79 articles
Latest AFSOC stories, analysis, and updates from SOFREP.
The new AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has been described by the Air Force‘s Special Operations Command as “the ultimate battle plane,” and according to initial reports, it’s been living up to its reputation in combat. The replacement for the legendary AC-130U Spooky gunship offers a number of combat capabilities found in its predecessor, including the legendary […]
It may seem a little strange, having “Combat Weathermen”, but in an age when so many operations involve airborne (para-) or helo-driven delivery of direct action and recce assets, knowing the weather to the last detail is imperative (consider the fact that the 173RD probably wouldn’t have jumped when it was supposed to in the […]
Background of TCCC Originating within the Navy SPECWAR community in the mid-90s, the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) is a set of guidelines based on phased care on the battlefield based on activity and threat level. Designed from the onset specifically for SOCOM units, to reduce the mortality and morbidity sustained on the battlefield, it […]
You don’t want the A-10 Warthog retired? Do you understand both sides of the argument, or are you basing your feelings on emotion and nostalgia? Scott Wolff sounds off.
A female Airman wishing to become the first woman operator in the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) was dropped during the selection phase. More specifically, the Airman, whose name has been withheld by the Air Force for Operational Security (OPSEC) reasons, was trying out for the Special Reconnaissance (SR) career field. SR replaced the […]
Special Operations Surgical Teams (SOSTs) consist of active-duty Air Force medical professionals including trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, nurse anaesthetists, surgical scrub techs, critical-care nurses, and respiratory techs. They are charged with providing far-forward medical care during combat operations wherever the U.S. military is engaged. When not on active deployment, the team trains in surgery, in […]
The Air Force is getting ready to completely overhaul its Special Operations Forces (SOF). The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is currently undergoing a transitional phase that will merge all the existing career fields under the new Special Warfare career field. More specifically, the current plan envisions one Air Force Specialty (1Z) that will […]
Combat Aviation Advisors all call the 6TH Special Operations Squadron home; it is the only Combat Aviation Advisory Organization in the Air Force. Though its mission is Foreign Internal Defense (FID) and Combat Foreign Internal Defense (CFID), those aren’t the preferred AFSOC catchwords. They use phrases like “combat aviation advisory unit” and “non-standard aircraft squadron” […]
An AFSOC combat controller was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his bravery during a raid with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan in 2018. Tech Sgt Cam Kelsch, of the 17th Special Tactics Squadron, Hunter Army Airfield, was honored on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in […]
Most of what we write here at SpecialOperations.com deals with the training side of the house. What you’ll need to do to pass the Selection and Assessment courses and the follow-on training in the qualification courses, with a fair bit of history thrown in. Today isn’t any of that. Although in the past, the history […]
Editor’s note: this is a guest post by a good friend of mine and pilot, call-sign Rebel. He neglected to give me permission to share any job specifics in his bio when sharing Major Fisher’s story, and even suggested that I take the credit for writing this piece if I didn’t want to just say that he was […]
Earlier this year, the U.S. Air Force began to finalize its plans to retire its premiere close air support (CAS) aircraft, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. According to their master plan, all of the Warthogs in the USAF inventory will be mothballed in the Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Center by 2019. The retirement is driven […]
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Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
