The Air Force created a new way to pick its special operators

By SOFREP

The Air Force has created a new, single pathway to funnel candidates in its Special Warfare specialties.

Called the Special Warfare Operator Enlistment Vectoring (SWOE-V) program, the new pathway will pool all those who wish to join one of the Special Operations career fields of the Air Force (Pararescue, Combat Control, Special Reconnaissance, and Tactical Air Control Party).

The SWOE-V looks like it will be working as a draft. The cadre will be the ones to determine which specialty is assigned to each candidate based on their performance, preference, and — more importantly — the needs of the Air Force.

Now, when Special Warfare hopefuls go to a recruiter, they won’t be able to pick a specific Special Warfare career field but instead will have to pick up a Special Warfare Operator Enlistment (SWOE) contract.

“On initial entry into the Air Force, the 9T500 AFSC [the designation for the SWOE-V] will be the only path for new Airmen to pursue a career into the Combat Control, Pararescue, Tactical Air Control Party or Special Reconnaissance career fields,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Lopez, the chief of the special warfare division at Air Education and Training Command.

The Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) goal with the new pathway is to enable candidates to make better-informed decisions on which career field suits them best. Hitherto, candidates would join with an option on the contract to attempt the selection courses of their desired special operations job. But now they will have better information and mentorship on what each job entails and also the opportunity to change their choice.

“While assigned to their special warfare BMT [Basic Military Training] flights, candidates conduct additional physical training and continue their education about all things special warfare related including components, missions and specialties and the SWOE vectoring process,” added Lt. Col. Lopez.

During their time at the BMT, Special Warfare candidates will get the chance to participate in additional physical training and also enhance and further their education on the career field.

With this initiative, the Air Force is mimicking to a certain degree the Navy’s highly successful Division 800 program.

The Navy has pooled all Naval Special Warfare (Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen) and Special Operations (Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Divers, and Aviation Rescue Swimmers) candidates into a separate group in boot camp. The benefit of this approach is that like-minded recruits, who often turn to be classmates in the selection courses, get to “grow” together during their first weeks in the military.

There is, however, a downside, as well. This approach offers fertile ground for an “elitist” syndrome to grow, though this wouldn’t be an issue since the Air Force Special Operations community has been abiding by the “Quiet Professional” mantra like no other community.

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