AFSOC: The Air Force's Newest Command

Abstract

Abstract : On 22 May 1990, the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) was established at Hurlburt Field, Florida, thus climaxing air power participation in special operations and unconventional warfare dating back to 1916 and the US government's campaign against Pancho Villa. Tracing the lineage of our modern day Air Force Special Operations Force (AFSOF), the author takes an in-depth look at the Air Commandos of the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II, concentrating on the varied types of operations conducted and on the personalities of the men who conducted them. A look at the total decimation of SOF following World War II and a review of the Vietnam era air commando expansion beginning in 1961 is then provided. The boom-or-bust cycle is again traced from SOF's peak in 1966 through its decline until 1980 and the Iran rescue attempt. Lessons learned from Desert One, as shown in the Holloway Commission Report findings, form the basis of the author's review of both Congressional and Service actions which led to the formation of the US Special Operations Command in 1987. Current AFSOC structure is presented, and conclusions and recommendations regarding the newest Air Force command are provided.