A Vision for Air Force Special Operations Mq-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations

Currently, all USAF MQ-1 Predator assets are assigned to the CENTCOM AOR and tasked by the CFACC. Under this arrangement, "there are not enough Predators available to the CFACC to fulfill all SOF requirementsand the quality of the support has been hindered by the Predator operators lack of familiarity with SOF operations".4 This "lack of familiarity with SOF operations" is a direct result of a lack of joint training with SOF ground forces and a lack of actual SOF airmindedness by the ACC pilots. In response to this, USSOCOM began fielding its own MQ-1 capabilities under AFSOC in 2005 in order to ensure that SOF has complete operational control (OPCON) of its own Predator force, and the pilots flying the missions have the requisite SOF training and experience that is necessary to conduct the complex suite of missions that must be executed in order to find, fix, finish high value targets. This includes understanding the common tactics, techniques, and procedures used by other SOF air and ground forces during SOF operations.