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Special Warfare Training Wing: Five years of advancing ground combat forces training
October 19, 2023 — Five years ago, the U.S. Air Force took a significant leap forward in combat preparedness by establishing the Special Warfare Training Wing, or SWTW, an evolution that addressed decades of training shortfalls and operational demands... MORE

Special Warfare Training Wing | What is Assessment & Selection?
August 28, 2023 — Air Force Special Warfare Guardian Angel and Special Tactics (GA/ST) operators, comprised of pararescuemen, combat controllers, special reconnaissance Airmen, special tactics officers and combat rescue officers, don’t just sign the dotted line and show up for work on the first day. To earn their beret, candidates must be selected into their career fields before continuing on to career-specific courses and training... MORE

Airmen in full gear and helmets lift heavy log up a sandy hill as a team

Remembering fallen Airmen through training
June 12, 2023 — Remembering fallen operators is an integral part of training within the Special Warfare Training Wing, a wing tasked with the critical mission of assessing, selecting and developing ground combat forces that specialize in global access, precision strike and personnel recovery, all crucial mission sets in the age of strategic competition... MORE

Special tactics operators conduct push ups to honor the fallen

Special Warfare Training Wing: Preparing for strategic competition
April 26, 2023 — We consistently talk about the future fight and preparing for strategic competition. This is by design, with the singular purpose of defending our nation against any who would test our resolve. The character of war is constantly changing, yet its fundamental nature remains the same. Special Warfare Airmen and operators must be prepared to face the harsh nature of war and be ready to master its new character... MORE

Coach demonstrates workout with weight over his head in front of group of students in the rain

Special Warfare candidates complete obstacle course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland
April 17, 2023 — Grit, bravery, and determination – some of the requirements of a special warfare candidate. Candidates recently maneuvered as teams through an obstacle course during the Special Warfare Training Wing Assessment & Selection Course at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland March 14-15, 2023... MORE

Five things you didn’t know about athletic trainers in the Special Warfare Training Wing
March 21, 2023 — Special Warfare candidates train to meet the high physical standards required of Air Force Special Warfare operators, which is why the Special Warfare Training Wing staff at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland includes a team of athletic trainers to diagnose and manage the injuries that occur within the wing’s rigorous training pipelines... MORE

Athletic Trainer watches as candidates complete a round of pull-ups outdoors

Special Warfare, Air Force Recruiting teams develop programs, scour nation to attract candidates
February 16, 2023 — The capabilities that Special Warfare graduates provide are as needed today as ever before. That reality is the reason program leaders are working hard to attract a group of candidates who are broad, diverse and committed... MORE

Special Warfare Training Wing trainees discuss a plan of action before a water confidence exercise.

Special Warfare Training Wing hosts Lightning Challenge 2022
November 8, 2022 — The Special Warfare Training Wing hosted Lightning Challenge 2022, an annual, service-level tactical air control party competition to identify the best TACP Airmen in the AF Nov. 3-4, 2022 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis... MORE

The winner of the best tactical air control party Airman of Lightning Challenge 2022, 1st Lt. Joseph Messare (center), 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, poses for a photo with Col. Nathan Colunga (left), Special Warfare Training Wing commander, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine (right), SWTW command chief (U.S. Air Force photo by Katherine Spessa).

First Air Force Combat Dive Course graduates to receive new Air Force combat diver badge upon graduation
October 24, 2022 — Graduates of the Air Force Combat Dive Course, Class 22-6, are the first to receive the new Air Force combat dive badge upon graduation Oct. 20. For Class 22-6, earning the Air Force Combat Dive Badge is the culmination of six weeks of rigorous work at the AFCDC but for members of the Special Warfare Training Wing who designed the new badge, this is the culmination of more than two years of work. ... MORE

Newly authorized Air Force Combat Dive Supervisor and Diver pins issued for the first time, Oct. 20.

Special Warfare Training Wing command team holds first all call
September 29, 2022 — U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Colunga, Special Warfare Training Wing commander, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine, SWTW command chief, held an SWTW all-call at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Sept. 27, 2022, where they outlined their expectations and priorities for the wing... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Colunga, Special Warfare Training Wing commander, addresses the audience at the SWTW all-call on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Sept. 27, 2022. At the all-call, the SWTW command team outlined its expectations and priorities for the wing.

Special Warfare Training Wing strengthens inclusion
September 14, 2022 — Modified facilities were built at the Special Warfare Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland to ensure appropriate levels of privacy for mixed-sex cohorts of trainees at the Special Warfare Candidate Course, the course of initial entry for those who want to become Air Force Special Warfare Airmen... MORE

Special Warfare Training Wing trainees perform flutter kicks at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Oct. 21, 2021. Modified mixed-sex facilities were built at the SWTW to ensure appropriate levels of privacy for mixed-sex cohorts of trainees and to bolster diversity, inclusion and integration.

Special Warfare Training Wing members collaborate with Colombian Special Air Commands delegation
July 27, 2022 — A delegation of Colombian Special Air Commands leaders visited the Special Warfare Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex for an immersion into the various Air Force Special Warfare pipelines July 25, 2022... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan Colunga (right), Special Warfare Training Wing commander, greets Columbian Air Force Brig. Gen. Frederico Bocanegra Bernal, chief of security and defense of base, at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas, July 25, 2022. Bocanegra and a delegation of Colombian Special Air Commands leaders visited the SWTW for an immersion into on the various Air Force Special Warfare career fields and pipelines.

Special Warfare Operational Medicine Squadron holds change of command
July 18, 2022 — Lt. Col. Gary D'Orazio took over the Special Warfare Operational Medicine Squadron commander during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas, July 15, 2022... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. George Buse (left), Special Warfare Human Performance Support Group commander and presiding officer, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Gary D'Orazio (right), incoming Special Warfare Operational Medicine Squadron commander, during the SWOMS change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas, July 15, 2022.

Special Warfare Training Wing physical medicine technician embeds with NASA
July 14, 2022 — From advancing force development of future Air Force Special Warfare Airmen to working with astronauts, life has been far from boring for the SWTW’s Staff Sgt. Emily Valdovinos. Valdovinos was hand-selected to assist the NASA Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehab Group to help develop personalized strength, conditioning, and rehabilitative plans for NASA astronauts with Crew-3 after they returned from the International Space Station for their 45-day reconditioning period. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Emily Valdovinos (right), Special Warfare Human Performance Squadron physical medicine technician, poses for a portrait with Col. Raja Chari (left), NASA astronaut, with a USAF flag that Chari brought aboard the International Space Station at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Jun. 16, 2022. Valdovinos was hand-selected by the NASA Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehab Group to help develop personalized strength, conditioning, mobility, and rehabilitative plans for NASA astronauts.

Special Warfare Training Wing welcomes new commander
July 12, 2022 — Col. Nathan Colunga assumed command of the Special Warfare Training Wing during a change of command ceremony at the Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex July 11... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michele Edmondson (left), 2nd Air Force commander and presiding officer, passes the guidon to Col. Nathan Colunga (middle), incoming Special Warfare Training Wing commander, during the SWTW change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas, July 11, 2022. At right is Col. Mason Dula, outgoing SWTW commander.

AETC’s chief learning officer visits SWTW, observes human performance training
April 22, 2022 — Dr. Wendy Walsh, Air Education and Training Command chief learning officer, visited the Special Warfare Training Wing for an immersion tour at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex April 4-5... MORE

Dr. Wendy Walsh (near center), Air Education and Training Command chief learning officer, and Dr. Brian Davis (third from right), Second Air Force chief training officer, observe the Special Warfare Training Wing Pre-Dive Course with Maj. Kevin Epstein (second from right), 350th Special Warfare Training Squadron commander, and Dr. Karal Garcia (far right), Special Warfare Training Group training advisor, at Chaparral Pool on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 5, 2022. Walsh and her team participated in an immersion tour of the SWTW to learn about how the SWTW builds Air Force Special Warfare Airmen and prepares them for combat.

Special Warfare Training Wing holds memorial rededication ceremony
April 20, 2022 — The Special Warfare Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex and echelon units hosted a 2 1/2 mile ruck April 8, followed by memorial pushups and the unveiling of refitted memorials for fallen Air Force Special Warfare Airmen Lt. Col. William Schroeder and Staff Sgt. Scott Sather in coordination with Gold Star families... MORE

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Todd Popovic, Special Warfare Training Wing command chief, leads participants in Memorial pushups during a rededication ceremony in honor of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Schroeder and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Scott Sather at the SWTW training compound Joint Base San Antonio, Chapman Training Annex, Apr. 8, 2022. The wing and echelon units hosted a two and one-half mile ruck march followed by Memorial pushups and the unveiling of refitted memorials in coordination with Gold Star families (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian Boisvert)

U.S. Special Operations Command Korea Command Senior Enlisted Leader visits Special Warfare Training Wing
March 21, 2022 — U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major JoAnn Naumann, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Special Operations Command Korea, visited the Special Warfare Training Wing March 16 to mentor NCOs and observe the SWTW Assessment and Selection process... MORE

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. JoAnn Naumann, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Special Operations Command, Korea (right) speaks with U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Perolio, Special Warfare Training Flight Superintendent, (left) about the Assessment and Selection process for Air Force Special Warefare candidates at Joint Base San Anotnio, TX, Mar. 16, 2022. Naumann visited the area to mentor the NCOs and observe the SWTW Assessment and Selection process. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian Boisvert)

Senate staff delegation visits Special Warfare Training Wing
March 3, 2022 — A delegation of U.S. Senate staff members from across the United States visited the Special Warfare Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex Feb. 23 to learn more about Air Force Special Warfare and the unique capabilities AFSPECWAR operators bring to the battlefield. The delegation were also briefed on the significance of the SWTW memorial site overlooking the construction site of a new, $66.6M aquatics training facility that will accommodate training for more than 3,000 Air Force Special Warfare trainees annually when complete at JBSA-Chapman Training Annex. ... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Todd Popovic, Special Warfare Training Wing command chief (center), briefs a delegation of Senate staff members from across the United States on the significance of the SWTW memorial site on Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex, Texas, Feb. 23, 2022. The delegation visited the Special Warfare Training Wing to learn more about Air Force Special Warfare and the unique capabilities AFSPECWAR operators bring to the battlefield.

Special Warfare Training Wing hosts Aquatics Training Center Heritage Capsule Commemoration Ceremony
January 14, 2022 — The Special Warfare Training Wing hosted the Aquatics Training Center Heritage Capsule Commemoration Ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex Jan. 13, 2022. The ceremony commemorates the construction of a new, modernized $66.6 million aquatics training facility that will accommodate training for more than 3,000 Air Force Special Warfare trainees annually by incorporating a full range of special operations training scenarios... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Marshall B. Webb (left), Commander, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, and former U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein (ret.) (right) seal the SWTW aquatics training center heritage capsule while standing in front of the future site of the Special Warfare Training Wing aquatics training facility