SPECIAL UNITS
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Special units provide specialized
services in support of field and routine facility operations.
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Office
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There are a variety of special unit programs available to unit members. Special unit activities are directed toward their respective
areas of interest and all members of Recruit rank or higher may participate in these programs.
The list of authorized special units includes:
- Aerospace (ASU);
- Airborne (ABN);
- Armored Cavalry (ACAV);
- Aviation, Fixed-Wing (AFW);
- Aviation, Rotary-Wing (ARW);
- Canine (K9)
- Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD):
- Fire-Rescue (FIRE);
- Flight Security (FSU);
- Forensic Technology (FTU);
- Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
- Heavy Weapons (HW);
- Intelligence (SIU);
- Opposition Force (OPFOR);
- Protective Services (PSU);
- Reconnaisance (RECON);
- Special Boat (SBU);
- Tactical Medicine (TACMED); and,
- Underwater Operations (UOPS).
While some special unit activities may involve only members of those respective special units, many (such as our Annual Online Air Show sponsored by the Fixed-Wing Aviation Unit), are shared with the general membership and all who wish to do so may participate.
To view the Special Unit Image Gallery, please visit the link below:
AEROSPACE (ASP)
The Aerospace Special Unit
(ASU) provides aerospace services in support of field units and routine facility operations.
Aerospace units provide for the development, launch, deployment, maintenance, and recovery of space-based communications, surveillance, transportation, and defense/combat systems, as well as their related facilities.
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Image Credit:
Patrick Kelly, 191st SOC
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enlargement)
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AIRBORNE
(ABN)
The Airborne Special Unit
(ABN)
provides airborne (parachute) qualification training
and related field support services.
ABN units are capable of rapidly deploying supplies and personnel
into remote operational areas, particularly when speed of deployment and accessibility are of concern.
The Flash Force Parachute Demonstration Team ("Thunderbolts") is an important element of the Airborne special
unit.
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Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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ARMORED CAVALRY
(ACAV)
The Armored Cavalry Special Unit (ACAV) provides armored support
for all field operations.
ACAV assets frequently consist of lightly armored vehicles such as the "Armadillo" (also known by U.S. Army designation as the M-2 Bradley Infantry
Fighting Vehicle) and the armored M1025 Hummvee.
ACAV units provide fire support, perform armored transports and escorts (for the insertion or extraction of personnel in hostile areas), and conduct tactical rescues.
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Image Credit:
Patrick Kelly, 191st SOC
(Click image to see
enlargement)
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AVIATION, FIXED-WING
(AFW)
The Aviation,
Fixed-Wing Special Unit (AFW) provides fixed-wing
aviation services in support of field units and
routine
facility operations.
AFW assets include the MX-26 "Archer" (also known by U.S. Air Force designation as the F-22 "Raptor") and the Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV), also known as the "Hawk".
Fixed-Wing units provide aerial fire support, conduct surveillance and observation operations, and provide for the transportation of supplies and personnel. Fixed-Wing aircraft
also conduct patrol and escort operations.
The Flash Force Flight Demonstration Team ("Blue
Arrows") is an important element of the Aviation, Fixed-Wing Special
Unit.
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Image Credit:
A.T. Miller, 238th SOC
(Click image to see
enlargement)
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AVIATION, ROTARY-WING
(ARW)
The Aviation,
Rotary-Wing Special Unit (ARW) provides rotary-wing
(helicopter) aviation services in support of field
units
and routine facility operations.
ARW unit assets typically include the AH-6 "Little Bird" helicopter and other light rotary-wing aircraft.
Rotary-wing units provide for the aerial insertion, extraction, and transport of personnel and supplies in addition to conducting surveillance and observation missions. Rotary-wing aircraft also conduct fire-support, medical evacuation, search and rescue, patrol, and escort operations.
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Image Credit:
Jim Merzke, 210th SOC
(Click image to see
enlargement)
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CANINE
(K9)
The Canine Special Unit (K9)
provides
canine services in support of field units and routine
facility operations.
Canine and handler/observer teams perform in a variety of missions including those relating to patrol, explosives detection, arson investigation, drug detection, man-tracking, article recovery, search and rescue, and suspect apprehension.
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Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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EXPLOSIVES ORDNANCE DISPOSAL
(EOD)
The Explosives Ordnance Disposal Special Unit (EOD)
provides "bomb squad" services in support of field units and routine
facility operations.
EOD units conduct sweeps and searches for explosive devices; locate, deactivate, and dispose of booby-traps or explosive devices, and occasionally utilize explosives for breaching, hazard elimination, or training purposes.
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Image Credit:
Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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FIRE-RESCUE
(FIRE)
The Fire-Rescue Special Unit (FIRE) provides a wide variety of fire-rescue services for routine facility operations.
FIRE units routinely conduct facility safety inspections, provide emergency medical response, engage in fire suppression activities, and perform search and rescue operations. Fire-Rescue units also conduct confined space, swift-water, and high-angle rescues.
In situations
where Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) are involved, Fire-Rescue units also provide for the initial decontamination of victims at the scene.
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Image Credit:
Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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FLIGHT SECURITY
(FSU)
The Flight Security
Special Unit (FSU) provides flight security
services in support of routine facility and aviation transportation operations.
FSU units routinely conduct facility and transportation network inspections, perform security sweeps, and conduct patrols. They also engage in escort and plainclothed surveillance duties.
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Image Credit:
Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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FORENSIC TECHNOLOGY
(FTU)
The
Forensic Technology Special Unit (FTU) provides
forensic and scientific analysis services in support
of
field operations.
FTU units routinely engage in activities relating to the detection, preservation, collection, and analysis of forensic evidence. The FTU also investigates crimes or incidents involving high-technology systems and networks.
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Image Credit:
Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(HAZMAT)
The
Hazardous Materials Special Unit (HAZMAT) provides
hazardous materials management and disposal
services in support of field units and routine
facility operations.
HAZMAT units are responsible for the detection, tracking, identification, containment, and disposal of chemical, biological, radiological, or
nuclear agents (commonly referred to as "CBRN").
In situations
where Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or multiple victims are involved, HAZMAT units also provide for the rescue, recovery, and decontamination of victims and rescue personnel at the scene.
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Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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HEAVY WEAPONS
(HW)
The Heavy Weapons
Special Unit (HW) provides heavy weapons support
for field units and facilities.
HW units manage and deploy heavy
fire-support, anti-aircraft defense, and
anti-submarine defense systems and measures.
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Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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OPPOSITION FORCE
(OPFOR)
The Opposition Force Special Unit (OPFOR) provides specially trained "opposition" personnel in support of field units
and
routine ISOC operations.
Opposition
(OPFOR) units engage in operations for the surreptitious inspection, testing, and evaluation of facilities, personnel, and technological networks. They also conduct opposition missions in support of regular unit training.
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Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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RECONNAISANCE
(RECON)
In close cooperation with SIU and OPFOR elements, the Reconnaisance
Special Unit (RECON) provides reconnaisance services
in support of field units.
RECON units conduct Long-Range Reconnaisance Patrols (LRRPs), establish advance fire-support target identification teams, engage in unit security operations, and provide for the observation of opposition forces deep within hostile territory.
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Image Credit:
Jim Catero, 102nd SOC
(Click image to see
enlargement)
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SPECIAL BOAT
(SBU)
The Special Boat Unit (SBU)
provides waterborne services in support of field units
and routine facility operations.
Special Boat Units conduct waterborne insertions, extractions, and transports of supplies and personnel. They also conduct waterborne patrols, escorts, and search and rescue operations.
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Image Credit:
Rick Drake, 249th SOC
(Click image to see
enlargement)
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SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE
(SIU)
The Special Intelligence Special
Unit (SIU) provides intelligence, counter-intelligence
and surveillance services in support of field units
and
routine ISOC operations.
SIU units perform facility inspections and vulnerability assessments, conduct research, and
gather information relating to persons, places, or organizations of interest. They also conduct a variety of surveillance and undercover operations.
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Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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TACTICAL MEDICINE
(TACMED)
The Tactical
Medicine Special Unit (TACMED) provides tactical
medical services and training in support of field
units and
routine facility operations.
TACMED units are responsible for providing routine emergency medical response, conducting Search and Rescue operations, and managing tactical (combat) medical and multi-casualty incidents.
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Image Credit:
Jay Pearce, 285th SOC
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enlargement)
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UNDERWATER OPERATIONS
(UOPS)
The
Underwater Operations Special Unit (UOPS) provides
underwater services and training in support of field
units and routine facility operations.
UOPS units perform underwater patrols, provide for the submarine insertion or extraction of personnel or supplies, engage in underwater surveillance and detection missions, and perform salvage or recovery operations. They also provide assistance in underwater Search and Rescue operations.
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Image Credit:
Flash Force Public Affairs
Office
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enlargement)
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