Mission

AFSOC is America's specialized air power. It provides Air Force special operations forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified commands. AFSOC's core tasks have been grouped into four mission areas:

Forward presence and engagement includes training, assisting and assessing foreign aviation organizations to integrate, employ, sustain and defend their resources during internal conflict, regional crisis or war. It also includes advising and assisting U.S. theater commanders to determine the capabilities of forces within the area of responsibility, including the interaction between civil and military organizations.

Information operations focuses on the information systems, command and control systems, perceptions, and decision-making cycles of adversaries while defending corresponding friendly elements. Information operations span the spectrum of peace through conflict and major theater warfare and are valued primarily for their indirect effect and ability to enhance the effectiveness of other operations.

Precision employment and strike includes precise and responsive support to special operations or conventional forces. PE/S surface elements and airborne platforms provide adverse weather weapons delivery and aerospace surface interface across the full spectrum of conflict. The ability to deploy globally and strike precisely from the air or ground provides force multiplication, minimizes collateral damage, allows the discriminate employment of asymmetric force and permits freedom of maneuver for supported forces. By the year 2027, this mission area will include nonlethal weapon systems and nondestructive attack against an adversary and its physical infrastructure.

Special operations forces mobility includes rapid, global airlift of personnel and equipment through hostile air space to conduct special operations. This mission area also includes specialized refueling operations of special operations forces assets and covert, clandestine or overt tasks.

Personnel and Resources

AFSOC has approximately 12,500 active-duty, Reserve, Guard and civilian personnel, 20 per cent of whom are stationed overseas. The command's three active-duty flying units epitomize the composite wing concept. They are composed of more than 100 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

AFSOC will replace much of its aging fleet with CV-22 Ospreys by the year 2010. The Osprey combines the speed and range of a turboprop aircraft with the vertical takeoff, landing and hover capabilities of a helicopter. AFSOC is scheduled to get the first four aircraft in 2003, and achieve initial operational capability with 12 aircraft in 2005.