Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
AIR COMBAT COMMAND (USAF)
Lineage. Established as Tactical Air Command, and activated as a major command, on 21 Mar 1946. Reduced from major command status, and assigned to Continental Air Command as an operational command, on 1 Dec 1948. Returned to major command status on 1 Dec 1950. Inactivated on 1 Jun 1992. Consolidated (26 Sep 2016) with Air Combat Command, which was established, and activated on 1 Jun 1992.
Assignments. Army Air Forces, 21 Mar 1946; United States Air Force, 26 Sep 1947; Continental Air Command, 1 Dec 1948; Headquarters, United States Air Force, 1 Dec 1950-.
Major Components. Air Forces: First Air Force (later, First Air Force [ANG]; First Air Force [Air Forces Northern]): 6 Dec 1985-. Second Air Force: 1 Jun 1992-1 Jul 1993. Third Air Force: 21 Mar-1 Nov 1946. Eighth Air Force (later, Eighth Air Force [Air Forces Strategic]): 1 Jun 1992-1 Feb 2010. Ninth Air Force (later, Ninth Air Force [Air Forces Central]; United States Air Forces Central Command; Ninth Air Force [Air Forces Central]): 28 Mar 1946-1 Dec 1948; 1 Dec 1950-. Ninth Air Force (an organization with no relationship to the first Ninth Air Force): 5 Aug 2009-20 Aug 2020. Twelfth Air Force (later, Twelfth Air Force [Air Forces Southern]): 17 May 1946-1 Dec 1948; 1 Jan 1958-. Fifteenth Air Force: 20 Aug 20-. Sixteenth Air Force [Air Forces Cyber]: 11 Oct 2019-. Eighteenth Air Force: 28 Mar 1951-1 Jan 1958. Nineteenth Air Force: 8 Jul 1955-2 Jul 1973. Twentieth Air Force: 1 Jun 1992-1 Jul 1993. Twenty-Fourth Air Force [Air Forces Cyber]: 17 Jul 2018-11 Oct 2019. Twenty-Fifth Air Force (see below).
Centers: Air & Space Expeditionary Force: 1 Oct 2002-29 Aug 2006. Aerospace Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (later, Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Global Cyberspace Integration; Air Force Command and Control Integration): 1 Aug 1997-30 Apr 2002; 15 Jun 2010-. Air Combat Command Acquisition Management Integration: 16 Sep 1999-. Air Force Command and Control Integration: 15 Jun 2010-. Air Force Contingency Supply Support Office (later, Air Force Contingency Supply Squadron; ACC Regional Supply Squadron; Combat Air Forces Logistics Support Center): 12 Jun 1992-1 Jul 1994; 1 Dec 1998-1 Apr 2008. Air Force Network Integration (later, Cyberspace Capabilities Center): 17 Jun 2018-. USAF Special Air Warfare Center (later, USAF Special Operations Force), 19 Apr 1962-1 Jul 1974. USAF Tactical fighter Weapons (later, USAF Weapons and Tactics; Air Warfare; USAF Warfare): 20 Mar 1968-. USAF Tactical Air Reconnaissance: 1 Feb 1963-30 Jun 1971.
Agencies: Air and Space Command and Control (later, Aerospace Command and Control; Aerospace Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center; Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center; Air Force Command and Control Integration Center): 1 Aug 1997-30 Apr 2002; 15 Jun 2010-. Air Intelligence (later, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency; Twenty-Fifth Air Force): 1 Feb 2001-8 Jun 2007; 29 Sep 2014-11 Oct 2019.
Groups: 480 Reconnaissance Technical Group (later, 480 Tactical Intelligence; 480 Intelligence): 15 Oct 1969-15 Jun 1974; 1 Aug 1982-30 Sep 1993; 25 Feb-2 Jun 2008; 1912 Computer Systems (later, Air Combat Command Computer Systems Squadron; Air Combat Command Communications Group; Air Combat Command Communications Support Squadron): 1 Jun 1992-. Air Combat Command (ACC) Logistics Support Group: 1 Jul 1994-16 Sep 1999.
Squadrons: Air Combat Command Air Operations Squadron: 1 Jun 1994-. 4444 Operations (later, Air Combat Command Training Support): 1 Jun 1992-. Air Combat Command Communications Support Squadron: 30 Nov 1990-. Air Combat Command Intelligence (later, Air Combat Command Combat Targeting and Intelligence Group; Air Force Targeting Center), 22 Apr 1996-17 Feb 2015. 4700 Air Defense (Support) Squadron (later, 4700 Operations Support; Air Combat Command Contract Programs; Air Combat Command Program Management; Air Combat Command Acquisition Management Integration Center): 1 Oct 1981-5 Dec 1985; 1 Oct 1987-30 Jun 1994; 16 Sep 1999-.
Band: 564 Army Air Forces Band (later, 564 Air Force Band; 564 Tactical Air Command Band; Tactical Air Command Band; Air Combat Command Heritage of America Band; United States Air Force Heritage of America Band): 21-27 Mar 1946; c. 29 Jun 1946-16 Feb 1949; c. 1 Aug 1950-21 Mar 1960; 1 Jul 1970-.
Stations. Tampa, FL, 21 Mar 1946; Langley Field (later, Langley AFB, JB Langley-Eustis), VA, 27 May 1946-.
Operations. During its first years, the command’s missions included interdiction, close air support, tactical reconnaissance, and troop carrier support for Army airborne forces. On 1 Dec 1948, Tactical Air Command (TAC) served as a subordinate command of Continental Air Command, but returned to major command status two years later, on 1 Dec 1950. After 1 Dec 1950, TAC organized, trained, and equipped forces to perform tactical air operations including counter-air, air interdiction, close air support, tactical air control, electronic warfare, and special operations. Troop carrier operations remained a TAC mission until Dec 1974, when tactical airlift transferred to Military Airlift Command. In Oct 1979, when Aerospace Defense Command was inactivated, TAC assumed the national air defense mission, in addition to its other missions. In 1983, TAC’s special operations mission was transferred to Military Airlift Command’s Twenty-Third Air Force, which later became Air Force Special Operations Command. In carrying out its mission, TAC participated with the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps in developing doctrine, procedures, tactics, techniques, training and equipment for joint operations. TAC provided combat-ready USAF units to joint commands of the Department of Defense. Consolidated in 2016 with Air Combat Command which HQ USAF established to integrate most of the combat resources of Strategic Air Command with Tactical Air Command units into a single command, able to support and implement joint missions. ACC assumed control of all fighter resources based in the continental United States (CONUS), as well as all bombers, reconnaissance platforms, battle management resources, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Additionally, some tankers and C-130s were assigned to ACC, primarily to its composite and reconnaissance wings. The Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission transferred to the command from Air Mobility Command (AMC) in Feb 1993. In another mission change, ACC transferred responsibility for the operational control of the ICBMs to the Air Force Space Command and F-15 and F-16 flying training resources to the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) in Jul 1993. Later in Oct 1993, CONUS C-130 airlift forces transferred into ACC while the command’s tanker resources transferred to AMC. The C-130 forces returned to AMC in Apr 1997. The CSAR mission transferred to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in Oct 2003 only to return to ACC in Apr 2006. Air Combat Command also served as the Air Force component of the United States Atlantic Command (later, United States Joint Forces Command), and supported the Global War on Terrorism through its flying missions.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada.
Decorations. Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards: 1 Jun 1984-31 May 1986; 1 Jun 1986-31 May 1988; 1 Jun 1988-31 May 1990; 1 Jun 1990-31 May 1992. 1 Sep 1992-31 Aug 1994; 1 Jun 1994-31 May 1996; 1 Jun 1996-31 May 1998; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 2000; 1 Jun 2000-31 May 2002; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2006; 1 Jan 2009-31 Dec 2010.
Emblem. Approved on 6 Nov 1952; latest rendering, 16 Sep 2011.
AIR NATIONAL GUARD
The Air National Guard is administered by the National Guard Bureau, a joint bureau of the departments of the Army and Air Force, located in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. It is one of the seven Reserve components of the United States armed forces that augments the active components in the performance of their missions.
Mission
The Air National Guard has both a federal and state mission. The dual mission, a provision of the U. S. Constitution, results in each guardsman holding membership in the National Guard of his or her state and in the National Guard of the United States.
Federal Mission
The Air National Guard’s federal mission is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization during war and provide assistance during national emergencies (such as natural disasters or civil disturbances). During peacetime, the combat-ready units and support units are assigned to most Air Force major commands to carry out missions compatible with training, mobilization readiness, humanitarian and contingency operations such as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Air National Guard units may be activated in a number of ways as prescribed by public law. Most of the laws may be found in Title 10 of the U.S. Code.
The Air National Guard provides almost half of the Air Force’s tactical airlift support, combat communications functions, aeromedical evacuations and aerial refueling. In addition, the Air National Guard has total responsibility for air defense of the entire United States.
State Mission
When Air National Guard units are not mobilized or under federal control, they report to the governor of their respective state, territory (Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands) or the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. Each of the 54 National Guard organizations is supervised by the adjutant general of the state or territory. Under state law, the Air National Guard provides protection of life, property and preserves peace, order and public safety. These missions are accomplished through emergency relief support during natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and forest fires; search and rescue operations; support to civil defense authorities; maintenance of vital public services and counterdrug operations.
Force Structure
The primary sources of full-time support for Air National Guard units are the dual-status military technician and guardsmen on active duty. These people perform day-to-day management, administration and maintenance. By law, dual-status military technicians are civil service employees of the federal government who must be military members of the unit that employs them. Technicians train with the unit and are mobilized with it when it’s activated. Active-duty members serve under the command authority of their respective state or territorial governors until mobilized for federal duty. The Air National Guard has more than 106,000 officers and enlisted people who serve in 89 flying units and 579 mission support units.
The National Guard Bureau, both a staff and operating agency, administers the federal functions of the Army and the Air National Guard. As a staff agency, the National Guard Bureau participates with the Army and Air staffs in developing and coordinating programs that directly affect the National Guard. As an operating agency, the National Guard Bureau formulates and administers the programs for training, development and maintenance of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard and acts as the channel of communication between the Army, Air Force and the 54 states and territories where National Guard units are located.
Personnel and Resources
The authorized strength for the Air National Guard for the current fiscal year is 106,700. The operating budget for this fiscal year is $3,022 million for personnel, $6,182 million for operation and maintenance, for a total of $9, 204 million.
Flying Units/Functions and Capabilities
Besides maintaining 94 percent of the U.S. alert sites for air defense, the Air National Guard flew more than 1,300 sorties in fiscal 2010 to protect U.S. air sovereignty while still performing many other Air Force-related roles and missions.
The Air National Guard provides tactical airlift, air refueling tankers, general purpose fighters, rescue and recovery capabilities, tactical air support, weather flights, strategic airlift, special operations capabilities and aeromedical evacuation units.
Airlift squadrons fly C-130 Hercules, C-5 Galaxy, and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft that transport people, equipment and supplies. Air refueling units, flying KC-135 Stratotankers, provide air-to-air refueling for strategic and tactical aircraft.
The Air National Guard has three rescue and recovery squadrons that fly HH-60 helicopters and HC-130 aircraft. These units provide important lifesaving capabilities and services to civilian and military agencies. Air support units that fly A-10C Thunderbolt IIs provide forward air control support of close-air support missions. The general-purpose fighter force is equipped with F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 aircraft.
Support Unit Functions and Capabilities
Support units are essential to the Air Force mission. In the Air National Guard they include air traffic control units, combat communications squadrons, civil engineering and communication flights and squadrons. Support units also include weather flights, aircraft control and warning squadrons, a range control squadron and an electronic security unit.
Air National Guard weather flights provide weather support to Air Force and Army National Guard and Army Reserve divisions and brigades. During mobilization or federal call up, weather flight units are under the Air Combat Command, except for one, which falls under Pacific Air Forces.
Civil engineer squadrons provide engineer and firefighter forces trained and equipped to deploy on short notice. Other civil engineer squadrons provide self-sufficient, deployable civil engineer teams to perform heavy repair and maintenance on air bases and remote sites.
Aerial port units provide trained people to support Air Mobility Command’s two major theater war commitments. They deploy to 20 active-duty aerial port locations worldwide for annual tour training.
Medical units located with parent flying organizations provide day-to-day health care for flying and non-flying people during their two-week annual training period or during monthly two-day unit training assemblies.