567th RED HORSE SQUADRON
MISSION
To support combat air power worldwide, RED HORSE provides the Commander of Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) a dedicated, flexible, airfield and base heavy construction and repair capability. RED HORSE also provides many special capabilities that allow the COMAFFOR to move and support missions as the air order of battle dictates. The standard RED HORSE capability consists of 404 personnel (engineers and support personnel) with approximately 1,000 short-tons of vehicles, heavy construction and support equipment. This organic support allows the unit to operate independently for extended periods of time until normal supply channels are established. In addition to the standard capability, the RED HORSE special capabilities consist of approximately 2,200 short-tons, which can be tailored to meet specific construction and repair requirements. When operating in a higher threat, non-permissive environment outside a forward operating base or collocated operating base, the RED HORSE commander, in coordination with the area commander (i.e. combat arms land force commander), determines additional security requirements based on operational risk.
HISTORY
In 2008, Brig Gen Timothy A. Byers, the Civil Engineer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., led the reorganization of engineer forces to support warfighter requirements. As part of this effort, RED HORSE units were increased and active duty units were aligned with reserve component forces. The increase added an additional 446 RED HORSE authorizations in the Air Force Reserve. The new authorizations were made available by converting Prime BEEF teams at Charleston AFB, SC and Seymour Johnson AFB, NC to RED HORSE squadrons and supplementing the units with reservists displaced through BRAC. The new RED HORSE squadrons were the 567th at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC and the 560th at Charleston AFB, SC. All Reserve and Air National Guard units have approximately 200 personnel assigned.
The initial cadre of the 567th RHS consisted primarily of transferees from the 4th Civil Engineering Squadron (CES). While not totally disbanded, the 4th CES was re-designated the 4th Civil Engineering Flight (CEF), including Fire and Emergency Services, and adding an Emergency Ordinance Disposal (EOD) flight. The 567th RED HORSE Squadron (RHS) was activated on 1 November 2008 at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC and held its standup ceremony on 7 March 2009.
The 567th RHS has an Active Associate relationship with the active duty 4th CES at Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC. The primary goal of the Active Associate program is to provide trained active duty Prime BEEF personnel to augment the reserve RED HORSE forces requiring rapid and sustained expansion of capabilities to meet the world-wide RED HORSE mission.
OPERATIONS
In 2016, RED HORSE Airmen from the 567th RHS deployed to Guam for five months to construct a new explosive ordnance disposal warehouse on Andersen AFB, Guam, which officially opened July 26 of that same year. The $915,000 facility enabled explosive ordnance disposal concepts to be reincorporated into Silver Flag and other training exercises.
In June 2023, following the wake of Typhoon Mawar, members from 567th RHS and others provide assistance to Andersen AFB, Guam, and the local community. They assisted with base cleanup and other specific tasks. They cleared and repurposed 56 Andersen Elementary School rooms resulting in the integration of 120 children dislocated from the closure of the Child Development Center. They also cleared 178 tons of debris including the removal of 16 trees and demolished two 1,575 sq ft Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) support shelters.
UNIT PATCH
LINEAGE
1 Nov 2008 – 567th RED HORSE Squadron, established
STATIONS
1 Nov 2008 – Goldsboro, NC
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
ASSIGNMENTS
1 Nov 2008 – 622th Civil Engineer Group