Special Operations Wing

The U.S. Air Force fields four Special Operations Wings (SOWs) to provide unconventional warfare [Page 552]tactics and other support services for counterterrorism operations. It is the U.S. Air Force counterpart of the Navy SEAL and Army Ranger special forces units. During wartime, the SOW divisions report to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

The 1986 Defense Authorization Act called for the creation of a unified command for special operations. As a result, the 23rd Air Force was assigned to the new U.S. Special Operations Command established April 1987 at Florida's McDill Air Force Base. Over the next three years the non–special-operations functions of the 23rd Air Force were assigned to other units. On May 22, 1990, the 23rd Air Force was redesignated as a separate new entity: AFSOC.

AFSOC has two active-duty wings, one reserve wing, and one National Guard wing, as well as a menu of specialized groups and squadrons. The two active-duty wings are the 1st Special Operations Wing, based at Hurlburt Field, and the 27th SOW, which works out of Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. The 919th SOW, located at Duke Field in Florida, bears the distinction of being the only SOW in the Air Force Reserve, and has about 1,300 reservists. The 193rd SOW is part of the Air National Guard.

The 1st SOW mission focus is unconventional warfare, including counterterrorism, search and rescue, aviation assistance to developing countries, personnel recovery, psychological operations, and deep battlefield resupply. It specializes in low-level, high-speed missions. The 1st SOW also brings distinctive intelligence capabilities to the fight, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, predictive analysis, and targeting expertise. The 1st SOW fleet consists of 75 aircraft and 8,700 personnel. In line with its motto, “Keeping the Air Commando promise to provide reliable, precise Air Force special operations air power…. Any Time, Any Place,” the 1st SOW has played a major role in the global war on terror, logging over 48,000 combat sorties and more than 150,000 combat hours by late 2009. The 1st SOW has units based in Florida and Nevada. (The 1st was known as the 16th SOW prior to November 16, 2006.)

The 27th SOW is based at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. Its primary mission is specialized and contingency operations using advanced aircraft and refueling tactics to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and close air support for Special Operations forces. The unit traces its origins to the 27th Bombardment Group in 1940. As the Air Force has reorganized over the years, the 27th designation has been used for other units at various locations, such as the 27th Fighter Wing, based in Nebraska in 1947. As part of the Base Realignment program, in 2007 the Cannon AFB 27th Fighter Wing changed its mission, becoming the 27th SOW. Cannon AFB has 3,300 military and 600 civilian personnel.

The 919th SOW provides and maintains the MC-130E Combat Talon 1 and the MC-130P Combat Shadow special operations aircraft, which are designed for covert operations. It also provides 60 percent of the AFSOC's helicopter aerial fueling training. This SOW has a long history of foreign deployment. Personnel participated in the 1989 invasion of Panama, the 1991 Gulf War, Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in 1994, and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. During the Gulf War, the 919th were the first forces to enter enemy air space, where they successfully dismantled two radar stations. Thanks to their work, naval forces were able to conduct a successful air raid with no casualties. The 919th employs some 1,300 reservists.

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