It’s great to see an Air Force SERE Specialist passing his fieldcraft knowledge on to Scouts.
Archive for the ‘Air Force’ Category
USAF SERE Specialist Trains Boy Scouts in Japan
Sunday, June 30th, 2013Forces Focus – 27 SOW OPFOR
Thursday, June 27th, 2013
Both the 1st and 27th Special Operations Wings at Hurlburt Field, Florida and Cannon AFB, New Mexico respectively have Opposing Forces elements. These small units of volunteers are provisional in nature and are taken from the Wing’s hide and situated within the Special Operations Support Squadrons. The makeup of these elements is constantly changing due to the various AFSCs represented at any given time.
In addition to providing OPFOR for in-house unit training of the Wing’s various Squadrons and for Combat Survival Continuation Training, they also provide role players for various other exercises such as isolated personnel for search and rescue. Additionally, they may be used as surrogates for troops conducting alternate insertion and extraction methods from aircraft.
In a recent AF.mil article, William Baird 27th Special Operations Support Squadron OPFOR chief explained, “No day is ever typical. Some days we are operating all-terrain vehicles and employing explosives, weapons, ammunition and threat simulators; other days we are skillfully maneuvering high-powered watercraft on the lake.”
(All photos A1C Maynelinne De La Cruz)
This Is Why CCT Stopped Using All Terrain Cycles
Friday, June 21st, 2013
Those 3-wheeled ATCs were cool but they’d roll over, so CCT stopped using them. There’s even rumor that there was one used at Desert One. BTW, that’s a TACAN mounted on the back.
They tried out a few different solutions but eventually settled on the Quads we see today that are used by CCT and PJ alike for a variety of missions.
Jungle Jim
Thursday, June 6th, 2013Members of the US Air Force’s Air Commandos at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in the early 1960s.
The 4400th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) was established in April 1961 and nicknamed ‘Jungle Jim’. These Air Commandos were the precursor to Air Force Special Operations Command which wasn’t stood up as a MAJCOM until 1990. Although still authorized in AFI 36-2903 (Wear and Appearance of Uniforms) those jungle hats haven’t been worn at Hurlburt Field since the 1980s. As for the fingers on the triggers, that’s a relatively new innovation. If you don’t believe take a look at old military photos.
XM607 – Falklands Most Daring Raid (Warning: Vulcan Content)
Thursday, May 30th, 2013My father was a full time Air Guard maintenance troop and his Wing regularly went to RAF Waddington to work with No IX Squadron. From the first time I saw a Vulcan bomber it became one of my favorite airplanes. I grew up very much interested in the military and can still remember watching combat footage of the Falklands Crisis as the UK military retook the archipelago from the Argentines. One crucial operation was an audacious long range bombing mission to render Port Stanley’s runway inoperable.
The story of Operation Black Buck is fascinating and this video is well worth the time if you are interested in airpower, the Falklands conflict or Vulcan bombers.
Some People Work Better At Night
Monday, May 13th, 2013This video was created by the AFSOC Public Affairs Office. What do you think?
Great Article On Technology For The Battlefield Airman
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013CMSgt (Ret) Mickey Wright is a career USAF Combat Controller and an old friend. He is one hell of a guy and still works to bring the capabilities to our Air Force’s Battlefield Airmen through his job with Rally Point Management. Recently, a friend pointed out an article he wrote for the Winter 2011/12 issue of “Air Commando Journal” magazine entitled, “Technology at the Tip of the Spear” where he discusses modernization efforts as well as the Summer Camp process that works to spirally insert new technology into the Special Tactics kit bag. Click on the image to download.
Thanks to Black Diamond Advanced Technology for hosting the article.
Defensor Fortis Modular Helmet System
Monday, May 6th, 2013Air Force Security Forces…
Want an NVG Mount that actually stays put?
Want a RAIL System for helmet mounted lights, or helmet mounted cameras to document training or actual operations from Airman “Point of View” for AARs?
Want a better, adjustable, more comfortable helmet retention?
Want your goggles to stay put on your helmet?
Here’s your solution! It will completely modernize your existing ACH-style helmets.
You now have the ability to add these items/capability to your currently fielded MICH/ACH helmets. No need to buy new helmets. This system adapts to what you’ve already invested in. It includes an integrated helmet cover with rails and VAS shroud from Gentex/Ops-Core along with a Charge Pro MPLS light from Princeton Tec and a set of ESS Pivot Profile Goggles which are designed to work in concert with the Ops-Core ARC Rail. The whole kit and caboodle is topped off with the Team Wendy Cam-Fit Retention System with Boa Fit Constrictor for custom fit.
The Defensor Fortis Modular Helmet System is available through ADS Inc.
