AFSOC wants the Combat Rescue Mission back...

via DefenseNews.

WASHINGTON — The future of a long-stymied US Air Force effort to buy new combat search-and-rescue helicopters is once again uncertain as top-level generals are intensely debating the type of aircraft and which arm of the service is best suited to conduct this critical mission.
For several months, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has been quietly lobbying to take over the combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) mission from Air Combat Command (ACC), arguing, according to sources and internal Air Force documents obtained by Defense News, they can do the mission with fewer aircraft, at lower cost.
AFSOC wants to perform the mission with Bell-Boeing CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and a small contingent of Sikorsky HH-60 helicopters, the same type of aircraft that fly the mission now. The active-duty would operate a mix of CV-22s and HH-60s, while the Air National Guard and Reserve, as they do now, would only fly HH-60s.
The intense debate, which involves a handful of senior generals, comes as the Air Force is preparing to award a contract for up to 112 new helicopters to replace battle-worn HH-60G Pave Hawks.
The Air Force spat is just one example of the internal battles raging throughout a military grappling, for the first time in more than a decade, with how to handle smaller budgets.

This is interesting.

Para-Rescue wants to get back into SOCOM.

Air Combat Command wants to have its own organic rescue component on hand for recovery of its pilots.

SOCOM itself is probably staying out of it (at the command level).

At issue?  Para-Rescue is wanting a new vehicle to help perform its mission, already works a great deal with SOCOM with regards to exercises, proficiency training and with other government agencies---it already sees itself under the SOCOM tent.

And the last maybe biggest issue is that AFSOC already has CV-22s.

This fight might tell us more about where things will go in the post Afghanistan period than anything else.  IF AFSOC gets the mission back then they've succeeded in helping SOCOM wall off its budget against stagnation or even cuts.  If Air Combat Command wins then by default it will get new equipment..

AFSOCs biggest problem?  The USMC.  Its going to devote an MV-22 squadron to special operations the same way the Navy has devoted a MH-60 squadron for the same use.  Para-Rescue will end up losing because everyone has combat/jump/scuba qualified Corpsmen/Medics.  Even Battalion Recon has Corpsmen that have been to the Basic Recon Course.

Still.  This internal fight is gonna be good.