By Lt. Gen. Paul V. Hester
Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command

As you have heard, the Air Force recently announced that the Air Force Combat Search and Rescue assets of Air Combat Command are to be realigned under Air Force Special Operations Command, Oct. 1 of this year.

We are looking forward to bringing together these two highly trained communities. Together, the Air Force rescue team alongside the Air Force Special Operators will train to bring our formidable forces to the fight. And although the Air Force rescue mission will continue to remain separate from the Special Operations mission, this reorganization will most certainly have a long-term positive impact on the career and training opportunities of the rescue community along with Air Force Special Operators.

For Pacific and European rescue units we also extend a welcome. AFSOC will be the Lead Command for Air Force wide CSAR issues and as such will be ready to champion all Air Force rescue issues from personnel policies to new equipment. There is much to be done over the summer before the transfer. That effort with our Active, Guard and Reserve friends has begun and your personal input will be key to our success.

In the past two years our communities have been heavily engaged in military activities in the Middle East and around the world. Your work has been extremely vigorous. It has also been vital and very visible to other combat forces and the public. I look forward to the synergy we will gain from joining these two very professional communities in one Air Force MAJCOM.