Established in May of 1996, the 19th Special Operations Squadron, located at Hurlburt Field, FL, is the primary Formal Training Unit for Air Force Special Operations Command. The 19th SOS is responsible for providing initial mission qualification, instructor upgrade, and refresher training for multi-airframe Direct Support Operators (DSO) and in SOF aviation platforms including the AC-130J, MC-130H, U-28A.
Vision
Build the gold standard of training...for today and tomorrow.
Mission
Develop professional, disciplined Air Commandos able to deliver specialized airpower...any time, any place.
Priorities
Execute Career Flight Training: This is the 19th SOS’s core-competency and the reason the squadron exists. Providing high-quality and agile training to generate Air Commandos that are “brilliant at the basics” has been the cornerstone of AFSOC operational readiness for years.
Build the Gold Standard of Training: The 19th SOS has a long history of stellar performance. The Gold Standard is defined as an FTU that thoughtfully manages its resources, is relevant and innovative, and one that graduates professional, disciplined Airmen and Air Commandos. This also means bringing the PFT into the 21st century with new courseware, videos, instructional standards, and training devices like virtual reality, and part task trainers.
Deliberate Development of People: The 19th SOS believes that the primary weapon system it produces are both its students and instructors. The unit aims to ensure students are both technically proficient and grown as Airmen and Air Commandos. Likewise, the 19th SOS aims to deliberately develop instructors and ensure they stay ready, relevant, and resilient.
Personnel and Resources:
The 19th SOS has more than 160 active duty, reservist, civil servant and contract employees that serve to instruct and support the mission, vision, and priorities of the squadron.
Organization:
The 19th SOS is comprised of sections charged with the execution of Career Flying Training within their airframe. Section commanders for ISR (U-28A), Strike (AC-130J), and Mobility (MC-130H) are entrusted with command responsibility and realization of the squadron’s mission, vision, and priorities for all instructors and students in their respective pipelines.
The 19th SOS operates under the Total Force Integration (TFI) concept as strengths of the active duty Air Force, the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Department of Defense civilians and contract personnel form an integrated training and education team. The following units operate under the TFI concept with the 19th SOS:
- 5th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
- 492nd Special Operations Training Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
Point of Contact:
19th SOS Command Section | 589 Independence Rd, Hurlburt Field Fla. 32544
850-881-2285 | DSN 641-2285 | 19SOS.ExecutiveOfficers@us.af.mil
Current as of 30 Apr 2021