When the going gets tough, the tough call on Night Riders

Released: Aug 21, 1997

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS) -- They get their real-world mission taskings direct from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Few people even know they exist, much less what they do.

But wh en the balloon goes up and a world situation develops, these airmen are called upon for their special training, often before the operations have even been named. Night Riders is their name, and special operations is their game.

Their basic mission is to provide a means by which forces in support of special operations missions can be inserted or extracted. Enemy defensive positions are avoided and hostile detection opportunities are minimized. Examples of special operations missions include delivering special forces, assault forces, medicines, food and ammunition.

These Special Operations Low Level II crews are affectionately called Night Riders.

Dover and Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., are currently the only two Air Mobility Command bases who have the SOLL II airlift missions.

"These are the guys who are closest to the line of fire so to speak," said Lt. Col. James Farrar, 9th Airlift Squadron commander. "When SOLL II crews get tasked, they know they are going into a very serious, potentially volatile and most definitely dangerous situation.

"They have to be mentally and physically prepared to deal with whatever may face them, and the unique training in tactics and special operations helps prepare them for that intense environment," he explained.

Night Rider crews are made up of squadron members from both the 9th and 3rd AS, and the 436th Operations Group special capabilities division. The division is responsible for the overall management of the special operations programs and headed by Maj. Scott Lindberg.

"This program gets very little recognition because of the nature of our business," Lindberg said. "Many of the operations we are involved in are classified. Specifics about our training is often sensitive information, and our customers or users are classified.

"It is a real challenge to function in a 'cloak and dagger' environment like this. On the one hand you are very proud of the accomplishments of the unit and the caliber of the personnel that make it all possible, yet you have to protect the security of the operations," Lindberg said.

SOLL II missions call for unique training for every member on the crews -- from the aircraft commanders through navigators to loadmasters and flying crew chiefs. Average crews consist of three pilots, two navigators, two flight engineers, five loadmasters and two crew chiefs. Every member has a specific job and is looked to as the expert in a particular crew position.

Besides training, thorough communication and unwavering trust are keys to the success of SOLL II crews. Each crew member has a say, and no one feels his input isn't worthy of mention. Each mission requires extensive briefings, and most are conducted with all members of the crew from pre-planning to post mission sessions.

"The first thing that impressed me about this mission is the trust among crew members," said Sgt. Josh Tomchesson, 9th AS loadmaster.

"You don't have time to follow-up and recheck what other crew members are doing. You just have to trust that everyone knows their job, because you are so intent on doing your job."

"It really is impressive the way the pilots fly and land the plane while wearing the night vision goggles, or the way the navigators are able to direct the plane positioning and timing in blacked-out surroundings," said Tomchesson. "But this is one mission where what the loadmasters are doing is the backbone of the operation. We are the ones who are moving the assets that are needed. That gives you a really good feeling."

Of course, if the plane doesn't fly, none of this happens. The people who can literally make or break the mission are the crew chiefs.

"They really have to be a jack of all trades," explained Capt. Rich Hartson, 9th AS pilot. "They are some of the most dedicated folks I've ever worked with in the Air Force. It isn't unusual for the crew chiefs to put in incredibly long days to ensure a mission happens, on time.

The maintainers who fly on these missions receive special training to enable them to work issues involving hydraulic, electrical, engine, rails configuring, special navigational equipment, and more.

From the aircraft commanders to the flying crew chiefs, these unique crews represent the epitome of teamwork. Although the nature of their operations dictates they operate under a veil of secrecy, it is no secret only the very best become Night Riders. (Courtesy of AMC News Service)