Fact Sheet 92-15 Air Force Special Operations Air Force Special Operations Command, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla., was established May 22, 1990. AFSOC is a major command and the Air Force component of the U.S. Special Operations Command, a unified command. Mission AFSOC is America's specialized air power. It is a step ahead in a changing world, delivering special operations combat power anytime, anywhere. The command is committed to continual improvement to provide Air Force special operations forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified commands to conduct: Unconventional warfare Direct action Special reconnaissance Counterterrorism Foreign internal defense Humanitarian assistance Psychological operations Personnel recovery Counternarcotics Organization AFSOC has approximately 8,500 people, 22 percent of whom are stationed overseas. The command's three active duty flying units epitomize the composite wing/group concept. They are composed of over 100 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. 1st Special Operations Wing The 1st SOW, at Hurlburt Field, is the oldest and most seasoned unit in AFSOC. It includes the 8th Special Operations Squadron, which flies the MC-130E Combat Talon; the 15th SOS, which flies the MC-130H Combat Talon II; the 16th SOS, which flies the AC-130H Spectre gunship; and the 20th SOS, which flies the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter. Two squadrons are located at nearby Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. - the 9th SOS, which flies the HC-130N/P Combat Shadow; and the 55th SOS, which flies the MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. 352nd Special Operations Group The 352nd SOG, at Royal Air Force Station Alconbury, United Kingdom, is the designated Air Force component for Special Operations Command Europe. Its squadrons are the 7th SOS, which flies the MC- 130E Combat Talon; the 21st SOS, equipped with the MH-53J Pave Low; and the 67th SOS, with the HC-130N/P Combat Shadow. 353rd Special Operations Group The 353rd SOG, with headquarters at Kadena Air Base, Japan, is the Air Force component for Special Operations Command Pacific. Its squadrons are the 1st SOS, which flies the MC-130E Combat Talon; the 17th SOS, with the HC-130N/P Combat Shadow; and the 31st SOS at Osan Air Base, Korea, which flies the MH-53J Pave Low helicopter. 720th Special Tactics Group The 720th STG, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field, has units in the United States, Europe and the Pacific. The group has special operations combat control teams and pararescue forces. Their missions include: air traffic control for establishing air assault landing zones, close air support for strike aircraft and Spectre gunship missions, establishing casualty collection stations, and providing trauma care for injured personnel. U.S. Air Force Special Operations School The USAFSOS, at Hurlburt Field, provides special operations-related education to Department of Defense personnel, government agencies and allied nations. Subjects covered in its 13 courses range from regional affairs and cross-cultural communications to anti-terrorism awareness, revolutionary warfare, and psychological operations. Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center SMOTEC, with headquarters at Hurlburt Field, provides expertise to improve the capabilities of special operations forces worldwide. The center 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 two air Reserve component units when the organizations are mobilized. One is the 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRES) at Duke Field, Fla., whose 711th Special Operations Squadron flies the AC- 130A Spectre gunship; and its 71st SOS at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., which flies MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The other is the 193rd Special Operations Group (ANG) at Harrisburg Airport, Pa., which flies the EC-130E. (Current as of December 1992)