Photo By Airman 1st Class Samantha Rossi | U.S. Airmen assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing and 711th Special Operations...... read more read more
The thundering climb of an AC-130J Ghostrider over Florida’s Emerald Coast Oct. 9, 2025, signaled the start of a new era for the Air Force Reserve.
For the first time in decades, the 919th Special Operations Wing flew an operational training mission in the Air Force’s most advanced gunship, marking a return to its storied gunship heritage.
The flight was both practical and symbolic: a visible demonstration that the Air Force Reserve is back flying gunships in an operational capacity and fully integrated with its Active Duty partners.
“Our Air Commandos are once again flying one of the most capable strike platforms in the world,” said Col. Scott Hurrelbrink, 919th SOW commander.
“The integration of the Reserve into the AC-130J enterprise ensures allows us to bring our deep operational experience to this platform as value-added mission partners.”
The 919th’s return to the gunship mission revives a powerful legacy. From 1975 to 1995, the wing operated AC-130A Spectre aircraft, conducting missions from Panama to the Persian Gulf. Nealy 30 years later, the return of a Reserve-led gunship squadron marks a full circle moment for the Air Force Reserve’s only special operations wing.
The AC-130J’s primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance.
“Transitioning back to our roots with the AC-130J mission allows us to expand the wing’s capabilities and seamlessly integrate with Active Duty aircrew and maintainers,” said Hurrelbrink.
The association is not new to the 919th. The wing has long operated as an associate across multiple platforms. What is new is the full return to a gunship mission in an operational role. Reservists fly the same aircraft, training under the same readiness requirements and contribute maintenance capacity across both peacetime and surge operations.
Air Commandos in the 919th SOW and their active-duty maintainers are now working side by side to sustain those capabilities ensuring the wing can generate sorties, maintain proficiency, and surge when called upon.
For now, the wing’s immediate focus is training to proficiency, building maintenance depth and participating in joint exercises with special operations ground forces.
“While we’re exceptionally proud of this achievement, many challenges remain,” said Hurrelbrink. “Increased training and readiness, building maintenance depth, becoming fully integrated with active duty and surpassing phased milestones are all priorities that
will require laser like focus.”
Aircrew in the Reserve led AC-130J unit are ready for what lies ahead.
“The first operational training sortie was what we’ve been building toward,” said Lt. Col. Jason Fox, the Reserve’s AC-130J squadron commander. “Every day we’re integrating Reservists, maintainers and operational crews into a single team so we can continue on the path toward Full Operational Capability for the enterprise.”
The new mission stands to provide AC-130J operators and maintainers options for continued service in the local community for many years to come. The 919th SOW’s presence on the Emerald Coast spans more than 50 years and looks to continue for decades with this most noteworthy investment in the wing’s future.
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2025 15:05 |
| Story ID: | 551610 |
| Location: | HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ghostriders Return: Reserve flies first AC-130J operational training mission, by LTC James Wilson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Air Force Reserve Command
