Tony Grist
WILL ROGERS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Okla. —
On Nov 15, 2024, the 17th Special Operations Squadron hosted a ceremony to publicly observe its alignment under the 492d Special Operations Wing and reassignment to become the formal training unit for Air Force Special Operations Command’s newest aircraft, the OA-1K.
“The ceremony is not just a formal event,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Patrick Wnetrzak, 492d Special Operations Wing commander. “It is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence, our unwavering commitment to our nation’s defense and the enduring legacy of those who have come before us.”
The OA-1K is a new multirole crewed aircraft with the first missionized variant expected to arrive in 2025. The propeller-driven aircraft, which is built on the Air Tractor 802U frame, will deliver close air support, precision strike, and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability in support of combating current and future threats.
“The OA-1K aircraft are truly awesome machines,” says Lt. Col. Jesse Ziegler, incoming 17th Special Operations Squadron commander. “These [block] zero models are not fully modified yet and serve as an initial training aircraft, until both air crew and aircraft reach operation status.”
In addition to WRANGB, the OA-1K will be stationed at Hurlburt Field, Cannon Air Force Base, and pending the results of an environmental impact statement, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. All training for the aircraft will take place here under the 17 SOS, which will be made up of both active duty and Air National Guard Airmen from the 137th Special Operations Wing.
“Once combined with the full mission equipment and the crews that these cadres will teach, the Special Operations community will have a capability we haven’t seen yet,” said Ziegler.
With the remission to the OA-1K, WRANGB is expected an increase of 150-200 permanent personnel and predicted to positively impact the local economy. The arrival of the OA-1K comes on the heels of the divestment of the MC-12 aircraft at WRANGB, which is expected to conclude in 2027.
Currently WRANGB has two AT-802U trainer aircraft being used to train initial cadre in a representative tail wheel aircraft in preparation for the OA-1K arrival. The 17 SOS will provide special mission qualification, combined systems refresher, as well as proficiency and currency training.
Prior to standing up at WRANGB, the 17 SOS was an AC-130J unit at Cannon Air Force Base. The squadron has a storied history of transformation and the squadron motto “no mission too demanding” is a testament of the unit’s resolute and innovative spirit, which continues as the OA-1K FTU. The squadron has had numerous operations including combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, combat in Southeast Asia, disaster relief missions in the Philippines, and other special operations missions as necessary starting in the 1990s, when AFSOC was activated.
By 492d Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
Read the full article here
