Today Show in Haiti with USAF "Special Forces"

This morning on The Today Show, Al Roker and Ann Curry are reporting from Haiti, and broadcasting from out on the tarmac where the planes are coming in with relief supplies.
They're describing the efforts to get relief supplies in and out, and Al says that the airport has been "taken over by US Air Force Special Forces".


Now, the main USAF contribution to the SOCOM community are the PJs, but "AFSOC" does claim a few other capabilities.

Capability One, Airfield
"We are scheduled to be among the first people on the ground over there and we don't know the extent of damage done to the airfield," said Major Daniels. "Our goal is to have the airfield ready to take on full traffic by tonight. We bring our own lights and communication equipment so we are prepared."
In addition to opening up the International Airport at Port-au-Prince, combat controllers are trained to survey other areas to look for potential airdrop and landing zones so other cargo and personnel can be accepted into the country if required.

Capability Two, Medical
"Our members are trained paramedics and trained in trauma related to disasters like this," said Major Daniels. "Since our airfield will be open, we will be able to treat and medevac victims if needed.
"Just like if we were deployed in combat, we are ready to conduct search and rescue missions to include rescuing members in everything from a collapsed building to an elevator shaft."

Capability Three, Weather
"Weather will play a huge role in air operations. Our Airmen will take on-scene observations so incoming aircraft will know what to expect and can plan accordingly," said Major Daniels.
The major reinforced that all of the team members who are deploying are dedicated and ready to carry out the mission.
"Every Airman we sent has either recently returned from a deployment, is getting ready for a deployment or both," said Major Daniels. "Our Airmen are motivated to help the people of Haiti."

However, I don't know of anyone not employed or directly supporting USAF recruiting & PR that would claim that any of these capabilities are at all above-and-beyond what the USAF should be doing on an everyday basis. Is this really what constitutes "Special Forces"? If so, can we get a bunch of SF tabs for the 77Fs that keep fuel in going in M1 tanks?

Shouldn't the USAF have airfield operation capabilities everywhere and not just in the "Special Forces"? Doesn't medical support come standard with any other USAF deployment package? And if not, can we please change that? How about weather operations? Have we assigned so many USAF weathermen to US Army units that they don't have enough to go around the blue-suit mafia, so they consolidate them in the "Special Forces"?

Basically, we're asking: "Hey Air Force, what's not 'Special Forces' to you guys?"
Or are you referring to "Special" as in "rode the short bus to school"?

By: Brant