AFSOC planning combined training center

[unhappycamper]

AFSOC planning combined training center
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 29, 2007 19:02:01 EDT

Air Force Special Operations Command is moving forward on plans to combine nearly all its training into one center at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

AFSOC Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Donald Wurster – who will take over as commander on Jan. 1 – approved the concept for a new training center in early October, and a planning group is now fleshing out the idea, said Maj. Scott Vaughn, AFSOC’s chief of fixed-wing programs.

The purpose of the center, Vaughn said, is to remove training functions from operational squadrons so training will be better coordinated across the command and so operational commanders can focus solely on operations rather than training.

The first training programs at the new center is slated to be for AC-130 gunships, the U-28 aircraft, aviation foreign internal defense and advanced skills training for battlefield airmen such as combat controllers, pararescuemen and battlefield weather airmen.

The training center, which Vaughn said will comprise a few squadrons, will report directly to AFSOC headquarters, and is set to stand up by Oct. 1, 2008.

Vaughn said the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., will retain its role in training crews for UH-1N Huey and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, some C-130 variants and the CV-22 Osprey.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/10/airforce_AFSOC_training_071029/



uhc comment: The U-28 only costs about $20,000,000.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/u-28.htm