Air Force Special Operations Command

Precision, power, and partnership in action! 🇫🇮🤝🇺🇸 During an intense bilateral training exercise with Finnish Utti Jaeger Regiment, the 352d Special Operations Wing shows how we are not only sharpening our skills but also underscoring the unparalleled lethality of our Air Commandos. By showcasing our capabilities alongside our Finnish Allies, we reaffirm America’s military strength as a formidable deterrent against any adversaries. Ready, reliable, and always watching—our commitment to global security remains unwavering.

March 10, 1966 While others may have faltered, Major Bernard Fisher answered the call. His weapon? The venerable A-1E Skyraider, an aircraft forged for grit. His mission? Fly through a hailstorm of enemy fire to extract a downed brother in arms. No hesitation. No fear. Just the unwavering resolve of an Air Commando. For his valor, Fisher was awarded the first USAF Medal of Honor in the Southeast Asia War. His Skyraider, scarred but unbroken, still stands as a testament to that warrior spirit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It’s a reminder: An Air Commando goes any place, any time, anywhere. And delivers. The Skyraider II will continue this legacy as it joins the AFSOC inventory this year and deliver scalable and precision effects wherever needed. https://lnkd.in/ePGNixfz

March 4, 2002 #OTD Air Force Special Operations Air Commandos distinguished themselves during Operation ANACONDA and the Battle of Takur Ghar/Roberts Ridge – most notably, Master Sgt. John A. Chapman whose actions resulted in the Medal of Honor. A Combined Joint Task Force of about 1400 personnel from the U.S and six other nations took on the task of clearing the Shahi Kot valley in eastern Afghanistan of al-Qaeda and Taliban. Eight Americans (5 U.S. Army, 2 USAF and 1 U.S. Navy) died during Operation ANACONDA and 80 were wounded. Seven of those deaths occurred at Takur Gar during a helicopter insertion of a SEAL team and the subsequent attempt to rescue them. During insertion, the team's helicopter was ambushed causing a teammate to fall into an entrenched group of enemy combatants below. Chapman and the team voluntarily reinserted onto the snow-capped mountain, into the heart of a known enemy stronghold to rescue one of their own. It was then that Chapman displayed extraordinary heroism, sacrificing his life for the lives of his teammates. Chapman was one of many Special Tactics Air Commandos on the ground that day, supported by many more Air Commandos from above in AC-130s from the 4 SOS and 16 SOS. Special Tactics Airmen on Takur Ghar included: 🎖️ MSgt John A Chapman (CCT) – Medal of Honor 🎖️TSgt. Keary Miller (PJ) – AF Cross 🎖️SSgt Gabe Brown (CCT) – Silver Star 🎖️SSgt Kevin Vance (TACP) – Silver Star 🎖️SrA Jason Cunningham (PJ) – AF Cross There were several notable sorties throughout the Operation including the AC-130H crew of GRIM 31 (16 SOS) providing close air support to the 10th Mountain Division and two HH-60 crews on 2 March 2002. The HH-60 crews went in to evacuate wounded Army personnel escorted by the gunship when they came under fire and the crew of GRIM-31 engaged enemy targets for nearly two hours. GRIM 31 would be awarded the 2003 Mackay Trophy for their efforts. Finally, then Captain Benjamin Maitre from the 15 SOS was the aircraft commander of an MC-130H whose mission was to airdrop nine re-supply bundles, packed with ammunition and rations to Special Forces. Beginning ten minutes prior to his time-over-target, Captain Maitre came under intense fire and he skillfully outmaneuvered each threat, keeping the aircraft clear of the terrain and barrage of enemy bullets. Captain Maitre then executed a perfect airdrop, evading enemy fire again on his departure from the area. For his actions that day, he was awarded the Silver Star. Some of these men still serve in AFSOC today – there are heroes among us. #AFSOC #AirCommandos #ChapmanLegacy

The AFSOC Command Team released the 2025 AFSOC Strategic Guidance during this year’s Special Air Warfare Symposium. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley and Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Green, presented the command's priorities of Raising Air Commandos, Readying Our Force to Win, and Relevance through Adaptation.   “AFSOC's dual role as the air component of USSOCOM and the SOF component of the Air Force means we cannot afford to choose between deterrence, integrated crisis response, and C-VEO; we must remain ready to do all three,” said Conley. “To do this, we will focus on these three priorities and, as Air Commandos take a deliberate approach to execution.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5FUUZnr #SpecialAirWarfareSymposium | #SAWS2025

In alignment with Department of Defense Instruction 5400.17 and recent Executive Orders issued by President Donald J. Trump, AFSOC has reviewed and adjusted its social media content to ensure compliance with DoD policies and priorities. As a result, certain posts have been archived and removed, or are in the process of being removed or modified, to maintain consistency with federal guidance and uphold the integrity of our official communication channels. For any questions regarding social media policies, please refer to official DoD guidance and the DoD Instruction on Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes available at https://lnkd.in/ePMZ_e6q

Innovating for Victory! The final day for the Special Air Warfare Symposium included a deep dive into the state of SOF airpower and discussions on how experimentation at every level allows our forces to stay ahead of emerging threats. In the keynote address, Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, AFSOC commander, charged Air Commandos to perfect the basics, while explaining the command's 2025 Strategic Guidance, focused on the three command priorities; Raise Air Commandos, Ready our Force to Win, and Relevance through Adaptation. #SpecialAirWarfareSymposium | #SAWS2025

Please allow me to reintroduce myself ✈️ 🔥 AFSOC’s newest airframe, the OA-1K, is officially named the Skyraider II! The moniker renews the rugged and versatile nature of the A-1 Skyraider, which was in service from 1946 to the early 1980s. The flexibility of the Skyraider II gives AFSOC the ability to deliver effects for the Joint Force in support of defense priorities. #SpecialAirWarfareSymposium | #SkyraiderII | #ReadyAF | #SAWS2025 Link to Website: https://lnkd.in/e9t3YDMx

Adapting Strategies to Secure our Future Day 2 of #SAWS2025 included a rundown of AFSOC Force Design, a panel discussion session focused on the asymmetric advantage of airpower, senior leader perspectives from USSOCOM an allied keynote on the importance of a SOF network in the IndoPacific, and a presentation on Mission Command. The common thread throughout today's conversations alluded to our #1 SOF Truth, humans are more important than hardware. Investing in our Air Commandos is just as critical as investing in emerging capabilities. We're committed to developing both for the future operating environment.

Brig. Gen. Craig Prather, Director of Plans and Programs, Air Force Special Operations Command delivered remarks centered on AFSOC Force Design during the annual Special Air Warfare Symposium and Expo in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, Feb. 26, 2025. To build winning warfighter capability for 2030 and beyond, AFSOC Force Design ensures that our Air Commandos are equipped with capabilities that withstand the complexities of the evolving strategic environment. SAWS brings together leaders, innovators, and industry experts to exchange insights, explore emerging technology, and share strategies that enhance the readiness and resilience of warfighters.

Quiet Professionals: Back to the Basics Military and civilian professionals from the Special Operations Forces aviation global community gathered to attend professional development sessions on Day 1 of the 2025 Special Air Warfare Symposium that reinforced the warrior culture and the basics of discipline, competence, and execution. Our Air Commandos are quiet professionals that recognize the importance of mastering the fundamentals to achieve excellence any time, anywhere. Stay tuned as we highlight portions of #SAWS2025 over the next few days! #SpecialAirWarfareSymposium