HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —
The 492d Particular Operations Group commander, Colonel Chris Lang, officiated a ceremony inactivating the sixth Particular Operations Squadron at Duke Area, Florida, on Oct. 6, 2022. The ceremony furling the squadron’s flag honored an extended historical past paving the best way for a brand new mission at Cannon Air Drive Base, New Mexico, as Air Drive Particular Operations Command transitions to the drive wanted for the longer term.
“I’m very pleased with the women and men of the sixth SOS,” says Col. Lang. “It’s actually been an honor to serve alongside the Fight Aviation Advisors and have fun every thing they’ve completed.”
The sixth SOS historical past traces its origins to the Fighter Part of the first Air Commando Group in World Struggle II. The route of Basic Henry H. “Hap” Arnold led to creation of a particular unit to help British commandos referred to as the “Chindits” in Burma in 1944.
The unit noticed a number of title modifications, strikes, and disbanded in 1948, to be purchased again throughout the Vietnam Struggle in April 1962. The unit skilled in counterinsurgency and unconventional warfare whereas deploying to Vietnam and Central and South America to advise companion nations preventing in opposition to communist insurgencies. The unit closed its doorways once more in 1974 however ultimately reactivated April 1 and redesignated because the sixth SOS on Oct. 1, 1994.
“Right now we’re right here to have fun the legacy and affect of the sixth SOS had over years, particularly during the last 30 years,” stated Lt. Col. Sean Williams, sixth SOS commander. “The unit had a major affect around the globe as one of many only a few items to execute this mission. Right now just isn’t a end line, it’s not the tip of a mission set, it’s a milestone.”
U.S. Particular Operations Command recognized Aviation Overseas Inside Protection (AvFID) as a part of its supported principal actions in 1990. The sixth SOS turned the one Air Drive squadron devoted to that mission with Fight Aviation Advisors. Since then, CAAs carried out particular operations actions by, with, and thru overseas allies and to hold out AvFID and Safety Drive Help actions. These extremely skilled Air Commandos deploy in muti-functional groups as detachments to evaluate, practice, advise, help, and combine overseas aviation forces, strengthening relationships and capabilities with allies around the globe.
AFSOC CAAs have offered sturdy, episodic strategic engagements in help of our nation’s safety goals deploying to greater than 45 companion nations and interesting on greater than 40 various kinds of plane to hold out their mission. CAAs supported operations in a number of theater instructions across the globe and contributed to fight operations after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror assaults.
“Airmen of the sixth SOS carried on a legacy deploying to companion nations around the globe,” stated Colonel Caleb Nimmo, 492d Particular Operations Wing commander. “Their accomplishments honor people who got here earlier than them and set the usual for future Air Commandos.”
Simply over 900 airmen of the sixth SOS earned the title of CAA during the last 30 years. They have been approved put on of a special-colored beret signifying the distinctive expertise CAAs possess to others all through the army. On January 6, 2018, Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, then AFSOC commander, offered members of the 6th SOS with the brown beret to tell apart their distinct mission. The brown shade represents a CAA’s potential to see fertile soil the place others see barren land. With the transition of the sixth SOS and AFSOC’s air advising capabilities to satisfy future necessities, CAAs will not bear the brown beret.
“We’re extremely grateful for the capabilities our CAAs dropped at the combat all through the years,” stated Colonel Jocelyn Schermerhorn, AFSOC Director of Operations. “Our CAAs leveraged distinctive expertise and coaching to construct crucial partnerships across the globe. As we transition to the AFSOC We Will Want, our future Air Advisors shall be a vital a part of our Theater Engagement Assemble, persevering with the legacy of our CAAs, whereas enabling combatant commanders sooner or later combat.”
The Air Commandos of the sixth SOS properly and faithfully fulfilled their mission of bringing data, coaching, and expertise to satisfy the wants of the warfighter and companion nations in a way that’s consistent with the squadron’s legacy of service.
