Air Fo
rce Special Operation Command has deactivated the 21st Special Operations Squadron, an MH-53J Pave Low helicopter unit at RAF Mildenhall, UK, reports Bryan Mitchell of Stars and Stripes. The 21st SOS was part of the 352nd Special Operations Group at Mildenhall; it will now become a CV-22 Osprey unit at AFSOC’s newly acquired Cannon AFB, N.M. There was speculation earlier this year about AFSOC removing the 352nd SOG from Mildenhall now that it has a western base and room to grow. The deactivation of the 21st SOS cuts the group’s force by about a third.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3