By Bailey Wyman.

The Air Force Special Operations Command is introducing Theater Air Operations Squadrons to bolster its capabilities and adapt to the ever-changing operational landscape.

“The genesis of this initiative traces back to the post-9/11 era when AFSOC primarily directed its efforts towards crisis response and countering violent extremist organizations,” said Lt. Col. Weston Higbee, 1st Special Operation Theater Air Operations Squadron commander. “While successful, this focus limited the potential of Air Force Special Operations Forces.”

In response, the 2022 National Defense Strategy has urged a shift toward enhancing deterrence through partnerships and proactive actions in multi-domain operations, or competitive interactions among and within state and non-state actors that fall between the traditional war and peace duality. Addressing the challenges presented by today’s complex national security environment requires a multi-lens, multi-layer approach. The T-AOS is AFSOC’s approach to addressing the complexity of these national security challenges.

The Theater Engagement Construct emerges as an ideal framework, aligning regionally tailored AFSOF solutions with the specific requirements of Geographic Combatant Commands, Theater Special Operations Commands, and Theater Air Component Commands. This strategic pivot marks a transition from short-term episodic engagements to a sustained campaign-centric approach, enabling proper responses to the evolving and diverse operating environment.

At the core of the TEC is the establishment of Theater Air Operations Squadrons, providing three distinct capabilities crucial to their aligned regions. Determining SOF air capabilities and limitations, gaining advanced understandings of regional complexities, and utilizing regional and AFSOF expertise for effective execution of the mission. Through this, T-AOS provides the backbone to create the most effective TEC possible.

The mission statement encapsulates the T-AOS purpose, emphasizing regional synchronization, integration, enablement, and selective employment of AFSOF capabilities to enhance their advantage against national priorities and strategic competitors, providing multi-domain options for the Joint Force. By acting as the synchronization and integration lead, the T-AOS ensures capabilities in the TEC span the Security Cooperation spectrum.

The squadrons are strategically aligned with five geographic combatant commands, emphasizing the importance of tailored training based on their assigned areas of responsibility, with the 1 SOTAOS being the first squadron of its kind introduced in AFSOC.

“The introduction of Theater Air Operations Squadrons stands as a significant advancement for AFSOC, enabling a more nuanced, region-specific approach to operational challenges,” said Higbee. “The strategic alignment with the 2022 National Defense Strategy underscores AFSOC’s commitment to enhancing capabilities and effectively addressing the evolving complexities of the national security environment.”

The 1st Special Operations Theater Air Operations Squadron hosted its activation ceremony October 18th, 2023, at Hurlburt Field, Florida, marking an immense shift in the capabilities of AFSOC in various theaters of operation.

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This story by Airman 1st Class Bailey Wyman was first published on October 19, 2023, by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain. Photo: U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Weston Higbee, 1st Special Operations Theater Air Operations Squadron commander, gives remarks at the 1 SOTAOS activation ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 19, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Bailey Wyman)

Editor’s Note: A comprehensive article about the T-AOS has been published by N.K. Cobb, an academic chair at Joint Special Operations University, entitled “T-AOS: A New Model for Competition”, AEther, Air University, October 24, 2023.

The Air Force Special Operations Command is establishing a ‘power projection wing’ at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The nucleus of this organization will be the 492nd Special Operations Wing. The wing will integrate the AFSOC mission capabilities of strike, mobility, ISR, and air/ground integration.

To support this new wing in Arizona, several unit relocations will take place over the next five years involving AFSOC units and organizations. The planned relocations include the following:

• The 492nd SOW at Hurlburt Field, FL, is to relocate to Davis-Monthan AFB. The relocation includes the 492nd SOW’s transition from support wing into a power projection wing.
• The U-28 Draco fleets at Cannon AFB, NM, and Hurlburt Field is to be replaced by the OA-1K Armed Overwatch aircraft. As part of the 492nd SOW’s transition to a power projection wing, one OA-1K Armed Overwatch squadron is to relocate from Hurlburt Field to Davis-Monthan AFB.
• An MC-130J Commando II squadron is to relocate from Cannon AFB to Davis-Monthan AFB to join the 492nd SOW.
• An additional MC-130J squadron is to activate at Davis-Monthan AFB.
• The 21st Special Tactics Squadron is to relocate from Pope Army Airfield, NC, to Davis-Monthan AFB.
• The 22nd Special Tactics Squadron is to relocate from Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA, to Davis-Monthan AFB.
• The 492nd Theater Air Operations Squadron is to activate at Duke Field and transfer to Davis- Monthan AFB.
• The 47th Fighter Squadron (24 A-10s), the 354th Fighter Squadron (26 A-10s), and the 357th Fighter Squadron (28 A-10s) at Davis-Monthan AFB will inactivate and their respective A-10s are to be retired. The 47th FS and 357th FS are to continue A-10 formal training until inactivation.
• The 34th Weapons Squadron and the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron are to relocate from Nellis AFB, NV, to Davis-Monthan AFB, transferring five HH-60W Jolly Green IIs.

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The information in this article came from U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Considerations for Congress, Congressional Research Service, CRS RS21048, updated August 25, 2023, PDF, 12 pages. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RS/RS21048

Top Photo: An AC-130 Gunship shoots off flares. Photo by AFSOC, January 1, 2020.

Story by Devyn Waits.

For our Fallen Warrior commemoration this week, we remember Master Sgt. John Chapman, 24th Special Tactics Squadron combat controller.

Chapman was born July 14, 1965, growing up in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. At Windsor Locks High School, he shined as a varsity soccer player and enjoyed muscle cars. His family always took note of his eagerness to take on a challenge and how he was always ready to lend a helping hand. In 1985, Chapman joined the Air Force, initially serving as an information systems operator until he retrained as a combat controller.

On March 4, 2002, as a part of Operation Anaconda, Chapman and a Navy SEAL Team observed enemy activity in Takur Ghar, Afghanistan. During insertion, enemy forces attacked the team’s MH-47 Chinook, forcing it to crash land.

A second Chinook carried the team back up the hill, where they engaged the enemy to rescue a fallen comrade. Chapman attacked and destroyed the position of several entrenched enemies before seeing other insurgents attacking from a different strong point.

Chapman moved to open ground to attack uphill at a steep incline while thigh-deep in snow. In the face of danger, Chapman continued assaulting the enemy with single-minded dedication and devotion to the welfare of his team, until he made the ultimate sacrifice, saving the lives of many others.

He earned the Air Force Cross on that same day, and upon further review of his decoration, was upgraded to a Medal of Honor in 2018. Chapman is survived by his wife, Valerie and their two daughters, Madison and Brianna.

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This story by Airman 1st Class Devyn Waits, 81st Training Wing Public Affairs, was first published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain. The Fallen Warrior series highlights Fallen Warriors who exemplify our Special Tactics core values and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

By Capt. Jantzen Floate, AFSOC.

On April 2, the final MC-130H Combat Talon ll made its last flight, arriving at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona to retire at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). This aircraft was the last of the final six MC-130Hs transferred for storage at the 309th AMARG, known as the boneyard.

The aircraft, tail number 89-0280 belonging to the 1st Special Operations Wing, was flown by a Total Force crew and included Lt Gen Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC commander, to pay homage to the heroic legacy and service the Talon II has provided for AFSOC and the joint force over the past 30 years.

“Today marks the end of a legacy for one of the finest airplanes ever flown in AFSOC. The MC-130H Combat Talon II, or as the crews that’ve flown it call it: “The Chariot of Armageddon,” held a critical mission of special operations forces mobility in infiltrating and exfiltrating into many of the hardest locations in the world while upholding the Talon Standard of absolute precision. I’m very proud of the entire Talon community; the crews, maintainers, and operations support personnel.” 

Lt Gen Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC Commander

Initially arriving at Hurlburt Field in June 1992, the MC-130H Combat Talon II is a derivative of the C-130H Hercules modified for special operations and played a vital role in AFSOC operations across the globe.

The mission of the Combat Talon ll was to provide infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces and equipment in hostile and denied territories, while also providing a secondary air refueling capability for helicopters and vertical lift platforms. Additionally, it also provided SOF commanders with an all-weather, low-level penetration option utilizing its terrain following capabilities.

The standard aircrew complement for the MC-130H was seven consisting of two pilots, a navigator, two loadmasters, a flight engineer, and an electronic warfare officer.

“The Talon II was a navigator’s dream due to the planning required and systems expertise necessary to fly it. The ability to fly in mountainous terrain in [instrument meteorological conditions] required extremely detailed mission planning, so every flight required the whole crew to understand the limitations of the aircraft and the crew, and to push right up to the edge in order to be successful. The ability to project power and penetrate denied or sensitive areas to further our Nation’s interest was the hallmark of the Talon II.”

Col. Richard Greszler, Jr., AFSOC Operations Center commander and prior MC-130H navigator

Over the last 30 years, the Combat Talon ll was critical to many missions from evacuations of civilians from the Republic of the Congo in 1997, to enduring counterterror and counter-violent extremist organizations (C-VEO) operations.

“The legacy of the Talon II fills me with pride,” Greszler said. “Pride in a community which looked to be tasked to defend our Nation no matter the danger. The aircraft was an amazing machine, but it was the men and women who crewed and maintained the Chariot of Armageddon that made it special. They constantly strove to improve and never let their teammates down.”

With the completion of the final trip to AMARG, the MC-130H fleet has approximately 264,442 total flight hours and 106,850 sorties since its start of operations in late 1992.

Replacing the MC-130H, along with the retired E and P models, is the MC-130J Commando II, which has been in operation since 2011.

The Commando II flies clandestine, or low visibility, single or multi-ship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or airland and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories. The MC-130J primarily flies missions at night to reduce probability of visual acquisition and intercept by airborne threats.

The last MC-130H in the 1st SOW’s inventory will be retired later this summer in Hurlburt Field’s airpark, cementing the retirement of the Talon II fleet in AFSOC.

Notable MC-130H Missions

Below are a few of the notable MC-130H tail numbers and missions that highlight the various missions the Combat Talon II will be remembered for:

89-0280: Coined “The Highlander”, 89-0280 is one of the few Combat Talon II aircraft to have been stationed at every permanent duty location for Talon II aircraft, it was later the first aircraft to respond and land at Sendai International Airport during Operation Tomadachi following the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan on March 16, 2011. The mission to Sendai opened the airfield for mass follow-on relief missions, and the first C-17 was able to land four hours later.

85-0011: Coined “The Ace of Spades”, aircraft 85-0011 is known for transporting Saddam Hussein after his capture near the town of Tikrit in December 2003.  Additionally, this aircraft participated in earthquake relief efforts during a 1997 JCET down in Venezuela.  During the immediate aftermath, the crew of 0011 airlifted 175,000 lbs of supplies and received the Order of Jose Antonio Anzoategui, Venezuela’s highest medal for gallantry.

86-1699: Coined “Merlin’s Magic”, it participated in Operation Firm Response to conduct a 14.4 flight hour NEO of 56 non-combatants from the Republic of the Congo in 1997.

89-0283: This aircraft was the fourth of four Talons that opened OEF as a Rhino Raider in 2001. Rhino LZ was the first combat airfield seizure in Afghanistan in 2001. Additionally, 0283 conducted the exfil of Hamid Karzai on November 4, 2001. This aircraft also conducted a BLU-82 drop on Masir-e-Sharif and participated in the 2008 Colombia hostage rescue.

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This story by Capt. Jantzen Floate was first published by the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) on April 10, 2023.

Photo: On April 2, 2023, a MC-130J Combat Talon II departed Hurlburt Field, Florida and flew to retirement to the boneyard located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. (Photo courtesy AFSOC).

President Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to Technical Sergeant John Chapman posthumously during a White House ceremony. The event took place on Wednesday, August 22, 2018. The award was for conspicuous gallantry during a battle with al Qaida fighters on a 10,000 foot mountain top in eastern Afghanistan in early March of 2002.

John Chapman was a US Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. While deployed to Afghanistan he was attached to an element of SEAL Team 6 – a seven-man team with the call sign of Mako 30. The battle took place on Roberts Ridge [1] on Takur Ghar mountain along the Pakistan border. The award is an upgrade of the Air Force Cross that he received posthumously.

Combat on Takur Ghar – Operation Anaconda

The action that took place on Takur Ghar was part of a larger operation called Operation Anaconda. The objective of Anaconda was the destruction of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters that had taken refuge in the Shah-i-Kot Valley (located at 7,500 feet) of Paktia province in eastern Afghanistan. Two SEAL teams were inserted to set up observation posts in order to identify enemy positions and call in airstrikes. Mako 30’s planned observation site provided an ideal spot for an observation post with excellent visibility of key locations.

During the MH-47E helicopter (belonging to the 160th SOAR) insertion John Chapman’s aircraft came under heavy fire (bullets and rocket propelled grenade) and was damaged. A teammate –  Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts (Navy SEAL) – was ejected from the aircraft and the crippled aircraft executed a controlled crash landing in the valley below.

Chapman and other members of the joint special operations team voluntarily returned on a second MH-47 to the snow-capped mountain to rescue the stranded teammate. This aircraft was immediately engaged with heavy fire. The team on the ground was quickly in a firefight with enemy forces. John Chapman lost his life during this effort.

“Sgt. Chapman charged into enemy fire through harrowing conditions, seized an enemy bunker, and killed its enemy occupants. He then moved from cover to engage a machine gun firing on his team from a second bunker. While engaging this position, he was severely wounded by enemy gunfire. Despite severe wounds, he continued to fight relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before paying the ultimate sacrifice.”

After being severely wounded Chapman’s body had been left behind due to enemy pressure. It was believed by the SEAL team leader [2] that Chapman had been killed. An analysis of drone coverage later revealed that he regained consciousness and resumed fighting al-Qaida fighters approaching his position.

More about John Chapman

A native of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, he was 36 years old at the time of his death. He was married and had two children.

Chapman joined the Air Force in 1985. He first served as an information systems operator but then volunteered to be a Special Tactics combat controller in 1989. A Combat Controller must pass some rigorous training schools to be fully qualified. The training includes military diving, static-line and free fall parachuting, air traffic control, and combat control courses and schools.

Once his two-year training program was completed he was assigned to the 1721st Combat Control Squadron, the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, and then to his final unit – the 24th Special Tactics Squadron. The Air Force, because of the award of the Medal of Honor, posthumously promoted Chapman to Master Sergeant on September 1, 2018.

Chapman’s widow and family attended the ceremony at the White House. Chapman is the 19th Airman awarded the Medal of Honor. He is the first Airman to be recognized with the medal since the Vietnam War. The Medal of Honor is the nation’s most prestigious military decoration.

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Footnotes:

[1] Read about “The Battle of Roberts Ridge”, by Dwight Jon Zimmerman, Defense Media Network, September 9, 2012.

[2] Retired Navy SEAL Britt Slabinski received the Medal of Honor in May 2018 for his actions in the same battle.

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References:

Airman to be awarded Medal of Honor, U.S. Air Force Public Affairs, July 27, 2018.

President Donald J. Trump to Award Medal of Honor, White House Statement, July 27, 2018.

Trump awards Medal of Honor to NAVY SEAL for controversial mission in Afghanistan, Fox News, May 24th.

Predator Support for Roberts Ridge Battle – Afghanistan 2002, SOF News, August 21, 2018.

The Navy SEALs Allegedly Left Behind a Man in Afghanistan. Did They Also Try to Block His Medal of Honor?, by Sean Naylor, Newsweek Magazine, May 7, 2018.

Pope airman is first to receive Medal of Honor since Vietnam, The Fayetteville Observer, July 27, 2018.

Airman posthumously receives Medal of Honor, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, July 27, 2018.

Photo: Top image by DoD, map by U.S. Army,  photo of Chapman courtesy Secretary of Air Force (DVIDS, Jul 27).

This article was first published by SOF News in August 2018.

By Master Sgt. Alexander Farver.

The first MC-130J Commando II aircraft arrived at Middletown, Pa., Feb 2, 2023, achieving a major milestone in the 193^rd Special Operations Wing’s mission conversion. The 193 SOW is the first, and currently the only, Air National Guard unit to receive the Commando II mission, a flagship mission of Air Force Special Operations Command.

“This is a monumental day for the 193^rd, ANG, and AFSOC. The Commando II mission will ensure the 193rd SOW remains not only relevant, but also at the forefront of the battlespace for years to come,” said Col. Edward Fink, 193^rd SOW commander.

Led by the efforts of unit conversion officer, Lt. Col. Benton Jackson, the wing has been preparing for its mission conversion since 2021. Jackson believes the hard work of 193^rd SOW Airmen and the support of the community ultimately led to completion of this successful first step.

“Seeing the Commando II on our flightline is a tangible symbol of the progress we’ve made as a wing in bringing this versatile mission to central Pennsylvania,” Jackson said. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of this team, and I have the utmost confidence we have the right culture and people to continue with a successful mission conversion.”

For decades, the wing operated the EC-130J Commando Solo as part of the only airborne Military Information Support Operations broadcasting platform in the U.S. military. Col. Jaime Ramirez, 193rd Special Operations Maintenance Group commander, sees the move to the Commando II as a major shift in the unit, AFSOC and ANG.

“The Commando II is the special operations workhorse, in that it performs many different types of missions, and performs them well,” Ramirez said. “There is no doubt in my mind the aircraft that landed here today will be integral in any future conflict.”

Ramirez added that the wing’s mission conversion is unprecedented, in that it was able to maintain full operating capabilities of the outgoing aircraft while simultaneously preparing for the arriving mission.

“We were ready to maintain the Commando II well before it arrived, all while never losing a step in maintaining and launching EC-130s.” Ramirez said. “That only happens if you have the best people. I’d put our maintainers up against anyone.”

While the 193^rd SOMXG is prepared to maintain the aircraft, the 193^rd Special Operations Group is postured to fly them immediately. Col. Gordon Frankenfield, 193^rd SOG commander suggests that many of his airmen have a deep familiarity with the aircraft and mission set.

“We’ve executed similar mission sets for years, which likely contributed to AFSOC trusting us with this critically valuable aircraft,” Frankenfield said. “Our goal from day one has been to operate the Commando II with the same potency as an active duty unit, and our aircrews are trained and ready to make that a reality.”

Frankenfield sees the Commando II’s arrival to Pennsylvania as an important strategic move both domestically and abroad.

“The 193^rd now offers something the U.S. military didn’t have before,” Frankenfield said. Special Operations Forces based in the northeast now have a crucial air asset right in their backyard to build their combat readiness. Combatant commanders have a much more robust and versatile capability to project air power in different geographic regions.”

The aircraft’s arrival under the cloak of night was perhaps appropriate given the nature of its mission. The Commando II flies clandestine – or low visibility – single or multi-ship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or airland and air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, intruding politically sensitive or hostile territories.

“The Commando II is the embodiment of Agile Combat Employment, and will present complex dilemmas to our adversaries. It’s a shadow in the dark, and sends a clear message that the U.S. military owns the night,” Fink said. “The 193^rd is ready today to add to the impressive lineage of the Commando II.”

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This article by Master Sgt. Alexander Farver was first published by the 193rd SOW on February 7, 2023. The photo is of an MC-130J Commando II arriving at the 193rd Special Operations Wing on February 2, 2023. Photo by Master Sgt. Alexander Farver.

By Senior Airman Amanda Flower, DVIDS.

For Airmen assigned to the 23rd Special Operations Weather Squadron, Detachment 1, every mission is a no-fail mission, according to Maj. Katheryn Bryant, Detachment 1 commander. Located at Hurlburt Field, the 23rd SOWS is responsible for providing detailed weather tracking and forecasts.

Detachment 1 is a subordinate unit of the 23rd SOWS, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. There, Airmen work directly with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, providing support for short-notice missions that often take place at night, with aircraft flying at high speeds and in low-level conditions.

“The pressure on your forecast to be right is a little bit higher here,” said Bryant. “If we’re wrong, it’s a big deal.”

Photo: Air Commandos with the 23rd Special Operations Weather Squadron, observe weather data at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 17, 2018. The 23rd SOWS provides timely, accurate and tailored weather analysis for planning and executing phases of deployed, exercising and garrisoned Special Operations Forces worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ronald Feliciano Rivera)

Typically, weather Airmen are responsible for forecasting flights that take place at 20,000 feet or above. Due to operational requirements, Airmen attached to Detachment 1 are responsible for forecasting at areas 2,000 feet and lower. The aircraft on Fort Campbell are primarily rotary-wing aircraft, aside from the MQ-1 Predator. Forecasting within lower levels requires more precision due to impacts from terrains and rapidly evolving microscale features.

Detachment 1 Airmen remain involved for the entirety of the flight to ensure aircrew are able to safely and efficiently complete their missions. Staff Sgt. Tyler Zeller, a Detachment 1 parachutist, noted that missing even the slightest detail could endanger the lives of the crews they work with.

“We are dedicated to being an asset as multi-capable Airmen,” Zeller said, adding that Airmen with Detachment 1 must be very deliberate and detail oriented when exploiting weather forecasts.

Zeller noted that the Airmen with Detachment 1 are held to a higher standard due to the sensitive nature of the missions the 160th SOAR conducts.

Photo: U.S. Air Force Airmen with 23rd Special Operations Weather Squadron, Detachment 1, prepare for a static line jump at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Sept. 22, 2022. By jumping with a Forward Arming and Refueling Point team Airmen with Detachment 1 are able to assist in refueling aircraft, establishing security and providing real time conditions and limited data forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amanda A. Flower)

Airmen attached to Detachment 1 are also airborne parachutists. By jumping with a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) team Airmen with Detachment 1 are able to assist in refueling aircraft, establishing security and providing real time conditions and limited data forecasts.

“In the plane, I close my eyes and try to visualize every sequence of events – from initial calls to getting to the follow-on objectives,” Zeller said. “With static line jumps, there is less time to deal with malfunctions due to low exit altitude.”

And while they face unique challenges when compared to weather Airmen across the Air Force, Detachment 1 Airmen would agree that it’s a rewarding job.

“We know that we are valued, and that goes a long way,” Bryant said. “They want a forecaster with them for everything, and it’s a good feeling that they value you that much.”

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This article by Senior Airman Amanda Flower entitled “23rd SOWS Detachment 1: “Every mission is a no-fail mission” was originally published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on November 21, 2022. DVIDS provides content that is in the public domain.

Top photo: United States Army Institute of Heraldry, Public Domain, 2009
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59904331

Videos: Watch a video about the 27 SOW Weather Forecasters at Cannon AFB and a SOCAF SOWT in Djibouti.

Story by Tara Fajardo Arteaga.

Soldiers can hear a subtle roar from the range tower at Zdar Range, Hradiště Military Area, Czech Republic, on March 8, 2022. Czech army soldiers come outside and look up to see what made the noise. Two MI-24 Hind attack helicopters fly over the range. Suddenly, an L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA) fixed-wing subsonic aircraft appears and dives close to the ground toward the tower.

On a hill in the distance, Air Force Staff Sgt. Justin Hodges and Senior Airman Driestin Aho, Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTAC), conduct close air support by identifying and distinguishing between friendly and hostile units and directing, via radio, the actions of the combat aircraft as they fly above the training area. “We work with the Czech counterparts and the Czech aircraft to facilitate strikes from the Czech air force,” explained Hodges.

Hodges and Driestin are members of the U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP). JTAC personnel from the U.S. Air Force embedded with Army and Marine units on the frontline while working with Allies. “We were integrated with the Czech JTACs; we were going up there and conducting coordinated airstrikes on strategic targets for the U.S. Army,” said Hodges.

Hodges and Aho are assigned to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron out of Ft. Riley, Kan., and are currently stationed at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland. “The U.S. Army dictates that they want a set amount of JTACs aligned with the Army,” said Hodges. “So we are aligned with these guys and integrate the air picture into the Army scheme of maneuver.” The two Airmen worked alongside the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and participated in Saber Strike 22, Czech Republic.

“We get assigned to work with an Army unit, so we work with the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley,” said Aho. “We are working with 2-34.”

While at Saber Strike 22, a multi-national military exercise from February to March, the airmen worked together with the Czech air force to conduct air defense training while also providing close air support to train in case of hostile targets are too close to friendly forces.

Saber Strike 22 gave the U.S. JTACs the chance to work directly with the military of the Czech Republic, which brought together NATO Allies to rehearse critical skills in support of ground operations. “Saber Strike 22 was a very successful exercise,” said Hodges, “It’s vital for us to integrate with our NATO counterparts to know how each of us operates. Working these combined exercises gives each country a chance to show their capabilities and lets them know we’re ready in the event of a conflict.”

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This story by Sgt. Tara Fajardo Arteaga of the 113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment was originally published on March 8, 2022 by Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS publishes content in the public domain.

Photo: An L-159 Alca fixed wing of the Czech Army conducts air defense training with the U.S. Air Force joint terminal attack controllers assigned to 10th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) during Saber Strike 22 at Hradiště Military Area, Northwest Czech Republic, March 08, 2022. Saber Strike ensures that U.S. forces and participating allied forces are trained, able to operate together and are ready to respond to any threat. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Tara Fajardo Arteaga)

Editor’s Note: Saber Strike is an annual U.S. Army exercise held in eastern Europe. This year’s event was held in Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia. It consisted of tactical road marches, multiple live-fire and force-on-force exercises, rail operations from Germany to Lithuania, aerial resupply, air assaults, and air, ground, and sea lines of communication in the northern Europe and Baltic regions.

Story by Natalie Greenwood.

U.S. Airmen with the 353rd Special Operations Wing (353rd SOW), 492nd Special Operations Wing (492nd SOW) and the 1st Special Operations Wing (1st SOW) deployed to the Philippines for Balikatan 22, March 28 – April 8, 2022. The Airmen assigned to three Air Force Special Operations Wings worked with members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and U.S. armed forces counterparts for the two-week exercise to strengthen relationships and operate in an austere environment. “One of the reasons we are out here is to engage with our partner force,” said Maj. Matthew Roese, the 353rd SOW Mission Commander. “We came out here to Balikatan to do a tactics, techniques, and procedures exchange with the AFP.”

The exercise started with friendship jumps between the two nations using an MC-130J assigned to the 353rd SOW, while the crew of the AC-130J Ghostrider conducted close air support training, and members of the 6th Special Operations Squadron exchange tactical ideas with Philippine Air Force pilots.

“This is the first time that the AC-130J Ghostrider has operated out of the Philippines for Balikatan since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Maj. Dave Bartolome, a weapon systems officer for the AC-130J Ghostrider with the 1st SOW. The Airmen experienced other firsts during the exercise as the 353rd SOW’s Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element (DAGRE) worked with the Philippine National Police on a new exercise zone agreement.

The newly established exercise zone agreement allows DAGRE to arm and defend U.S. Air Force assets and people in exercise zones alongside their Philippine counterparts, explained a DAGRE member. Airmen assigned to the 353rd SOW continued to work and execute the mission despite facing the challenge of an engine change mid-exercise to an MC-130J Commando II.

“It’s very uncommon to do an engine change when you’re on a temporary duty assignment, especially for the damage we had on the aircraft,” said a maintainer with the 353rd SOW. “But it was cool just working with everyone and seeing everybody coming together to get the job done.”

Military members from the 353rd SOW demonstrated appreciation to the local community through a charitable donation to the Social Development Center and a day of activities, including shopping for the local girls’ shoes and school supplies, a luncheon, and games.

“Meeting and supporting the young girls at the Social Development Center was a rewarding and eye-opening experience for our team,” said Master Sgt. Destinee Jones, the 353rd SOW Staff Additional Duty First Sergeant. “The girls we met are amazing with bright futures, and I believe we learned just as much from them as they did from us! It’s important to us that we foster these community ties during current and future Balikatan missions.”

From Clark Air Base, members represented the 492nd SOW by exchanging tactical procedures with Philippine Air Force members assigned to the 15th Strike Wing. U.S. Air Force Maj. Dan Jackson, a Combat Aviation Advisor with the 6th Special Operations Squadron even found a fellow U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, now a Philippine Air Force A-29 Super Tucano pilot.

“This is a very good venue to learn from each other,” said Philippine Air Force Major Dennis Marzo. “It doesn’t really end here on Balikatan. The connections and network we develop here we use after to continue talking and learning from each other. The deployment came to a close and Airmen from across all three Special Operations Wings reflected on what they learned throughout the exercise.

“Everything boils down to relationships. Being able to come out here and speak face to face with somebody I never thought I’d be able to talk to is what builds trust,” said Capt. Joshua Malpass, an AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft commander with the 1st SOW. “The experiences I’ve gained out here are incredible, and I’m to be able to take that back to our squadron and show them what I’ve learned from these professional aviators.”

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This story by Lance Cpl. Natalie Greenwood was first published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on May 2, 2022. DVIDS publishes content in the public domain.

Photo: Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippine Special Operations Command conduct a military freefall jump from a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II during Balikatan 22 over Royce Drop Zone, Philippines, March 28, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Levi J. Guerra)

By Lt. Col. Ian Phillips, 920th Rescue Wing.

After two years of assessment and validation the 920th Rescue Wing has developed an enhanced Personnel Recovery Task Force (PRTF) structure along with overhauled tactics, techniques, and procedures with a specific design to deny competitors exploitation of isolated personnel.

The structure distributes forces in light, medium, and heavy configurations that are able to maneuver and sustain organically throughout all operating environments. In lockstep with the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment applications, the new PRTF structure utilizes multi-capable Airmen from across the wing to provide both offensive and defensive capabilities during personnel recovery, contingency location establishment, and intra-theater airlift operations.

Historically personnel recovery has been piecemeal sourced with right-sized solutions due to traditional force structure models, which does not always present the right forces for the tasking.

“More than 40 years of doing Air Force rescue the same way offers combatant commanders no tactical advantage over competitors. The PRTF is an idea whose time has come. It is powerful, agile, and presents stand-alone personnel recovery, kinetic agile combat employment, and kinetic intra-theater airlift options in contested maritime and jungle environments,” said Col. John Dobbin, 920th Rescue Wing commander.

The new design incorporates force distribution in three configurations based on operational requirements. PRTF-Light is composed of two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, one HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, and two Guardian Angel (GA) teams. The PRTF-Medium will contain four HH-60Gs, two HC-130Js, and four GA teams. The PRTF-Heavy will have eight HH-60Gs plus backup aircraft, five HC-130Js plus backup aircraft, and eight GA teams.

Force projection of the PRTF is by a small, cross-trained team of wing maintenance and mission sustainment specialists that deploy to provide self-sustainment and autonomous operation and support. This ACE element enables organic tactical communications, security, logistics, and aircraft maintenance with a mindset that anticipates the needs of operations rather than reacts to them.

The PRTF relies on strategic airlift for delivery into theater but ongoing tests pursue an autonomous PRTF force projection through transport of HH-60G/W helicopters inside the wing’s HC-130Js. Until such time, the wing garners efficiencies in their multicapable Airmen applications which reduce the strategic air requirements to move into a theater of operations from previous years.

The wing refined the new structure through its annual wing training plan. Their HORIZON series of exercises are conducted at the squadron, group, and wing levels throughout the year involving deployment scenarios that culminate in the annual FURY HORIZON and DISTANT HORIZON exercises that take place around the world. This has validated the tactics, techniques, and procedures as a successful way to perform combat rescue.

“Our focus is on the Indo-Pacific region which offers incredible opportunity and challenge for our wing’s special warfare Airmen and special purpose aircraft. This region necessitates our new PRTF-Heavy capability to conduct a multilateral rescue assault on a defended point of incident. A point of incident that may be more than 300 isolated Airmen at an initial or temporary contingency location, isolated and dispersed elements, or individuals of the Air Force and joint warfighters as well as mass casualties at sea,” said Dobbin.

The PRTF -light, -medium, and -heavy structure aligns wing resources to the Air Force Chief of Staff’s lead wing framework and is sustainable across the total force when risk-based priorities determine what combatant command request for forces are highest priority. The PRTF self-solves resource allocation and balance challenges due to its scalable application, internal command and control, and using low-technology capabilities to counter high-end technology adversaries.

“It is scalable and flexible to give more options to a combatant commander for broad spectrum personnel recovery,” said Lt. Col. John Lowe, 920th RQW Fusion Cell chief.

This year the wing deployed the PRTF-Medium to an Indo-Pacific exercise where the wing tested Joint All-Domain Command and Control, which integrated the wing with joint and international partners to execute deliberate and immediate combat rescue missions.

The 920th RQW is a combined arms team of special mission personnel and aircraft whose mission is to plan, lead, and conduct military rescue operations and missions to deny competitors and adversaries exploitation of isolated personnel.

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This story by Lt. Col. Ian Phillips was first published by the 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs office on April 14, 2022. Posted by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: CH-47F Chinook from Task Force Brawler participates in Personnel Recovery exercise with USAF Guardian Angel team at Bagram AF. (Photo by USAF Tech. Sgt. Gregory Brook, 27 Feb 2018).