Air Force Special Operations Command United States Air Force Special Operations Command ( AFSOC ) is the special operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force component command to the United States Special Operations Command ( USSOCOM ) , a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base , Florida . AFSOC provides AF Special Operations Forces ( SOF ) for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified commands . AFSOC was initially established on 10 February 1983 as Twenty - Third Air Force ( 23 AF ) , a subordinate numbered air force of the Military Airlift Command ( MAC ) , with its headquarters at Hurlburt Field , Florida . On 22 May 1990 , 23 AF was redesignated as AFSOC and became a separate United States Air Force ( USAF ) major command ( MAJCOM ) responsible for all USAF special operations forces ( SOF ) , aircraft and personnel in the Regular Air Force , and the operational " gaining command " for all USAF SOF , aircraft and personnel in the Air Force Reserve Command ( AFRC ) and the Air National Guard ( ANG ) . History . Twenty - Third Air Force . In December 1982 , the Air Force transferred responsibility for Air Force special operations from Tactical Air Command ( TAC ) to Military Airlift Command ( MAC ) . Consequently , in March 1983 , MAC activated Twenty - Third Air Force ( 23 AF ) at Scott Air Force Base , Illinois . This new numbered air force ' s responsibilities included worldwide missions of special operations , combat rescue , weather reconnaissance and aerial sampling , security support for intercontinental ballistic missile sites , training of USAF helicopter and HC - 130 crewmen , pararescue training , and medical evacuation . Operation Urgent Fury . In October 1983 , 23 AF participated in the successful rescue of Americans from the island nation of Grenada . During the seven day operation , centered at Point Salines Airport , 23 AF furnished MC - 130 s , AC - 130 s , aircrews , maintenance , and support personnel . An EC - 130 from the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Air National Guard ( ANG ) , played a significant psy - war role . An MC - 130 pilot from the 8th Special Operations Squadron won the MacKay Trophy for his actions in leading the air drop on the Point Salines Airport . US Special Operations Command . In May 1986 , the Goldwater - Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act led to the formation of the United States Special Operations Command . Senators William Cohen and Sam Nunn introduced the Senate bill , and the following month Congressman Dan Daniel introduced a like measure in the House of Representatives . The key provisions of the legislation formed the basis to amend the 1986 Defense Authorizations Bill . This bill , signed into law in October 1986 , in part directed the formation of a unified command responsible for special operations . In April 1987 the DoD established the United States Special Operations Command ( USSOCOM ) at MacDill Air Force Base , Florida , and Army GEN James J . Lindsay assumed command . Four months later , 23 AF moved to Hurlburt Field , Florida . In August 1989 , Gen Duane H . Cassidy , MAC Commander in Chief , divested 23rd AF of its non - special operations units . Thus , 23 AF served a dual role — still reporting to MAC , but also functioning as the air component to USSOCOM . Operation Just Cause . From late December 1989 to early January 1990 , 23 AF participated in the re - establishment of democracy in the Republic of Panama during Operation Just Cause . Special operations aircraft included both active duty and reserve AC - 130 Spectre gunships , EC - 130 Volant Solo psychological operations aircraft from the Air National Guard , HC - 130P / N Combat Shadow tankers , MC - 130E Combat Talons , and MH - 53J Pave Low and MH - 60G Pave Hawk helicopters . Special tactics Combat Controllers and Pararescuemen provided important support to combat units during this operation . Spectre gunship crews of the 1st SOW earned the Mackay Trophy and Tunner Award for their efforts , a 919th SOG Spectre crew earned the President ' s Award , and a 1st SOW Combat Talon crew ferried the captured Panamanian President , Manuel Noriega , to prison in the United States . Likewise , the efforts of the 1st SOW maintenance people earned them the Daedalian Award . On 22 May 1990 , General Larry D . Welch , Air Force Chief of Staff , redesignated Twenty - Third Air Force as Air Force Special Operations Command ( AFSOC ) . This new major command consisted of three wings : the 1st , 39th and 353rd Special Operations Wings as well as the 1720th Special Tactics Group ( STG ) , the U . S . Air Force Special Operations School , and the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center . Currently , after major redesignations and reorganizations , AFSOC direct reporting units include the 16th SOW , the 352nd Special Operations Group , the 353rd Special Operations Group , the 720th Special Tactics Group ( STG ) , the USAF Special Operations School and the 18th Flight Test Squadron ( FLTS ) . During the early 1990s a major reorganization occurred within AFSOC . The 1720th STG became the 720th STG in March 1992 ; the transfer of ownership of Hurlburt Field from Air Mobility Command ( AMC , and formerly MAC ) to AFSOC in October 1992 , followed by the merger of the 834th Air Base Wing ( ABW ) into the 1st SOW which assumed host unit responsibilities . A year later the 1st SOW became the 16th SOW in a move to preserve Air Force heritage . Meanwhile , the Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center ( SMOTEC ) , which explored heavy lift frontiers in special operations capabilities , while pursuing better equipment and tactics development , was also reorganized . In April 1994 , the Air Force , in an effort to standardize these types of organizations , redesignated SMOTEC as the 18th Flight Test Squadron . Gulf War . From early August 1990 to late February 1991 , AFSOC participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm , the protection of Saudi Arabia and liberation of Kuwait . Special tactics personnel operated throughout the theater on multiple combat control and combat rescue missions . Special operations forces performed direct action missions , combat search and rescue , infiltration , exfiltration , air base ground defense , air interdiction , special reconnaissance , close air support , psychological operations , and helicopter air refuelings . Pave Low crews led the helicopter assault on radars to blind Iraq at the onset of hostilities , and they also accomplished the deepest rescue for which they received the Mackay Trophy . Combat Talons dropped the largest conventional bombs of the war and , along with Combat Shadows , dropped the most psy - war leaflets . The AC - 130 s provided valuable fire support and armed reconnaissance , but they also suffered the single greatest combat loss of coalition air forces with the shooting down of Spirit 03 . All fourteen crew members aboard were lost . AFSOC . Post - Gulf War . In December 1992 , AFSOC special tactics and intelligence personnel supported Operation Restore Hope in Somalia . In late 1994 , AFSOC units spearheaded Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti , and in 1995 Operation Deliberate Force in the Balkans . Operation Enduring Freedom . The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City , and the Pentagon , Washington D . C . , on 11 September 2001 pushed the United States special operations forces to the forefront of the war against terrorism . By the end of September 2001 , AFSOC deployed forces to southwest Asia for Operation Enduring Freedom to help destroy the al Qaeda terrorist organization and remove the Taliban regime in Afghanistan . AFSOC airpower delivered special tactics forces to the battle ground and they in turn focused U . S . airpower and allowed Afghanistan ' s Northern Alliance ground forces to dispatch the Taliban and al Qaeda from Afghanistan . AFSOC personnel also deployed to the Philippines to help aid that country ' s efforts against terrorism . Operation Iraqi Freedom . In March 2003 , AFSOC again deployed forces to southwest Asia this time in support of what would become Operation Iraqi Freedom – the removal of Saddam Hussein and his Baathist government . The command ' s personnel and aircraft teamed with SOF and conventional forces to quickly bring down Saddam Hussein ' s government by May 2003 . AFSOC forces have continued to conduct operations since then , in support of the new Iraqi government against insurgents and terrorists . Commanders . AFSOC has had nine commanders since its inception in 1990 . Units . Personnel and Resources . AFSOC has approximately 15 , 000 active - duty , Air Force Reserve , Air National Guard and civilian personnel . The commander of AFSOC is Lieutenant General Eric Fiel . Major General O . G . Mannon is Vice Commander , and Chief Master Sergeant Bill Turner is the Command Chief Master Sergeant , Air Force Special Operations Command . The command ' s SOF are composed of highly trained , rapidly deployable Airmen who are equipped with specialized aircraft . These forces conduct global special operations missions ranging from precision application of firepower , to infiltration , aviation foreign internal defense , exfiltration , resupply and refueling of SOF operational elements . The command ' s Special Tactics Squadrons are led by Special Tactics Officer s ( STOs ) . Special Tactics Squadrons combine Combat Controllers , TACP , Special Operations Weather Technicians , Pararescuemen and combat rescue officer s to form versatile SOF teams . AFSOC ' s unique capabilities include airborne radio and television broadcast for psychological operations , as well as combat aviation advisors to provide other governments military expertise for their internal development . Special Tactics is the US Air Force special operations ground force . Similar in ability and employment to MARSOC , Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs , Air Force Special Tactics personnel are typically the first to enter combat and often find themselves deep behind enemy lines in demanding , austere conditions , usually with little or no support . Due to the rigors of the job , Special Tactics yearlong training is one of the most demanding in the military , with attrition rate s near 80 to 90 percent . In an attempt to reduce the high attrition , Special Tactics is very selective when choosing their officers . Special Tactics Officers ( STO ) undergo a highly competitive process to gain entry into the Special Tactics career field , ensuring only the most promising and capable leaders are selected . STO leadership and role modeling during the difficult training reduces the attrition rate for enlisted trainees . As befits their special connection between SOF and the USAF , these airmen have specialized equipment such as C4 vests . STO selection is a two - phase process . Beginning with Phase One , a board of veteran STOs reviews application packages consisting of letters of recommendation , fitness test scores , and narratives written by the applicants describing their career aspirations and reasons for applying . Based on Phase One performance , approximately 8 to 10 applicants are invited to the next phase . Phase Two is a weeklong battery of evaluations , ranging from physical fitness and leadership to emotional intelligence and personality indicators . At the end of Phase Two , typically 2 – 4 applicants are selected to begin the year - plus Special Tactics training pipeline . Aircraft . Current . AFSOC operates the following aircraft as part of its regular inventory : Additionally , AFSOC units possess and operate a small number of the following aircraft for special training mission : Future . New MC - 130J aircraft based on the Lockheed Martin KC - 130J Super Hercules tanker variant will be acquired .