Team Homestead revisits accomplishments achieved during 2014

  • Published
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  The holidays mark both celebrations and the beginning of a New Year.

Coverage of Team Homestead accomplishments throughout 2014 recaps a year of service to the nation, community and world.

As a pillar of the Homestead community, Homestead Air Reserve Base continues to be a major contributor to the economic growth of South Florida, generating over $303 million into the local economy in fiscal year 2014 - a 58 percent increase since 2005.

The 482nd Fighter Wing, host unit for tenant organizations, deployed to Afghanistan; excelled in multiple inspections and exercises, and overcame budget shortfalls to achieve their mission.

During the Afghanistan deployment, more than 300 members from the wing worked to maintain and equip F-16C jets to provide intelligence, and close air support for the International Security Assistance Force and other NATO forces.

The 482nd Communications Squadron surpassed expectations during the challenging Command Cyber Readiness Inspection Aug. 4-8. The base scored above the passing mark, earning 75.3 percent, the first Air Force Reserve base to pass.

In another inspection, the wing continued to excel - the Air Force Reserve Command's Inspector General rated the wing "Effective" during a Capstone Event under the new Air Force Inspection System.

Two brand-new facilities and the newly renovated Sam Johnson Fitness Center were officially opened during a ribbon cutting event Aug. 20 here. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, representing Florida's 27th Congressional District, and Congressman Sam Johnson, representing the 3rd District of Texas, also attended the luncheon. The fitness center is named in his honor.

The wing partnered with the local community for dozens of events, including the City of Homestead's Military Appreciation Day and Veterans Day celebrations, Freedom Ride 2014, Adopt-A-Highway clean-ups, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series flyover, and various career day speaking engagements.

Many of the tenant units accomplished a tremendous amount of achievements during the year. Below are highlights of Public Affairs coverage of just a few of their activities.

Special Operations Command South:

Special Operations Command South is a sub-unified command assigned to Commander, U.S. Southern Command. It is a joint special operations headquarters that plans and executes special operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, principally employing special operations forces provided by U.S. Special Operations Command and the Services' SOF component commands.

Members of SOCSOUTH and invited community leaders welcomed U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Kurt L. Sonntag as the 14th commander of SOCSOUTH, during an assumption of command ceremony, Sept. 16. Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, the commander of USSOUTHCOM, presided over the ceremony.

Sonntag transitioned to SOCSOUTH after serving as deputy commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The unit held several international training exercises. Green Berets assigned to 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in support of SOCSOUTH, trained with Dominican Republic SOF as part of a month-long Joint Combined Exchange Training program focusing on medical skills, marksmanship, and airborne operations from Feb. 17 to March 20.

Additionally, the unit participated in Fuerzas Comando, the annual USSOUTHCOM sponsored special operations skills competition that concluded at Fort Tolemaida, Colombia, July 31. Seventeen nations competed to earn the title of best SOF team in the Western Hemisphere.

For the sixth time in 10 years, the team from the Republic of Colombia hoisted the coveted Fuerzas Comando cup. The U.S. team, comprised of members assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group, placed second and El Salvador was third.

While not deployed in support of their mission requirements, SOCSOUTH participated in multiple community events, to include partnering with South Dade High School's Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, providing the young cadets with tours and mentorship.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection:

Working around the clock, members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Miami Air and Marine Branch here keep Southern Florida secure through the detection, identification and apprehension of foreign and domestic terrorist and smuggling threats with the coordinated use of law enforcement air and marine forces.

Accomplishments during 2014 include flying 2,901 flight hours that resulted in the confiscation of 670.76 pounds of cocaine, 14,013.5 pounds of marijuana, 1 pound of ecstasy, .02 pounds of heroin, 36.09 pounds of other drugs; $993,705 in currency, 41 weapons, 8 aircraft, 15 vehicles, and 34 vessels. Additionally, 408 arrests and 1,033 apprehensions were made in 2014.

Always active in the community, Customs provided the City of Homestead a UH-60 Black Hawk flyover for their Military Appreciation Day and supported HARB's July 4 Independence Day event with a static display. Additionally, Customs teamed-up with the 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron to check out an Innovative Readiness Training program at the Dry Tortugas National Park.

U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety Security Team Miami:

U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety Security Team Miami deployed throughout the year to provide Maritime Law Enforcement and Anti-Terrorism Force Protection. The team helped with lobster season in Miami Beach and Columbus Day weekend and provided security for national significant events including the United Nations Dinner Assembly and presidential travel. Additionally, the team underwent routine training to include Tactical Sustainment Training held in August 2014.

Throughout the year, the team supported tours from local community groups and provided static displays at events like the recent 2014 Family Day Winter Fest held on Dec. 6. Additionally, the local Military Affairs Committee honored Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesse Gutierrez, as the U.S. Coast Guard Sailor of the Year during the annual awards banquet April 5.

50th Regional Support Group:

Soldiers from the 50th Regional Support Group play an important role in Florida's response to emergencies, providing logistics support to hurricane and disaster response throughout the state when called on by the governor. During 2014, Soldiers from the 50th supported several state missions in support of major storms and continue to be ready for any upcoming state missions.

Additionally, the unit deployed in support of an exercise in Korea and is working to upgrade their base facilities through building renovations. The 50th also provided a static display during the Family Day Winter Fest Dec. 6.

According to their unit history, 50th RSG deployed in support of operations in Iraq in 2003 and Kuwait in 2004. The 50th RSG's mission includes providing Title 10 logistics to the theater, life support and command and control of reception, staging, and onward movement and integration nodes for joint forces.

125th Fighter Wing Detachment 1

The 125th Fighter Wing, Det. 1, performs a continuous 24-hour alert mission here. Flying the F-15C, members of the unit are on alert to intercept unknown aircraft at any time. In addition to supporting the alert mission here, the detachment underwent an Alert Force Evaluation where they earned a 'Mission Ready' rating by the inspectors in December.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command released information on an unresponsive aircraft situation, which members from the 125th FW assisted.

NORAD jets were scrambled to assist with an unresponsive Socata TBM-700 light business and utility aircraft that departed Rochester, N.Y., Sept. 5.

Two F-16 fighter jets launched from McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Richland County, S.C., to monitor an unresponsive aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean which, according to the FAA, crashed 14 miles off the coast of Port Antonio, Jamaica.

They handed off monitoring duties at around 11:30 a.m. EDT to two F-15 fighters from the 125th FW which escorted the aircraft until it entered Cuban airspace.

Throughout the year, the detachment supported many tours and events on the base, including briefing groups from Congressional Staff Delegations to JROTC cadets about their alert mission.

U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights

For the fifth straight year, the Golden Knights, the U.S. Army parachute team, returned to the base for winter training in preparation for the air show and competition circuit. As the "Official Ambassadors of the Army," the team performs spectacular live parachute demonstrations for the public.

During their winter training, the Golden Knights supported many events including kicking off their 2014 air show season with a jump into the Homestead Rodeo Jan. 25 and 26. Additionally, they interacted with many community groups, including a group of young Tiger Cubs, the first step of Cub Scouts, who visited the base Feb. 7.

Recently, the Golden Knights supported a live GoPro tandem jump broadcast featuring Good Morning America's Meteorologist Ginger Zee. More than 5 million people tuned in to check out the tandem jump.

The Golden Knights are expected to return for the 2015 winter training season, and to once again support community events, and provide tandem jumps to community leaders and military members.