The crews of the newer aircraft of AFSOC are likewise finding they have places to go which are new to them and provide new ways to react to the missions that arise. Their readiness to take on those new environments speaks to the worldwide needs for their aircraft and their training, which ensures they can meet those needs.

Lt. Col. Jason Kirby commands the 524th Special Operations Squadron, from Cannon Air Force Base’s (AFB) 27th SOW, which received its Dornier 328s (now designated the C-146) in 2012 and 2013. More will come, until AFSOC has 23 of the aircraft. The aircraft have deployed to provide capability to theater special operations commands (TSOCs)ever since the squadron had three aircraft and three trained aircrews, and reached initial operating capability (IOC). The reliable and durable aircraft may not make it home often, as they seem to be continually in demand. As Kirby writes:

The crews of the newer aircraft of AFSOC are likewise finding they have places to go which are new to them and provide new ways to react to the missions that arise. Their readiness to take on those new environments speaks to the worldwide needs for their aircraft and their training, which ensures they can meet those needs.

In the wake of the Arab Spring, terrorist groups in North and West Africa have continued to expand their operations, increasing threats to the United States and its interests. These revolutions continue to destabilize the region as U.S. Africa Command [AFRICOM] works to rebuild Libyan security forces and stabilize Mali, where Islamic extremists took control at the end of 2012. Just before the New Year, on 28 December 2012, two C-146 “Wolfhound” aircraft were tasked by Gen. [Carter F.] Ham, [then-]AFRICOM Commander, with the emergency evacuation of a United States ambassador, staff, and western citizens from an African capital as rebels reached the edge of the city. The entire mission was executed in less than 24 hours from when the crisis began, and men, women, and children were quietly evacuated. Just following, on 11 January 2013, the French initiated a counteroffensive into northern Mali targeting these extremists, and Air Force Special Operations Command was already there with the C-146. The crews were immediately put to work supporting those operations in-theater.

The “Wolfhound” has played a central role in training partner nation forces for counterterrorism operations. As C-146 crews remained committed to operational missions across the trans-Sahel region, the C-146 was also the workhorse of the JCS [Joint Chiefs of Staff]-directed Flintlock exercise, which involved over 1,000 participants from 21 nations. As extremists crossed the border from Mali to Mauritania to evade the French offensive, the C-146 inserted SOF forces from across West Africa to Nema, a border town on the edge of the Sahara Desert. … The C-146 now provides unprecedented access and support to the theater special operations commands, and is focused on Phase 0 (Shape), Phase I (Deter), and Phase II (Seize the Initiative) operations that the C-146 is uniquely designed to support.

People accustomed to hearing about AFSOC operations have, for many years, heard only of MC-130s, AC-130s, helicopters, and combat controllers. When asked to provide examples of current missions, AFSOC sent three that employed aircraft that have been in AFSOC only since Sept. 11. This third example, from the 3rd Special Operations Squadron, also part of the 27th SOW, tells of rapidly deployable unmanned aircraft – remotely piloted aircraft:

While exercising our Air Force’s only alert response ISR capability, the Dragons were tasked to deploy their MQ-1 Predator in support of an emerging crisis within the AFRICOM area of responsibility. Within a matter of hours, a team of only 27 Air Commandos loaded a single C-17 and departed their exercise location in support of ongoing American and allied SOF operations.

While operating from their forward deployed location, the team recognized this unique capability could provide the ground force commander with an even greater operational reach. Leaning on the heritage of Air Commandos past, the team challenged naysayers and advocated for transitioning their modern remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operations alongside their AFSOC brethren farther forward at an austere location, thereby significantly increasing their capability.

Deploying once again, the team faced what many saw as unsurmountable challenges associated with austere field “drone” operations, yet the Dragons once again demonstrated the Air Commando innovative spirit through actions such as building plywood taxiways to ensure operations remained uninterrupted despite the conditions. …

Ultimately resulting in bringing those directly responsible for attacks against American citizens to justice, this deployment highlighted the ability to accelerate the presence of real-time actionable intelligence to decision-makers at all levels, enabling their ability to quickly and decisively act in response to worldwide national security contingencies.