question about special operations

[rjl2001]

I know USSOCOM includes parts of Army, Navy, and Air Force. My question is does one branch do the majority of flying as far as rotary wing aircraft? When doing joint operations and inserting/extracting special tactics groups which service is tasked to do the flying?

Also, for you Army aviators, is it difficult to get into the 160th SOAR? I think I've heard you have to have so much time in service and so many flight hours. Just been wondering about that.

 

[Hornetkid]

Army Airforce

As far as who flys more helos, its the Army by far followed by the Marines.
The Spec Ops stuff is done by Airforce and Army rotor/C-130 aviation.
Marine helos are tasked with their own Airborne assault stuff and the Navy does limited overland ops with helos (SAR and SEAL insert extracts)

Kid

 

[Goose17]

a little more info

Special Ops teams can be inserted by any transport/helo airframe available. That being said, the Air Force Special Ops (AFSOC) does a a good portion of this with:
MC-130H
MC-130E
MC-130P
MH-53
and CV-22 in the future.

The Army has the MH-60 and MH-47. Who takes them in depends on many factors like;
distance, threat, airdrop or airland, and decision makers' preference.

Hope that helps a bit.

Goose17