando, passed away at the age of 103, April 9.

  • 4th Special Operations Squadron receives first AC-130J Ghostrider

    The 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, is now home to Air Force Special Operations Command’s newest aircraft – the Block 30 AC-130J Ghostrider gunship.Similar to the Block 20 AC-130Js flown by the 73rd Special Operations Squadron, the Block 30 upgrade marks a major improvement in

  • Grit and determination: AFSOC Airmen slide with Team USA bobsled

    Two Airmen within Air Force Special Operations Command were selected to compete with the USA Bobsled team this year. Capt. Dakota Lynch, a 34th Special Operations Squadron U-28A pilot, and Capt. Chris Walsh, a 24th Special Operations Wing special tactics officer, are push athletes who are ultimately

  • 2nd CWSS helps restore operations after Hurricane Michael

    Just four days after Hurricane Michael’s landfall, Tech. Sgts. Jacob Reinhardt and Thomas Heath, 2nd Combat Weather Systems Squadron weather systems support cadre members from Hurlburt Field, Florida, jumped into the squadron’s pickup truck.

  • Tech. Sgt. John Chapman inducted into Hall of Heroes at Pentagon

    Nearly two decades after the gallant actions that cost him his life and earned him the nation's highest military award, Chapman’s name was unveiled by his widow, Valerie Nessel, Secretary of the Air Force Heather A. Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and Chief Master Sgt. of the

  • 24 Airmen awarded DFCs at Hurlburt Field

    There were 808 lives that hung in the balance as terrorists launched coordinated attacks against friendly forces. Joint special operations teams were exposed and under duress as AC-130U Spooky Gunship crews circled above, pushing the limits of gun barrels to the melting point and providing precision

  • Air Force transitions to a single combat uniform

    Air Force leaders announced the service will move to a single combat utility uniform, adopting the Operational Camouflage Pattern, or OCP, already in use by the Army and Airmen in combat zones and in certain jobs across the Air Force.

  • SOST members earn Bronze Star Medals

    The brightly lit, inviting atrium of the University of Alabama Hospital is a far cry from the two room, concrete-walled farmhouse in the Middle East where the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Surgical Team, based out of the UAB, deployed in 2016. During their four-month tour at that casualty

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 20

    On this look Around the Air Force, the Silver Star Medal is awarded to a special tactics chief master sergeant, the Pacific Air Forces commander visits the Philippines and MQ-9 Reapers are used to track wildfires in southern California.

  • Finding the way: Special tactics chief awarded Silver Star

    Chief Master Sgt. Michael West, 24th Special Operations Wing special tactics operator, utilized 58 coalition aircraft delivering 24,000 pounds of munitions, turning the tide of battle, and now he’s receiving the Silver Star Medal.

  • Special Tactics Airmen survey airfields to gain an operational advantage

    Special Tactics Airmen from Air Force Special Operations Command conducted multiple airfield surveys with their Afghan Air Force counterparts in Faryab province this week. Airfield surveys are executed prior to the arrival of special operations and conventional aircraft to traditional airfields and

  • Around the Air Force: Oct. 19

    On this look around the Air Force, Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen are awarded the Air Force Cross and Air Medal, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe signs a joint exercise agreement with Nordic Air Chiefs. Hosted by Airman 1st Class Jasmine Vanderheyden.

  • Operator recognized for exceptional service with aircrew

    Tech. Sgt. Nathan, 25th Intelligence Squadron direct support operator, along with his fellow aircrew members were recently selected as the recipients of the Air Force Association's 2017 Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner Award..

  • Magazine Day at Pentagon showcases Airmen, innovation

    In the three years since its inception, the Air Force’s Magazine Day has cultivated relationships and strengthened interaction with media outlets to help spark future story ideas highlighting the innovation, courage and dedication of Airmen.

  • Around the Air Force: June 16

    Today's look Around the Air Force features Airmen endure the Marine Special Operations Command’s Individual Training Course and pilots train at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho to fly the F-35.

  • BLUE: Recruit, train, educate

    Recruit, Train and Educate. That's the motto of Air Education and Training Command. In this episode we show the Instructors training the next generation of Airmen for today's battlefield.

  • Special Operations Command aircrew recognized for meritorious flight

    Every year, an aircrew is selected for the Clarence Mackay Trophy for accomplishing the most meritorious flight of the year. This year, an AC-130U aircrew from Air Force Special Operations Command, which included one of 25th Air Force’s outstanding Airmen, was recognized with the honor.

  • Goldfein presents two Air Force Crosses

    A 7-foot bronze statue stood prominently over a sea of multicolored berets, flanked by the 21st chief of staff of the Air Force and the Air Force’s newest Air Force Cross recipients.Two Airmen, whose heroics were separated by 11 years and 100 miles in the same war zone, solidified a special tactics

  • Freeze-dried plasma to the rescue

    Since hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death in combat casualties, Air Force Special Operations Command is improving access to blood products on the battlefield.

  • Around the Air Force: March 17

    On this look around the Air Force, the commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing comments on a fatal plane crash and changes are made to the enlisted professional military education program.

  • Pioneer of tactical airlift visits MacDill AFB

    He began his visit with a speech at U.S. Special Operations Command.“I was a part of the 492nd Bombardment Group, also known as the ‘Carpetbaggers,’ during World War II,” Cole said. “We started as an anti-submarine squadron, but instead began working with the Office of Special Services to drop

  • Heroism recognized: Special tactics Airman receives medal upgrade

    A combat controller will receive the Air Force’s highest combat medal for extraordinary heroism, after a service-wide review of medals awarded since 9/11. The Air Force Cross will be presented to former Staff Sgt. Christopher Baradat, now separated, who had received the Silver Star medal for his

  • Battle of Mogadishu hero passes, leaves behind legacy

    A former special tactics combat controller responsible for saving dozens of lives at the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia in 1993, was laid to rest recently, leaving behind a far-reaching legacy of valor, professionalism and combat success. Nearly 100 friends, family and teammates gathered to honor

  • AF partners with OSU for stress evaluation, recovery methods

    The Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, has signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the Ohio State University. Special operations units in the Defense Department are physically and mentally elite due to the training they endure. Since special operations

  • Combat controller continues Special Tactics legacy of valor

    During a ceremony Nov. 16, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Maj. Gen. Eugene Haase the Air Force Special Operations Command vice commander, presented the nation’s third highest medal for gallantry against an armed enemy of the U.S. in combat to Thiem. Thiem's actions occurred when he was

  • Nation’s first special tactics memorial unveiled

    A seven-foot tall bronze statue of a special tactics Airman in operational gear stands atop a black granite base -- a memorial to past, present and future special tactics operators. The Special Tactics Memorial was unveiled at a dedication ceremony with more than 800 people present, Air Force Chief

  • New course allows pararescuemen to develop as leaders, obtain certification

    It takes countless years of education, multiple deployments and temporary duty assignments to become a pararescue team leader. The 68th Rescue Flight recently implemented the Combat Leaders Course, a 65-day course for 10 pararescuemen in which they develop their leadership abilities while obtaining

  • EMTs compete in annual AF wide rodeo

    Air Force emergency medical technicians gathered to compete in the 9th annual Air Force Medical Service EMT Rodeo at Cannon Air Force Base Aug. 24-27.The competition involved 24 EMT teams from across the Air Force, at both stateside and overseas installations, challenging one another for the title

  • Tech Report: CV-22 Osprey

    The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply

  • Airman trains to be better in the long run

    Staff Sgt. Benjamin Glenn is a 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron CV-22 Osprey crew chief and a dedicated runner. He’s running half and full marathons in elite-level times, and the Air Force Special Operations Command chose him to represent the command in this year’s Air Force Marathon in

  • Policy changes allow Airmen to retrain into special ops

    In a move to meet the high demand for battlefield Airmen, the Air Force announced changes to retraining and cross-flow, outlined in a policy memorandum from April. The changes allow Airmen to be released from their current jobs in the Air Force to cross-train into the special tactics career fields,

  • Blue Flag exercise marks 40th Anniversary

    Airmen from 505th Combat Training Squadron are the creators and controllers of a live, virtual and constructive world that takes air operation centers and Air Force forces staff through a quest to sharpen their skills at planning, executing and controlling war and relief operation scenarios. The

  • Weather team award honors legacy of fallen Airman

    To honor the legacy and devotion of a fallen brother-in-arms, an award was dedicated to the life of Lt. Col. William Schroeder and given to a Special Operations Weather Team training pipeline graduate here July 21.

  • Around the Air Force: July 22

    In this look around the Air Force, the Pentagon releases a statement on Airmen in Turkey; air controllers from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, have a plan that could save the Air Force millions; and the Air Force Special Operations Command gets a new commander.

  • Webb takes command of AFSOC

    Lt. Gen. Brad Webb assumed command of Air Force Special Operations Command in a ceremony July 19 at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

  • Special ops Airmen support exercise in Baltic region

    Members from the Air Force Special Operations Command and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command joined with Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian special operations forces in Powidz, Poland, and Grafenwoehr, Germany, to participate in Trojan Footprint 16, a large-scale readiness exercise held May

  • James gains special ops insight at Cannon

    The 27th Special Operations Wing hosted Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James on May 17 and provided her with a deeper understanding of the Air Force Special Operations Command mission, and Cannon’s role in providing special operations forces to the warfighter.

  • Around the Air Force: May 17

    his look around the Air Force takes us to California where explosive ordnance disposal Airmen are participating in exercise Half-Life; and to Hulburt Field, Florida, for exercise Emerald Warrior

  • Around the Air Force: May 6

    This look Around the Air Force takes us to Hurlburt Field, Florida, where special operations Airmen are participating in exercise Emerald Warrior 2016 and then a look at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, where the Air Force Cyber College conducted a cyber war game.

  • Forces converge for Emerald Warrior 2016

    Several hundred U.S. and partner-nation military members gathered inside King Auditorium at Hurlburt Field, Florida, May 2 for a mass in-briefing session that marked the official kick off of Emerald Warrior 2016.

  • Kadena launches Pacific region's first MC-130J five-ship formation flight

    Instead of the usual howl of jet engines, members of Kadena Air Base heard the growl of 120 turboprop blades chopping the air as the 17th Special Operations Squadron’s MC-130J Commando IIs dominated the airfield scene Feb. 17. Within an hour of standing by at stations, the aircraft took to the skies

  • Hurlburt combats Zika with knowledge

    Following the World Health Organization declaring an international emergency and Florida Gov. Rick Scott calling a state health emergency, Hurlburt Field, Florida, is taking action to protect Airmen and their families from the Zika virus.

  • Please try to write back

    Bringing a little holiday cheer to an unknown service member was all an 8-year-old boy was trying to do 25 years ago. A single letter united a pair of Air Force veterans, and the handwritten greeting made its way back to its author -- now an Air Force major -- at Hurlburt Field Jan. 25.

  • AFSOC historian retires after 50-plus years of service

    The longest-serving historian in the Air Force retired at Hurlburt Field Jan. 7. Herb Mason, the Air Force Special Operations Command historian, spent more than 50 years preserving the Air Force story for generations to come.

  • Cannon hosts 2015 EMT Rodeo

    Twenty-one teams of emergency medical technicians from 22 installations across the Air Force convened at Cannon Air Force Base Sept. 17-18 for the 2015 EMT Rodeo.

  • Time with MAJCOM commanders at the four-star forum

    Members of the Air Force, Air Force Association and defense industry were invited to a Q-and-A session with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James M. Cody and several major command commanders during a four-star forum at the AFA Air and Space

  • Munitions systems specialists arm the 'ultimate battle plane'

    Without the munitions systems specialists of the 1st Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron, the AC-130U Spooky would have difficulty completing its close air support mission, to include supporting troops in contact, convoy escort and single point air defense.

  • 5,000 days of war

    It’s been 5,000 days of struggle, rugged landscapes, blood and sweat. It’s been 5,000 days of exhaustion, injuries, and long separations from family, friends and home. On June 27, the 17th Special Tactics Squadron marked 5,000 days of unremitting war.

  • Special Operations Forces commemorate liberation of France

    In the first events commemorating the 71st anniversary of the liberation of France, Special Operations Command Europe operators performed military free falls into U.N. designated world heritage site in Mont Saint-Michel, and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Pontorson

  • Repair enhancement program breeds innovation, ingenuity

    A troubleshooter’s mindset, outside-the-box thinking, and raw talent — is what it takes to become a technician in the Air Force Repair Enhancement Program according to Sam Krahn, the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group AFREP manager.

  • 48-hour battle results in AF Cross, Silver Star medals

    Three special tactics combat controllers were awarded the Air Force Cross and two Silver Star medals here May 6, for extraordinary heroism and gallantry in the face of danger while on a deployment to Afghanistan in September 2014.

  • Emerald Warrior-15 a complete success

    More than 2,100 members participated in Emerald Warrior, an annual Air Force Special Operations Command two-week joint service, interagency and partner nation exercise that concluded here May 1.

  • Airmen train for ‘new wild, wild west’ in cyber domain

    On any given day, the Defense Department defends itself against numerous cyber-attacks at installations throughout the world. To help combat this growing threat, Airmen from the 39th Information Operations Squadron train to defend computer networks against invisible ordnance in the operational

  • Around the world in 27 days

    The first continuous mission around the world for the MC-130J Commando II, the Air Force Special Operations Command's newest platform, ended successfully July 9 with the aircraft's safe return to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

  • Premium DOD exercise hones special operations skills

    More than 1,500 Special Operations Forces from around the services participated in Emerald Warrior, a two-week joint service, inter-agency and partner nation exercise that concluded May 9 at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

  • Artist's brush memorializes fallen combat controller

    Susan Servais gently pressed her forehead against the portrait of her son. His green eyes smiled out at her and the audience of about 200 that gathered to pay respects to a hero, and see his portrait unveiled Oct. 19 here.The man with the green eyes and kind smile is Senior Airman Adam Servais, an