457th Airlift Squadron transports national leaders to worldwide destinations

Published June 18, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- For those at Scott Air Force Base, the 457th Airlift Squadron may sound like it isn't a part of the 375th Air Mobility Wing. In reality, the 457th AS is a geographically separated unit of the 375th AMW located at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

Though they are a small squadron, they have a big responsibility.

The mission of the 457th AS is to transport military and civilian leaders to key destinations and events to work on national security issues.

Lt. Col. Leif Eckholm, former 457th AS commander, had the responsibility of overseeing the operations, personnel, and morale and welfare of the 35-member team.

"I ensure that the squadron is capable of undertaking peace-time and war-time missions," he said. "I also enjoy trying to help people in the squadron get what they want out of the Air Force and to put in as much as they can to make the Air Force great for them."

Being a geographically separated unit has its benefits and a few challenges, too, said the colonel.

"It's good because some of the additional duties that tend to bog squadrons down, we aren't required to do," he said. "But we don't see our counterparts as often, regularly interact face-to-face with wing leaders, or be exposed to certain opportunity."

The current 457th AS commander is Lt. Col. Darren Hall.

Other key players in the squadron include the flight schedulers, such as Maj. Jason Byal, 457th AS assistant director of operations.

"My job is to schedule squadron resources to allow for the transportation of Department of Defense distinguished visitors and high-level dignitaries," he said. "I am the focal point for flying missions, people and crews."

Major Byal says the squadron averages about 12 missions a week for the entire region east of the Rockies.

"We enable senior leaders to make their meetings that they need to go to with minimum delays on their time," said the major.

Because they are a small squadron, everyone has to know how to perform each other's job and to step in when needed.

"We are always busy--someone is either flying, on leave or deployed, and you never know when you may have to switch roles to make things work," he said.

When members of the 457th AS deploy, their job may change because they may transport cargo, blood donations or aeromedically evacuate wounded warriors. This was the case during Operation Unified Response when the 457th worked with Southern Command while flying missions in and out of Haiti.

But another, often unseen aspect, is complying with the law.

Tech. Sgt. Angelia Benefield, 457th AS aviation resource manager, is responsible for administering aviation service policies to ensure compliance with directives and public law, monitor aircrew qualifications and manage flying hours.

Sergeant Benefield said, "I enjoy the interaction with the squadron's enlisted members and officers because we need each other to do our jobs."

So even though they may be a small squadron, when all the different people come together, they combine into one very important mission.