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352nd SOMXS nominated for SECDEF award

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stacia Zachary
  • 352nd Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  (Editor’s Note: This award recognizes the entirety of the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Group prior to the redesignation ceremony on March 23, 2015. Before standing up as a group, the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron was responsible for the current platforms of the CV-22B Osprey and the MC-130J Commando II as well as legacy aircraft, the MC-130H Combat Talon II.)

The United States Air Force recently nominated the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Field-Level Maintenance Award in the medium aircraft maintenance squadron category.

The U.S. Air Force Maintenance Effectiveness Award, is the AF/A4L’s premier maintenance award, is presented annually to recognize the most outstanding maintenance units based on unit mission accomplishments, effective use of maintenance resources, innovative management accomplishments and quality of life programs during the past fiscal year. The 352nd SOMXS was U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s nominee for the 2014 Maintenance Effectiveness Award, Medium Category.

“The 352 SOMXS Airmen are quiet professionals who are disciplined, and perform aircraft maintenance safely and by the book all the time” said U. S. Air Force Maj. Seanna Less, 352nd SOAMXS commander. The Airmen of the 352 SOMXS are extremely hard working and dedicated; this award validates their commitment to our mission. I am truly proud of them. They are dedicated to performing quality maintenance at home and while deployed.”

According to the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron's award citation, the squadron generated 938 sorties and 3,700 flying hours, while delivering a 75.5 percent mission capability rate in direct support of combat operations, joint exercises and local training.
During the 2014 Jackal Stone Exercise, 100 percent of the missions generated for the MC-130J Commando II were achieved. Additionally, the maintainers successfully launched three CV-22Bs twice.

“The 352nd SOMXS was extremely busy last year,” Less said. “They transferred out the MC-130H Combat Talon II and the MC-130P Combat Shadow and accepted MC-130J Commando IIs, as well as fielded the new CV-22B Osprey. Furthermore, our maintainers deployed in support of 26 contingencies or exercises throughout the European and African Command theaters.”

Since the redesignation of the 352 Special Operations Group into the 352nd Special Operations Wing, the maintenance component has been restructured as well. Now, the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Group oversees two maintenance squadrons: the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron and the 352nd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The 352nd SOMXS is responsible for the maintenance of the CV-22B Osprey fleet while the 352nd SOAMXS is responsible for the maintenance of the MC-130J fleet.