Pentagon Orders Creation of New Air National Guard Special Tactics Squadron in Florida

The Pentagon has recently ordered the creation of a new special tactics squadron within the Air National Guard, marking a significant expansion of elite forces based near MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The initiative was announced by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth through a memorandum dated September 23, which mandates the establishment of this specialized unit from fiscal year 2027 onwards.

This new squadron will be one of only a few such units within the Air National Guard and is intended to bolster strategic capabilities at the heart of the nation's special operations command. The decision aims to enhance integration between active-duty elite units and the National Guard, thereby improving overall defense readiness against global adversaries.

The existing U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters are located at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, while Air Force Special Operations Command is situated much farther north in Hurlburt Field, Florida. The proximity of the new squadron to these strategic command centers underscores its importance for rapid response and coordination.

Funding for the initial activation of this unit will be sourced from the fiscal year 2027 budget, with subsequent budgets potentially covering additional operational costs including construction, equipment procurement, and manpower requirements.

Details regarding the specific mission profile and timeline for the establishment of this new squadron have not yet been disclosed by Air Force Special Operations Command officials. However, Lt. Col. Casey Osborne, a spokesperson for the command, expressed optimism about the potential benefits of expanding the special tactics community to enhance joint force lethality and readiness.

Special Tactics units typically comprise diverse career fields within the Air Force, including combat controllers, pararescuemen, special reconnaissance operators, and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) specialists. These airmen are trained for a wide range of missions, from providing air support in humanitarian operations to conducting complex combat tasks such as seizing airfields or executing life-saving evacuations.

Currently, most Air Force special tactics squadrons operate as active duty units across the United States and internationally, with two located overseas in England and Japan. The new Florida-based unit is expected to be the third dedicated Air National Guard squadron following those based in Portland, Oregon, and Louisville, Kentucky.