Air Commando SERE

Master Sgt. John Matye (left) and Airman 1st Class Michael Mendes (right), both members of the 17th Special Operations Squadron, find the coordinates on a global positioning system to pinpoint the correct direction to travel during an exercise at Kadena Air Base’s Area 1 July 1. Every three years aircrew members must undergo a refresher course of Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Amanda Grabiec)

Combat controller named best in AFSOC

ON PATROL IN AFGHANISTAN -- Staff Sgt. Jeremy King poses for a photo during a patrol while deployed here. The sergeant deployed as a combat controller attached to a U.S. Army Special Forces team. He is assigned to the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and was named Air Force Special Operations Command's Combat Control Airman of the Year for 2009. (Courtesy photo)

Kadena Airmen awarded medals for courage

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, 18th Wing commander, pins the Air Force Commendation Medal on Staff Sgt. Abraham Forehand, a combat controller with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, during a ceremony here April 26. Sergeant Forehand and Staff Sgt. Aaron Sanders, from the 31st Rescue Squadron, received the Air Force Commendation Medal for pulling a man pinned under an automobile after an off-base accident March 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jarvie Wallace)

Kadena's Air Commandos, aircraft return from historic deployment

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Cory Slater, from the 353rd Maintenance Squadron, kisses his wife Anda at a welcome home ceremony here April 25 after returning from a four-month deployment supporting combat operations in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

AFCMs for heroism

Staff Sgt. Aaron Sanders shakes hands with Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, 18th Wing commander, after receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal for an act of courage April 26. Sergeant Sanders and Staff Sgt. Abraham Forehand (right), from the 353rd Special Operations Group, both received medals for pulling a man pinned under an automobile after an off-base accident March 3. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Jarvie Wallace)

Combat controller awarded three medals for heroism

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Jeremy King (right), a combat controller with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, salutes Col. Robert Toth, the 353rd Special Operations Group commander, after receiving the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Force Combat Action medals during a ceremony here April 16. Sergeant King earned the medals while deployed supporting operations in Afghanistan. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air commandos hone skills during mass casualty scenario

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Airmen from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron discuss casualty information during a mass casualty exercise here March 27. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air commandos hone skills during mass casualty scenario

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Senior Airman Cody Cerny, a pararescueman from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, prepares intravenous fluids for a patient during a mass casualty exercise here March 27. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air commandos hone skills during mass casualty scenario

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Senior Airman David Craig, a pararescueman from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, lifts a simulated wounded soldier to take him to the casualty collection point during a mass casualty exercise here March 27. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air commandos hone skills during mass casualty scenario

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Senior Airman Cody Cerny, a pararescueman from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, prepares to insert a tube into the neck of a simulated wounded soldier to open an airway during a mass casualty exercise here March 27. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air commandos hone skills during mass casualty scenario

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Pararescuemen and a combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron approach a simulated wounded soldier during a mass casualty exercise here March 27. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

STS Airmen conduct CSAR training

NEAR AN’GANG, Republic of Korea -- A pararescueman from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and a simulated wounded aircrew member are hoisted into a UH-60 Blackhawk from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade from U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys during a combat search and rescue exercise here March 26. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

STS Airmen conduct CSAR training

NEAR AN’GANG, Republic of Korea -- Senior Airman David Craig verifies the identity of two simulated aircrew members as Senior Airman Cody Cerny provides cover during a combat search and rescue exercise here March 26.The pararescuemen from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron had to locate and treat two simulated wounded aircrew members before calling for evacuation during the scenario. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

STS Airmen conduct CSAR training

NEAR AN’GANG, Republic of Korea -- Pararescuemen and a combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron approach simulated wounded aircrew members during a combat search and rescue exercise here March 26. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

STS Airmen conduct CSAR training

NEAR AN’GANG, Republic of Korea -- Pararescuemen and a combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron parachute from a MC-130P Combat Shadow during a combat search and rescue exercise here March 26. The pararescuemen had to locate and treat two simulated wounded aircrew members before calling for evacuation during the scenario. The scenario is part of the 353rd Special Operations Group’s annual operational readiness exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air Commandos train for readiness exercise

DAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- From left: Tech. Sgt. Brandon Tschippert, Capt. Erik Ruiz and Tech. Sgt. Michael Steele, all 353rd Operations Support Squadron security forces members, ensure their gear is properly marked here March 19. The training is in preparation for the group's annual operational readiness exercise which affords unit members an opportunity to practice wartime skills necessary for their ability to survive and operate in any environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

SOG Airmen support training in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Kingdom of Cambodia -- Maintainers from the 353rd Maintenance Squadron annotate the findings after preflight inspections on two MC-130P Combat Shadows here Feb. 24. Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group deployed here Feb. 21-24 to support a training exercise between U.S. Army Special Forces and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces National Counter-Terrorism Special Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

SOG Airmen support training in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Kingdom of Cambodia -- Maintainers from the 353rd Maintenance Squadron perform preflight inspections two MC-130P Combat Shadows here Feb. 24. Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group deployed here Feb. 21-24 to support a training exercise between U.S. Army Special Forces and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces National Counter-Terrorism Special Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

SOG SNCOs selcted for promotion to E-8

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Master Sgt. Michael Frazier (center) poses for a photo with Col. John Glaze (right), the 353rd Special Operations Group deputy commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Vicki Gamble, the 353rd SOG command chief master sergeant, after being selected for promotion to senior master sergeant here March 5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

SOG SNCOs selcted for promotion to E-8

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Master Sgt. Erik Thompson (center) poses for a photo with Col. John Glaze (right), the 353rd Special Operations Group deputy commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Vicki Gamble, the 353rd SOG command chief master sergeant, after being selected for promotion to senior master sergeant here March 5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air Commandos honor fallen comrades with memorial flight

NEAR CAPONES ISLAND, Philippines -- Staff Sgt. Jim Kosnosky (left) and Tech. Sgt. Aaron Kay, 1st Special Operations Squadron loadmasters, release a memorial wreath out the back of a MC-130H Combat Talon II Feb. 26 to honor fallen brethren that were lost 28 years ago when a 1st SOS MC-130E, call sign STRAY 59, crashed during an exercise killing eight crew members and 15 passengers. The crew of GOOSE 99 flew from Kadena Air Base to reach the exact coordinates of the crash site to release the ceremonial wreath. The memorial flight has been flown every year since the tragic accident in 1981. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Air Commandos honor fallen comrades with memorial flight

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The crew of GOOSE 99 poses for a photo with the memorial wreath on the back of a 1st Special Operations Squadron MC-130H Combat Talon II here Feb. 26 before flying a memorial flight to honor fallen brethren that were lost 28 years ago when a 1st SOS MC-130E, call sign STRAY 59, crashed during an exercise killing eight crew members and 15 passengers. The crew of GOOSE 99 flew from here to reach the exact coordinates of the crash site to release the ceremonial wreath. The memorial flight has been flown every year since the tragic accident in 1981. The crew members of GOOSE 99 are (from left to right): Back row: Back row: Capt. Pedro Ovalle, Capt. Sid Kennedy, Capt. Jason Gossett, Capt. Buck Hodgkinson, Master Sgt. Erik Thompson. Tech Sgt. Matthew Micks, and Tech. Sgt. Dae Kyung Kwon. Front row: Tech. Sgt. Aaron Kay and Staff Sgt. Jim Kosnosky. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Japanese officials visit 353rd SOG

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Salvatore Portelli, a pararescueman with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, discusses how pararescuemen would rescue an unconscious person that needed to be airlifted out of an area to civilians and officers from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies here Feb. 17. The officers and civilians visited the 353rd Special Operations Group as part of a bilateral exchange program between the United States and Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Deployed SOF members save critically injured patients

The members of the 17th Special Operations Squadron crew that rescued three critically injured coalition members pose for a photo in the back of a MC-130P Combat Shadow before a mission. The MC-130P crew for the rescue mission are from left to right: (standing) Master Sgt. Brian Smith, Master Sgt. Don Fannin, 1st Lt. Jedadiah Koval, Senior Airman Neil Hampton, , Staff Sgt. Tim Sammis, Capt. Casey Moores, (kneeling) Capt. Adam Asleson and Capt. Luke Deckard.