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6th Special Operations Squadron

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Unit Profile

The 6th Special Operations Squadron is a combat aviation advisory unit reactivated in 1994 to serve the combatant commanders' advisory needs throughout the range of military operations--from military operations other than war (MOOTW) to major regional conflict. The mission of the 6th Special Operations Squadron (6 SOS) is to advise and train foreign aviation forces to employ and sustain their own assets and, when necessary, to integrate those assets into joint, multi-national operations.
   The principal context for employing 6 SOS forces is foreign internal defense (FID). The training and advisory skills acquired in preparing for FID also enable 6 SOS to engage in coalition support. A principal mission objective is facilitating the availability, safety, and interoperability of participating foreign aviation resources supporting combined operations. The AFID role is to advise foreign aviation forces on the use of airpower to deal with the internal threats of subversion, lawlessness and insurgency. In this role, combat aviation advisors primarily focus on hands-on, adaptive training and advisory support geared to practical airpower applications.
   Coalition support focuses on such tasks as integrating foreign aviation into the air campaign and the Air Tasking Order, promoting safety and interoperability, facilitating airspace deconfliction, and upgrading host-nation aviation capabilities.
   The squadron executes its mission through theater-oriented Operational Aviation Detachments "A" and "B." (OAD-A/B). The thirteen-person OAD-A functions as the tactical training/advisory team. The OAD-B provides C3, logistics, administrative, and medical support to multiple OAD-A teams deployed in the field. Personnel assigned to the 6th SOS are all required to complete a demanding training and education curriculum intended to produce foreign language proficient, regionally-oriented, politically and culturally sensitive aviation experts. The curriculum also provides indoctrination in survival, risk management, and safety procedures.
   6 SOS training and advisory capabilities include a variety of aviation roles and missions but primarily focus on fixed and rotary-wing airlift. Assistance in the operational arena includes airpower applications, tactical employment, and mission planning. Assistance in the aviation support arena includes aviation maintenance; supply; munitions; ground safety; life support; survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (S.E.R.E.); air base defense; command, control and communications (C3[k1][k2][k3]); and other functions supporting combat air operations. 6 SOS teams also assist CINCs and subordinate commands in operational-level planning and joint/combined force integration in fixed and rotary-wing operations. Assistance to the theater combatant commands includes assessments of foreign aviation capabilities, liaison with foreign aviation forces, and assistance in theater air campaign planning for combined operations. The squadron also performs safety and interoperability assessments of foreign aviation capabilities prior to initiating joint-combined operations and exercises. Once the foreign aviation unit has achieved satisfactory levels of proficiency and safety, the 6th SOS, in its coalition support role, can serve as a force multiplier by fielding advisory teams to draw foreign units into joint-combined operations. The 6th SOS was originally constituted as the 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando) Sept. 22, 1944, as part of the 1st Air Commando Group flying the P-47D Thunderbolt and operating out of Asansol, Fenny and Cox's Bazaar, India. In May 1945, the unit converted to the P-51 Mustang and returned home for deactivation in November 1945.
   The unit was reconstituted at Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 27, 1962, and assigned to the 1st Air Commando Group, flying the B/RB-26, U-10, T-28, and by early 1963, the A-1E (call sign HOBO). The unit's mission was to train in counterinsurgency and unconventional warfare and demonstrate those tactics both within the U.S. and abroad. Squadron personnel served as advisors to Vietnamese Air Force personnel at Bien Hoa. During the same period, at Howard Air Force Base, Panama, they trained Central and South American airmen in COIN techniques. All aircraft were reassigned in July 1963 except the T-28, and many personnel moved to form the cadres for new special operations units. By March 1964, the squadron increased manning sufficiently to deploy to Udorn Air Base, Thailand, to train air and ground crews in COIN operations.
   The unit moved with the 1st Air Commando Wing to England Air Force Base, La., in January 1966 and continued the same type of operations as previously performed at Hurlburt Field (to include the return of the A-1E aircraft). By December 1967, the last of the T-28s were transferred, and the unit started receiving A-1G, H and J aircraft. The unit deployed to Pleiku Air Base, Vietnam, in February 1968 and was reassigned to the 14th Air Commando Wing. The unit was reassigned to the 633rd Special Operations Wing July 15, 1968 and was redesignated the 6th Special Operations Squadron. The unit flew combat missions, including air support for ground forces, air cover for transports, day and night interdiction, search and rescue support, armed reconnaissance and forward air control. The unit was inactivated Nov. 15, 1969.
   The unit was reactivated again Jan. 6, 1970, at England AFB, La., with the mission of replacement training of U.S. Air Force pilots in A-37B aircraft. The unit was redesignated as the 6th Special Operations Training Squadron Aug. 31, 1972. The unit was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field July 31, 1973, and was reassigned to the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing Jan. 1, 1974. The squadron was inactivated Sept. 15, 1974. The Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, which created the U.S. Special Operations Command, identified foreign internal defense as one of the principal missions of special operations forces. Subsequently, in 1990, the Commander-In-Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command, validated and strongly supported the establishment of a dedicated Air Force Special Operations Command aviation-FID organiza-tion.
   In the spring of 1991, a FID office was created in the Plans and Programs Directorate of Headquarters AFSOC, and an aviation-FID concept of operations study was published. In July 1992, the organization conducted a "proof-of-concept" deployment to Ecuador with the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group. The success of the deployment led to a Commander-In-Chief, USSOCOM request for an early unit stand-up. In August 1993, the organization became Detachment 7, Special Operations Combat Operations Staff. In March 1994, the first major aviation-FID deployment was conducted in Ecuador. In April 1994, the organization was renamed the 6th Special Operations Flight and was realigned under the 16th Operations Group of the 16th Special Operations Wing.
   The unit was upgraded to squadron status Oct. 1, 1994 to reflect its growth in mission and personnel. The squadron received its first two aircraft, UH-1N Hueys, October 11, 1996 and marked its first flight in 27 years on 20 Dec. 1996. Over the past 2 years, the 6th SOS has deployed detachments more than 30 times with recent or planned deployments to Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar.
   Whether serving in the Middle East, the Pacific, Central or South America, the 6th SOS stands ready to respond on short notice wherever tasked worldwide. Meanwhile, it continues to hone its combat advisory skills and exercise bilaterally with foreign friends and allies.

Future

The 6th Special Operations Squadron continues to grow to meet the challenges of a changing world. The squadron gained 13 additional slots in FY97, 17 more for FY98, and may gain even more in the coming years. Job openings include transport instructor pilots, instructor flight engineers, instructor loadmasters, helicopter instructor pilots, and instructor aerial gunners, as well as several other Air Force specialties. NVG experience, Arabic, Korean, or Spanish language ability are an added plus. The squadron continually seeks qualified U.S. Air Force active duty applicants to fill current and projected openings in all AFSC's.

Due to extensive training requirements, most positions are four year controlled assignments.

Because of the nature of the mission, interested candidates must submit an application. Application requirements may be obtained by contacting the unit. Future job openings will be announced via Equal-plus and Daedulus assignment availability systems.

Contact 16^th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs for more information, or write to the following address: 6th Special Operations Squadron

427 Cody Ave
Hurlburt Field, FL 32544-5434

(Current as of September 1998)

History

The 6 SOS was originally constituted as the 6th Fighter Squadron (Commando) on September 22, 1944 as part of the 1st Air Commando Group flying the P-47D Thunderbolt and operating out of Asansol, Fenny, and Cox's Bazaar, India. In May 1945, the unit converted to the P-51 Mustang and returned home for deactivation in November 1945.

On April 27, 1962, the unit was reconstituted at Hurlburt Field, Florida, and assigned to the 1st Air Commando Group, flying the B/RB-26, U-10, T-28 and by early 1963, the A-1E (callsign HOBO). The unit's mission was to train in counterinsurgency (COIN) and unconventional warfare and demonstrate those tactics both within the U.S. and abroad. Squadron personnel served as advisors to Vietnamese Air Force personnel at Bien Hoa. During the same period, at Howard AFB, Panama, they trained Central and South American airmen in COIN techniques.

In July 1963, all aircraft were reassigned except the T-28, and many personnel moved to form the cadres for new special operations units. By March 1964, the squadron increased manning to deploy to Udorn AB, Thailand, to train air and ground crews in COIN operations.

In January 1966, the unit moved with the 1st Air Commando Wing to England AFB, Louisiana, and continued the same type of operations as previously performed at Hurlburt Field. By December 1967, the last of the T-28s were transferred, and the unit started receiving A-1G, H, and J aircraft.

In February 1968, the unit deployed to Pleiku AB, Vietnam, and was reassigned to the 14th Air Commando Wing. On 15 July 1968, the unit was reassigned to the 633d Special Operations Wing and was redesignated the 6th Special Operations Squadron. The unit flew combat missions which included air support for ground forces, air cover for transports, day and night interdiction, search and rescue support, armed reconnaissance, and forward air control. The unit was again inactivated, on 15 November 1969, at Pleiku AB, Vietnam.

On January 6, 1970, the unit was reactivated at England AFB, Louisiana, with the mission of replacement training of USAF pilots in A-37B aircraft. On August 31, 1972, the unit was then redisignated as the 6th Special Operations Training Squadron. On July 31, 1973, the unit was assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, and on January 1, 1974, it was reassigned to the 23d Tactical Fighter Wing. It was again inactivated on September 15, 1974.

The Goldwater-Nichols Act, 1986, which created the U.S. Special Operations Command, identified foreign internal defense (FID) as one of the principal missions of special operations forces. Subsequently, in 1990, the Commander-In-Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), validated and strongly supported the establishment of a dedicated Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aviation-FID organization.

In the spring of 1991, a FID office was created in the Plans and Programs Directorate of Air Force Special Operations Command Headquarters, and an aviation-FID concept of operations study was published. In July 1992, the organization conducted a "proof-of-concept" deployment to Ecuador with the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group. The success of the deployment led to a Commander-In-Chief, USSOCOM request for an early unit stand-up. In August 1993, Detachment 7, Special Operations Combat Operations Staff came into being. In March 1994, the first major aviation-FID deployment was conducted in Ecuador. In April 1994, the organization was renamed the 6th Special Operations Flight and realigned under the 16th Operations Group of the 16th Special Operations Wing. Since then, the 6 SOS has expanded operations to include the Pacific, European, and Middle Eastern theaters.

On October 1, 1994, the unit was upgraded to squadron status to reflect its growth in mission and personnel. The squadron received its first two aircraft, UH-1N Hueys, on October 11, 1996, and marked its first flight in 27 years on December 20, 1996. The unit is scheduled to receive additional aircraft, CASA 212 Aviocars, in November 1997 and early 1998.

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