HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —  

Air Force Special Operations Command continues to champion innovation with its third annual Thunder Dome Innovation Competition scheduled this fall. Beyond the competition, the program’s success is measured by the real-world impact of its funded projects.

Every year, the competition solicits project submissions from Airmen across the AFSOC enterprise that can positively benefit readiness. Once reviewed, senior leaders select the teams with the best proposals to present in front of a judging panel. The command awards the winners with funding to develop their concepts into tangible solutions.

As we prepare for the next Thunder Dome competition, here’s a look at the progress of past winners and their ongoing projects:

From Prototype to Production: The LaraCota Comm Cord Tester

Funded through the 2024 Thunder Dome competition, the LaraCota Comm Cord Tester introduced by a member of the 27th Special Operations Wing, progressed from prototype to mass production upon additional evaluation at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

K-RATH: A Collaborative Approach to Innovation

K-RATH, developed by the 492nd SOW, received an initial Thunder Dome award for prototype development. Further funding secured collaborations with Michigan Technological University students for engineering testing and product design by Nottingham Spirk, with support from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. The next stage for the project is further prototype development.

Enhancing Training Capabilities: The Electrical Training Board and Specialized Fueling Trainer

The 2025 Thunder Dome competition funded two projects focused on training. The 353rd SOW at Yokota Air Base received an investment to develop an Electrical Training Board, coordinating with Air Education and Training Command; while the 492nd SOW was awarded funding for a Specialized Fueling Trainer, currently under further prototype development with SOFWERX.

These featured innovations offer just a glimpse into the outcomes of the Thunder Dome competition. By empowering Air Commandos with funding, resources, and a platform to share ideas, AFSOC fosters a culture of continuous improvement with its annual Thunder Dome program.

Voting for the 2026 Thunder Dome Innovation Competition is now open and runs through September 26th. Select the best game-changing ideas to solve our toughest challenges, your vote will help determine the finalists.

Use this link to set up your DoD-Registered account and cast your three votes for the most impactful ideas. Every Air Commando voice matters!

Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —  

Air Force Special Operations Command tested its warfighting readiness during Emerald Warrior 25.2, the command’s premier operational exercise held across Arizona and California from July 21 – Aug. 11, 2025.

EW 25.2 was part of the first-in-a-generation Department Level Exercise series, incorporating more than 12,000 personnel and integrating various forces into joint, coalition, and multinational training. The DLE series advanced the way operations were achieved in a contested, dynamic environment to build capabilities and make a stronger, more lethal deterrent force.

“Emerald Warrior’s integration into the DLE series reinforced our critical role in preparing our forces for the scope and intensity of future operations,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, AFSOC commander. “This iteration provided the opportunity to test our capabilities within a larger strategic context. The training we completed during those three weeks demonstrated the exceptional full-spectrum readiness of our Air Commandos.”

Emerald Warrior provides the venue for realistic joint, combined special operations training to prepare U.S. Special Operations Command forces, conventional enablers, partner forces, and interagency elements to respond to various threats across the spectrum of conflict.

The exercise incorporated multi-domain training designed to give Air Commandos the opportunity to find innovative solutions to tactical problems and experiment with emerging capabilities.

“Our goal is to match the speed and scale of large, real-world operations where command and the areas of operation are distributed,” said Conley. “Creating these dilemmas is how our teams can best learn to adapt so they can excel in future combat environments and help set conditions for the joint force to win.”

Air Commandos completed a wide range of training scenarios that validated their ability to integrate aviation, special tactics, medical and mission sustainment functions. A key objective was executing Agile Combat Employment (ACE) to demonstrate a flexible aerial advantage.

“ACE has become a requisite ability to our operations and readiness,” said Brig. Gen. Clay Freeman, AFSOC director of operations. “We must be prepared to deploy rapidly and operate from austere environments with potentially limited resources. A contested venue does not change the need to generate airpower at any place, any time, anywhere.”

International collaboration was a key element of EW 25.2. The integration of partners in the Royal Air Force was highlighted by the RAF A400M Atlas facilitating transport and military free fall training for Special Tactics teams. Additionally, Czech Republic Special Operations Forces worked alongside special operations medical elements and surgical teams, honing collaborative abilities in humanitarian and disaster relief scenarios.

“Emerald Warrior strengthens our international relationships and interoperability”, said Freeman. “AFSOC is committed to fostering combined training opportunities with partners where we integrate our diverse skillsets and build shared capabilities to strengthen our collective security. For this iteration, we were grateful to grow our collective readiness with our RAF and Czech Republic partners.”

Along with international allies, Air Commandos trained with units from the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Army, among other interagency partners. This collaboration strengthened AFSOC’s capacity to deliver decisive effects in alignment with future force employment requirements.

EW 25.2 solidified AFSOC’s warfighting functions and underscored its commitment to adapting to succeed in today’s dynamic strategic environment.

Air Force Special Operations Command

DUKE FIELD, Fla. —  

While headlines often focus on major combat operations or high-visibility deployments, a quieter force is shaping the future of global security—Air Force Special Operations Command’s Special Operations Advisor Teams. Operating under the 492nd Special Operations Wing, these highly trained teams are experts in building partner capacity, fostering long-term relationships with regionally aligned partner nations within U.S. Southern Command, and amplifying power through security cooperation.

SOATs are composed of Air Commandos who combine tactical expertise with cultural understanding, language proficiency, and advisory skills. Their mission: to regionally synchronize, integrate, enable, and selectively employ Air Force Special Operations Forces capabilities in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility to further national priorities and outpace strategic competitors through unparalleled multi-domain support to the joint force.

“Our SOATs advise, assist, and enable partner forces in achieving their own security objectives—thereby contributing to regional stability and strengthening partnerships that endure across generations,” said the squadron commander.

Members recently demonstrated their capabilities during SOUTHERN STAR  ‘25, a multinational special operations exercise that took place across Chile from May 26 to June 8, 2025. The exercise brought together forces from six nations and 10 observer countries, totaling more than 2,700 participants. Their shared mission was to enhance interoperability and strengthen global special operations partnerships through joint training from Antofagasta to Punta Arenas . The SOATs participation helped synchronize air-to-ground integration and improve interoperability between U.S. and Chilean units, further reinforcing mutual readiness.

SOAT members must train regularly in tactical operations, communication protocols, physical fitness, and scenario-based exercises to assess readiness and ensure operational standards are met. To formally evaluate this proficiency, teams annually participate in a unit-led certification exercise designed to assess operational readiness, reinforce standards, and ensure all SOAT members meet mission-critical performance requirements.

“Our mission is to maintain the highest standards of training, proficiency, and operational precision within Special Operations Advisor Teams,” said the squadron operations officer. “This commitment ensures their capability to effectively advise, lead, and execute complex missions that advance national security objectives and uphold strategic interests in dynamic and challenging environments.” 

Beyond exercises, SOATs are on the front lines of generational partnership building; establishing trust and cooperation with foreign counterparts that span not just missions, but decades. This enduring engagement creates a network of allied capability that magnifies U.S. strategic reach while allowing partner nations to stand stronger on their own.

In a world of evolving threats and increasing geopolitical complexity, Special Operations Advisor Teams represent one of AFSOC’s most flexible and impactful tools. They are advisors, diplomats, and force multipliers setting the standard— El más dedicado gana. ..The most dedicated wins.

By TSgt Carly Feliciano, 492nd Special Operations Wing