1 SOAOS activates at Hurlburt Field

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jeff Parkinson
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 1st Special Operations Air Operations Squadron stood up during a squadron activation ceremony at the Soundside Club here Nov. 1.

The 1st SOAOS mission is to integrate 1st Special Operations Wing assets into Special Operations Forces training events, support U.S. Special Operations Command-direct missions, and execute tactical-level command and control of all U.S aircraft and deploying 1st SOW aircraft.

Col. William West, 1st SOW commander, presided over the ceremony.

"The Air Force has five core missions; Air and Space Superiority, Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance, Rapid Global Mobility, Global Strike and Command and Control," West said. "Our major command has eight core missions, and the five of those we focus on in the 1st SOW nests perfectly with the [AF] five core missions.

"Both have command and control as a core mission, so obviously it's pretty important," he continued. "However, unlike all the other core missions, command and control is the only one we don't organize, train and equip for."

Following the speech, West passed the 1st SOAOS guide on to Lt. Col. Phil Forbes, 1st SOAOS commander.

"I want to thank everybody for being here for such a great moment for the 1st SOW, it's a long time in the making," Forbes said. "I want to thank you for this special trust you have put in me."

After the ceremony ended, all attendees proceeded to the lobby to congratulate Forbes on his new position.