Military Wiki
Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Abbreviation AFOSI or OSI
Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Air Force Office of Special Investigations emblem
USA - AF OSI Badge
Badge of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Motto The Eyes of the Eagle
Agency overview
Formed August 1, 1948
Employees 2,900 (2007)
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agency United States
General nature
  • Federal law enforcement
  • Military provost
Operational structure
Headquarters Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia
Agency executive Brigadier General Kevin J. Jacobsen
Parent agency Department of the Air Force
Units
Regions 8
Website
www.osi.andrews.af.mil

The United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI, or OSI), is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency that reports directly to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Operating worldwide, AFOSI provides independent criminal investigative, counterintelligence and protective service operations outside of the traditional military chain of command. AFOSI proactively identifies, investigates and neutralizes, serious criminal, terrorist, and espionage threats to personnel and resources of the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense, thereby protecting the national security of the United States.

Overview[]

AFOSI was founded August 1, 1948, at the suggestion of Congress to consolidate investigative activities in the Air Force. Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington created AFOSI and patterned it after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He appointed Special Agent Joseph Carroll, a senior FBI official and assistant to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, as the first AFOSI commander and charged him with providing independent, unbiased and centrally directed investigations of criminal activity in the Air Force who later became the first director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.[1] As of 2007, the AFOSI has 2,900 employees.[2] After pilot training, OSI remains the second-most requested career choice in the U.S. Air Force.[3] AFOSI capabilities:[4]

  • Protect critical technologies and information
  • Detect and mitigate threats
  • Provide global specialized services
  • Conduct major criminal investigations
  • Engage foreign adversaries and threats offensively

OSI's Cornerstone is to vigorously solve crime; protect secrets; warn of threats; exploit intelligence opportunities; operate in cyber.[5]

Organization[]

In addition to the OSI headquarters at Quantico, Virginia, AFOSI has eight field investigations regions. Seven of the Regions are aligned with Air Force major commands:

While the regions serve the investigative needs of those aligned major commands, all AFOSI units and personnel remain independent of those commands. In the OSI chains of command each region is directly under the AFOSI Headquarters. Such organizational independence is intended to ensure unbiased investigations.

The single region not aligned with a major command is Region 7, the mission of which is to provide counter-intelligence and security-program management for special access programs under the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.

At the regional level are subordinate units called field investigations squadrons, detachments, and operating locations. There are more than 160 AFOSI units worldwide including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East locations.[6]

Operations[]

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Several OSI agents at a US Air Force base.

Threat detection

AFOSI manages offensive and defensive activities to detect, counter and destroy the effectiveness of hostile intelligence services and terrorist groups that target the Air Force. These efforts include investigating the crimes of espionage, terrorism, technology transfer and computer infiltration. This mission aspect also includes providing personal protection to senior Air Force leaders and other officials, as well as supervising an extensive antiterrorism program in geographic areas of heightened terrorist activity. Criminal Investigations

The vast majority of AFOSI's investigative activities pertain to felony crimes including murder, robbery, rape, assault, major burglaries, drug use and trafficking, sex offenses, arson, black market activities, and other serious criminal activities. Economic crime investigations A significant amount of AFOSI investigative resources are assigned to fraud (or economic crime) investigations. These include violations of the public trust involving Air Force contracting matters, appropriated and nonappropriated funds activities, computer systems, pay and allowance matters, environmental matters, acquiring and disposing of Air Force property, and major administrative irregularities. AFOSI uses fraud surveys to determine the existence, location and extent of fraud in Air Force operations or programs. It also provides briefings to base and command-level resource managers to help identify and prevent fraud involving Air Force or DOD resources.

AFOSI interview

An AFOSI interview.

Information Operations

The Air Force is now countering a global security threat to our information systems. Our role in support of Information Operations recognizes future threats to the Air Force, and our response to these threats, will occur in cyberspace. AFOSI's support to Information Operations comes in many facets. AFOSI's computer crime investigators provide rapid worldwide response to intrusions into Air Force systems. Technology Protection The desires of potential adversaries to acquire or mimic the technological advances of the U.S. Air Force have heightened the need to protect critical Air Force technologies and collateral data. The AFOSI Research and Technology Protection Program provides focused, comprehensive counterintelligence and core mission investigative services to safeguard Air Force technologies, programs, critical program information, personnel and facilities. Specialized Services AFOSI has numerous specialists who are invaluable in the successful resolution of investigations. They include technical specialists, polygraphers, behavioral scientists, computer experts and forensic advisers. Defense Cyber Crime Center The Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) was established as an organic entity within the Air Force Office of Special Investigations in 1998. DC3 provides digital and multimedia forensics, cyber investigative training, research, development, test and evaluation, and cyber analytics for the following DoD mission areas: information assurance and critical infrastructure protection, law enforcement and counterintelligence, document and media exploitation, and counterterrorism. DC3 is a national cyber center and serves as the operational focal point for the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Program (DIB CS/IA Program).

Training and physical requirements[]

All new AFOSI special agent recruits—whether officer, enlisted or civilian—receive their entry-level training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. The training requires that each recruit meet physical requirements that are located on the FLETC web site at www.fletc.gov. The candidates attend a mandatory, 11-week Criminal Investigator Training Program with other federal law enforcement trainees. That course is followed by seven weeks of AFOSI agency-specific coursework. Both courses offer new agents training in firearms and other weapons, defensive tactics, forensics, surveillance and surveillance detection, antiterrorism techniques, crime scene processing, interrogations and interviews, court testimony, and military and federal law. Upon graduation, new AFOSI special agents spend a one-year probationary period in the field. Upon successful completion, some agents receive specialized training in economic crime, antiterrorism service, counterintelligence, computer crimes and other sophisticated criminal investigative capabilities. Others attend 12 weeks of technical training to acquire electronic, photographic and other skills required to perform technical surveillance countermeasures. Experienced agents selected for polygraph duties attend a 14-week DOD course.[7]

Each recruit is expected to participate in each of the following exercises: flexibility, bench press, 1.5-mile (2.4 km) run/walk and agility run. All students are tested to determine their fitness level, and each test is age and gender normed. AFOSI special agents are expected to remain physical fit throughout their employment and must maintain Air Force physical fitness standards as defined by Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2905.

Firearms[]

Air Force OSI agent's primary firearm is the 9×19mm SIG Sauer P228.

Notable Agents[]

  • Arlen Specter, former U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania and OSI special agent
  • Herb Bateman, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Virginia's 1st congressional district and OSI special agent, who passed away 11 Sept. 2000.

Fallen Agents[]

During the height of the Iraq & Afghan wars, OSI Special Agents conducted counterintelligence, protective service and force protection operations. These operations involved running sources in combat zones, tracking down IED cells, protecting senior leaders and regular collections "outside the wire." OSI combat deployments resulted in the injury & death of several Special Agents as a result of mortar attacks, IEDS and suicide bombers. Consequently, OSI has had the unfortunate distinction of the highest casualty rate among 1811 agencies during that time-frame.[8]

Seal specifications and symbolism[]

The light blue shield, directly below a wreath, bears a winged Air Force blue sphere with wings and detail lines in silver (usually depicted as white) between two upright swords that are white with gray (steel) outline and shaded area and gold (yellow) hilts. On the shield above the sphere is a silver (white) lamp of knowledge with a red flame. The white scroll with Air Force yellow lettering located under the shield and the shield are edged in Air Force yellow. The wreath above the shield is made up of six alternate folds of silver (white) and light blue that repeat the metal and color used in the shield.

The light blue field of the shield symbolizes the sky, the primary theater dominating all air activities. The winged Air Force blue sphere indicates OSI's air mission is world-wide. The spreading wings, above the sphere, imply protection of all qualities of virtue underlying the rights of free people. The upright swords symbolize the power of law and order and military justice. The lamp symbolizes light and learning. As in the Air Force seal, the light blue of the wreath represents the sky and the white represents the heraldic metal silver.

As is customary with Air Force heraldry, the emblem has not changed since its inception in 1955. [x]

Interesting OSI Facts[]

· It was an OSI agent who first alerted Gen. Douglas MacArthur's HQ of the attack from North Korea that began the Korean War in June of 1950.

· OSI welcomes more than 230 new special agents into the organization each year.

· OSI is the second-most requested career-field choice in the Department of the Air Force.

In popular culture[]

Rosario Dawson firing a M11 pistol

Rosario Dawson fires a M11 pistol at the firing range at Andrews Air Force Base, while researching her role in Eagle Eye

  • In the (2008 film) Eagle Eye, actress Rosario Dawson played OSI Special Agent Zoe Perez.[9]
  • In the 2013 film Mirage Men, Richard Doty, a retired OSI special agent, played himself in a documentary about the OSI investigation into UFOs between 1952 and 1969.
  • In the seventh episode of Season 8 in the (1997 television series) Stargate SG-1, SG-1 team member Teal'c has been given permission to live off-base by the OSI in general, but is subsequently investigated by OSI officer 'Colonel Kendrick' for stopping or otherwise becoming involved with crimes in his neighbourhood.
  • In the first episode of Season 2 in the (2013 television series) The Americans, KGB Agents Phillip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) and Emmett Connors posed as "United States Air Force Security Forces" and wore OSI badges.

Books[]

"Consequences: An Intelligence Officer's War" (2020) by David Grantham: A riveting, behind-the-scenes account of one man's journey as an intelligence officer with the elite and secretive Air Force Office of Special Investigations at the height of the Iraq War. [9] [10]

“The Air Force Office of Special Investigations 1948-2000”: This book provides a comprehensive overview of the history and operations of AFOSI from its inception until the year 2000. It covers various missions, including counterintelligence, criminal investigations, and anti-terrorism operations.

Vin Cooper Series by David Rollins: Although a fictional series, the books follow Vin Cooper, an AFOSI special agent, and offer an exciting and detailed look at Air Force special investigation operations. Some titles in the series include “The Death Trust” and “A Knife Edge”.

“DOD Investigation Programs: Background Data”: This book provides background data on U.S. Department of Defense investigation programs, including AFOSI.

"Inside the FBI: The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and Counterintelligence" by Lynn White

"Air Force Office of Special Investigations: Criminal Investigations Division" by Paul G. Robinson

"Guarding What You Value Most: Air Force Office of Special Investigations" by George W. Layman

"The Agent and The Sword: U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations" by Michael F. Harling

"Never Forget: The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations in Action" by Michelle R. Brins

"Eyes and Ears: The Story of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations" by James W. Kotera

"The Silent Warriors: U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations" by Deanne Carpenter

"Honor and Duty: A History of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations" by Richard J. Burke.

See also[]

  • List of United States federal law enforcement agencies

Military Criminal Investigative Organizations

Air Force

Federal law enforcement

References[]

External links[]




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