2013 AFSOC SQUADRON or THE YEAR 524th SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON 51) A (3-: 7. MISSION In two-thousand-and-thirteen, when theater commanders needed special operators and sensitive cargo moved in any area of operations, their first choice was the 524th Special Operations Squadron. While providing unimpeded airlift support for five geographic commanders, the Wolfhounds of the 524 SOS solidified the role of their newly designated C-146A by executing 9,259 US Special Operation Forces missions. The squadron deployed 120 Airmen across 5 cominents for a total of 13,830 days and flew a combined average of 42 hours a day, every day of the year. All of this was accomplished to safely and successfully move the 1.59 million pounds of cargo needed by special operation forces working in nearly every comer of the globe. These critical and sensitive missions included discrete operator movements, SOF team ai rlift to austere locations, hurricane evacuation, humanitarian aid, ammunition resupply for Special Forces, and even SOF airlift in support of the President of the United States. Thanks to the hard work of its 139 members, the 524 SOS has become AFSOC's most widely deployed squadron executing its fastest growing miss ion set. Hounds of the 524 SOS deployed to fill taskings at every level in 2013. In addition to the 14 aircrews (42 Airmen) constantly deployed who carry out the mission, another 9 members deployed in a direct support capacity. One member served on the theater special operations stafT and a total of 18 members deployed in leadership positions. Through these relentless deployments as well as home-station missions in support of Special Operations Command North America, the 524 SOS flew 4,157 mission sorties. This constant operations tempo combined with the aggressive training program executed a massive $16.5 million flight hour program. The squadron was able to maintain this record pace while experiencing nearly 40% fleet growth in a mere 6 months. Light SOF Mobility (LSM) has exploded into a permanent bridge between special operators and their front lines although the vehicle has changed several times. The ability of the 524 SOS to transform the Domier 328 into the C-146A while maintaining its civil paint scheme and appearance made it the most versatile and ultimately sole platform used in LSM. Upon receiving the 17th C-146A in 2013, modifications began immediately to improve upon the existing aircraft. This transformation meant working with limited resources as aircraft rotated back through the depot only to return with an enhanced communications suite, cockpit lighting compatible with night vision devices, several cargo compartment modifications to improve the transportation of casualties and many more critical innovations. As other SOF operators in the command train for high intensity conflict, the Airmen ofthe 524th continually operate in uncertain environments where the enemy often conceals their presence. The Hounds move freely along the periphery and within territory held byal Qaeda, Boko Haram, Lord's Res istance Army, and other sensitive areas critical to United States national security. This close proximity both opens doors for special operators across the Department of Defense but also poses unique challenges that the 524th has grown accustomed to. Squadron members faced dai ly challenges abroad due to this unique mission set but thanks to the superior training and professional demeanor, the Hounds met each challenge with confidence. The 524 SOS encourages its members to enhance their foreign language proficiency and nearly every one of them has anempted to do j ust that. In one ~ bX3}:16 caSe, ~6 ) usc §13{)o.(O) I C- 146A instructor pilot, a deployed to Special Operations Command South America. He found himself fly ing in a remote location and speaking to an air traffic controller whose English was broken at best. Because of the initiative on his as able to confirm both landing and takeoff clearance in Spanish after numerous failed anempts in English. His mission that day wJaccomp~ed and'th..-liser on board was introduced to just how effective the 524 SOS is when challenge The abili ~st.' ,_ of the 524 SOS to prosecute its mission and enable operators and commanders to move quietly throughout he world has defined it as an irreplaceable assetJo USSOCOM as well as the command's Interagency p with $9.1 minion dedicate furlo ugh and sequestration, of this, a $5.1 million· baseline budget was established in 2013 OWratioos outside of tbe conliaentaJ. United States. During a time of 524 SOS not only avoided flnancial setbacks, but due to an outcry of support from the j oint environment, it never stopped growing. In Africa alone, after a 30% increase of LSM presence, nearly 1,000 airlift support requests were filled moving 2,680 passengers executing over 50 landings on unprepared airstri ps. The ability to persevere with limited support in austere locations led Brigadier General Linder, commander of Special Operations Command in Africa to affirm, "That's what SOF should be like! " COMBAT READINESS By the time 2013 began, word had spread about the excellent and unique service provided by the 524 SOS and the manner in which it was accomplished. Ai rlift requests poured in from ev~ theater around the globe and the quiet professionals of the 524th eagerly answered the call. The sheer volume of missions justified the Hounds laying clai to the second largest manned fli ght hour program in-Air Force - Special Operations Command. Wit over 18,700 hours in one year, the-S24 sas neve let safety become an afterthought. In 2012, ~e C·146A tripled its flight hours fro m the previoUs year and in 2013 it doubled that number yet again. All the whi le, the Hounds maintained a mishap rate of 1.5 per 10,000 hours. That is one third the rate of similar LSM platforms and one sixth the rate of legacy-special operation airlift platforms making the C-146A the safest way to travel in AFSOC. The safety rating earned by the squadron was made possible through its robust train ing program. This constantly·growing unit tracked 8,000 ground and flight events for both aircrew and support personnel. Combat readiness was achieved with Continuation Train ing, SOFlifts across the CONUS and Mexico as well as the unit's capstone Special Operations Pre.deployment Exercise (SOPE) series. By December 2013 , the squadron completed its 11th quarterly SOPE, focusing on newly arrived pi lots and loadmasters. Every SOPE emphasizes operational security, counter.surveillance, anti-terrorism, Interagency cooperation and cultural awareness. The specialized mission, combined with limited or no traditional military support at the sites, demands the absolute highest level of maturity and intellect from these young crews. Highly specialized training, like the SOPE, mitigates risk and prepares the crews for mission uncertainty. These SOPEs incorporated approximately 30 aircrew members plus a leadership team. They also included no less than 12 support agencies including medical personnel, fieldcraft specialists, and other government agencies. These exercises resulted in 134 Air Commandos trained while fl ying 330 hours across 159 challenging missions. Few squadrons in AFSOC have developed such an intensive and all-encompassing training regimen; it is a central achievement of the squadron since its inception. The high priority placed on continual training was demonstrated by the squadron's 93% training effectiveness rating and its ability to provide 99% reliable support to its customers exploiting the use of day and night operations in all types of weather and terrain. Typical missions flown by the 524 SOS can end up intertwined in the busiest airspace in the world or requiring night vision devices to operate at unlit, unpaved airstrips. This type of ever-changing mission requires constant training and the Hounds of the 524th made it look easy. llil' 111111111' With the unit' s one-of-a-kind capability and recent u! til(' ( !.J(, ,tl/ll/!U lilli/I ' /I'd/u('s beginnings, innovat ion has been the cornerstone of mission success. enhlll In 20 13, the squadron realized it was growing so fast that traditional 01 1I1)(IIIII'iflll'( /"1111111' rJlII 1111 (/( /1\ '11/('\ III "m/I' \'1'1\' d(!II.W'II!II' training was unequipped to meet mission requirements. In addition to 1,1(/( (", in-house upgrades, 56 refresher simulator classes were contracted with I III II 'IIi( ,'d II '(UIIIII( (/Il/II' I,'d/I( ," Iii,' fll,('/,iJuud III Federal Aviation Administration-certified instructors to ensure the highest level of currency and proficiency in the C-146A. This move /,111'10 UII(/ / 11111 (1/ Utli/{ /, (!I {'1l/lirl (/1[(11 ('U \1.11"1 (,I'll, I-II, 11'-; _\1111\ ('0111IIIIIHI, I', ,,(JC( L~'I validated as an operational ill increase the capabilities of the C- 146A to carry outsize cargo as ment air drop; tools requested by operators in every theater. The 524th demonstr its readiness on a dai ly basis when called into action within its mission set. However, the crew and aircraft r Iy performed when called out of their wheelhouse. In November, in response to cries for help from a regional ally, 524th personnel orchestrated 28 hours of search and rescue in a daring attempt to locate 4 sailors off the coast of Nicaragua while additional C-146A crews were put in alert posture. Thanks to the 524 SOS night vision capabilities and command and control structure, Nicaragua's SAR request was fully supported. The professional attitude of the Hounds and unmatched ability of the C-146A have made the 524 50S an invaluable asset across the globe. OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS The year 2013 was a landmark year for the squadron as it achieved full operational capability, deploying four additional airframes on an enduring basis to SOCAF, SOCCENT, SOCSOUTH, and SOCPAC, reaching 10 total aircraft deployed pennanently. The Hounds made landmark strides building habitual relationships with supported units across the SOCOM enterprise, while achieving further success as the 27th Special Operations G roup nominee for the 2013 Verne Orr Award. Building upon the successes of20 12, the demands placed on 524 SOS intensified as the year came to a close. On 28 Dec 12, the squadron conducted a two-ship embassy evacuation of the U.S. ambassador and 26 American and western citizens from the Central African Republic as rebels encroached upon the capitol city ... infants, women, and men were quietly evacuated as the city fell into civil war. The C-146A and the 524 SOS crews were specifically selected by General Caner Ham, Commander, United States Africa Command, as the most reliable and expeditious option for an immediate e cuation. The entire mission was executed in less than 24 hours from when the crisis began. Immediately following, on II Jan 13, the French military began counter-al Qaeda an