550 SOS nominated for Association Aerospace Awards Published Aug. 5, 2011 By Danny Monahan 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base -- A Kirtland Air Force Base 58th Special Operations Wing squadron was recently nominated for an Air Force Association Aerospace Award. The 550th Special Operations Squadron has been submitted for the AFA Citation of Honor, which is awarded to an Air Force Airman, civilian, unit or group that has made the most outstanding contribution to national defense significantly exceeding standard performance. "In this era of declining budgets and units continually to seeking how to gain efficiencies with limited resources, it amazes me how each individual within the 550 SOS is able to elevate their performance time and time again," said Lt. Col. Matt Magness, 550 SOS commander. "Day in and day out, the men and women in the 550 SOS continue to execute a mission with aircraft twice their age. The outstanding maintainers continually return them to the air safely to repeat it all over again the next day is a testament to their dedication and professionalism." The 505 SOS is the only formal flying training unit providing combat mission-ready MC-130H Combat Talon II, MC-130P Combat Shadow and HC-130P/N King aircrew members to 13 operational special operations forces and personnel recovery squadrons, and four major commands worldwide. "The unique mission and inherent responsibilities of the 550 SOS highlight the criticality of the unit's capabilities in support of our nation's defense," said Capt. Benjamin Bryant, 58th Operations Group and former 550 SOS executive officer. "The 550 SOS is singular in nature due to the fact that it provides operational units with combat ready special operations and personnel recovery aircrew as well as provides theater commanders with experienced leaders from within the instructor cadre." In 2010, the squadron also assisted with humanitarian efforts. The squadron led the 58th Special Operations Wing's Haiti earthquake response effort flying eight relief missions, airlifting 27 passengers and more than 25,000 pounds of materiel. The squadron has a reputation for safety. It was awarded the 2010 Air Education and Training Command Operational Risk Management Trophy and received an "Excellent" rating for safety during a 2010 unit compliance inspection. "To be singled out for this honor, knowing full well that it took a team effort within the 58 SOW to get to this point, is great feedback from our service that they recognize us as worthy recipients, but more importantly recognizing the hard work that goes on daily within this great organization, much of it behind the scenes," said Magness. "I couldn't be more proud of them, nor excited for them, in being the Air Force's nomination for this award, they earned it together."