Air Force Special Operations Training Center

The United States Air Force Special Operations Training Center (AFSOTC) was located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It worked under the supervision of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC); Its primary function was to train the Air Force's Special Operations Personnel before being assigned to their respective units.[1] The Mission Statement/Vision was, "Transforming Airmen into Air Commandos who possess the specialized skills and warrior ethos to fight and win anytime, anywhere."[2] The AFSOTC was replaced February 11, 2013 by the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center.

History/Overview

The Training Center was set up on October 6, 2008.[3] It was designed to consolidate the strengths of active duty, reserve, and Air National Guard units to form an integrated team dedicated to training Airmen and turning them into Air Commandos. Many units and squadrons make up the Training Center. These include The United States Air Force Special Operations School (USAFSOS), 5th Special Operations Squadron, 19th Special Operations Squadron, 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron, 551st Special Operations Squadron, 745th Special Operations Squadron, and an 18th Flight Test Squadron.[4] In its short history, the Training Center has already forever changed the way the Air Force educates and trains Special Forces personnel.[5] With its 53 million dollar annual budget, the training center utilizes simulators, curriculum, and instructors to meet the Air Force's training needs.[6] The Special Operations personnel trained at the center include Pararescuemen, Combat Controllers, and Special Operations Weathermen.[7] The center also provides mission qualification for the U-28A, C-145A, C-146A, MQ-1, MQ-9, CV-22, MC-130E/H, AC-130H/U, AC-130W, RC-26 aircrews.[8] One officer states, "There's an excellent team assembled here. So when a student graduates out of the training center, they will be an Air Commando and there will be no doubt that they're ready to join their respective combat units."[9]

AFSOTC was inactivated on February 11, 2013 with the standup of the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center (AFSOAWC). Units and Squadrons were realigned under the command of the AFSOAWC.[10]

Leadership

Outgoing AFSOTC Commander was Colonel William D. Andersen at the time of inactivation.[11]

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References
  1. "Factsheets : Air Force Special Operations Training Center." Air Force Special Operations Command - Home. Web. 02 September 2010. <http://www.afsoc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=14252 Archived 2010-09-02 at the Wayback Machine>.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2010-09-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "New Spec Ops Training Center Opens - Air Force News, News from Iraq - Air Force Times." Air Force News, Pay & Benefits, Careers, Entertainment, Photos - Air Force Times HOME. Web. 09 September 2010. <http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/10/airforce_afsoc_training_101808/>.
  4. "Factsheets : Air Force Special Operations Training Center." Air Force Special Operations Command - Home. Web. 11 September 2010. <http://www.afsoc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=14252 Archived 2010-09-02 at the Wayback Machine>.
  5. "Special Operations Command officials host physical ability stamina test for special tactics Airmen." Defense Department Documents and Publications 2010. n. pag. Web. 9/12/2010. Lexis Nexis. Galileo. Retrieved at Georgia Southern University-Henderson Library.
  6. "Air Force Special Operations Command - AFSOTC." Air Force Special Operations Command - Home. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://www.afsoc.af.mil/afsotc/ Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine>.
  7. "Special Operations Command officials host physical ability stamina test for special tactics Airmen." Defense Department Documents and Publications 2010. n. pag. Web. 9/12/2010. Lexis Nexis. Galileo. Retrieved at Georgia Southern University-Henderson Library.
  8. "Air Force Special Operations Command - AFSOTC." Air Force Special Operations Command - Home. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://www.afsoc.af.mil/afsotc/ Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine>.
  9. "AFSOTC CHANGES COMMAND." States News Service 2009. n. pag. Database. 9/9/2010. Lexis Nexis. Galileo. Retrieved at Georgia Southern University-Henderson Library.
  10. "Air Force sets up Air Warfare Center" <"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2013-02-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)>
  11. "Air Force Special Operations Command." Air Force Special Operations Command - Home - News. Web. 12 February 2013. <http://www.afsoc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123336024> Archived February 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.


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