Air Combat Command: Difference between revisions

Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command Headquarters building, Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia
Active	1 June 1992 – present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Major Command
Garrison/HQ	Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia
Nickname(s)	ACC
Commanders
Current commander	General Gilmary M. Hostage III
Insignia
Emblem of Air Combat Command
Aircraft flown
Attack	F-15E Strike Eagle A-10 Thunderbolt II
Bomber	B-1B Lancer
Electronic warfare	E-8 J-STARS Boeing E-4B Nightwatch E-3 Sentry
Fighter	F-22A Raptor F-16C Fighting Falcon F-15C Eagle
Multirole helicopter	HH-60 Pave Hawk
Reconnaissance	MQ-9 Reaper RQ-1 Predator RQ-170 Sentinel Lockheed U-2/TR-1 Dragon Lady Boeing OC-135;RC-135S/V/U;TC-135;WC-135

Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of ten major [[

List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force|Major Commands]] (MAJCOM) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon.^[1]

ACC is headquartered at Langley Field, Joint Base Langley–Eustis (formerly Langley AFB), Virginia. Its commander is General Gilmary M. Hostage III, with Lieutenant General Lori J. Robinson as Vice Commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Richard A. Parsons as the Command Chief Master Sergeant.

Mission

The mission of Air Combat Command is to be the primary force provider of non-nuclear combat airpower to America's warfighting commands. To support global implementation of national security strategy, ACC operates fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, battle-management and electronic-combat aircraft. Air Combat Command also provides command, control, computing, communications and intelligence (C4I) systems, and conducts global information operations.

As a force provider, ACC organizes, trains, equips and maintains combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime air defense.

ACC numbered air forces provide the air components to United States Central Command, United States Southern Command, United States Northern Command and United States Strategic Command. In addition, ACC augments forces to United States European Command and United States Pacific Command.

Air Combat Command consists of more than 109,000 active duty members and civilians (approximately 98,000 active duty members and more than 11,000 civilians). When mobilized, more than 63,000 members of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with over 600 aircraft, are assigned to ACC. In total, ACC and ACC-gained units consist of more than 1,750 aircraft.^[1]

In 2010, responsibility for nuclear-capable assets was transferred to the Air Force Global Strike Command.

Wings and Groups

As of 2012^[update] Air Combat Command consisted of the following units:^[1]

Note: On 6 October 2008, it was announced that the Eighth Air Force would become part of the new Air Force Global Strike Command.

In addition, units from Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force and numerous state Air National Guard units are allocated to Air Combat Command when activated to federal service.

Aircraft

As of 2012^[update]:

History

Lineage

• Established, and activated, as Air Combat Command on 1 June 1992.

Assignments

• Headquarters, United States Air Force, 1 June 1992 – present

Stations

• Langley AFB, Virginia, 1 June 1992 – present

Major components

Air Forces

First Air Force (later, First Air Force [ANG]): 1 June 1992 – present

Second Air Force: 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1993

Eighth Air Force: 1 June 1992–2009

Ninth Air Force: 1 June 1992 – present

Twelfth Air Force: 1 June 1992 – present

Twentieth Air Force: 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1993

Centers

Air & Space Expeditionary Force Center: 1 October 2002 – 29 August 2006

Aerospace Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (later, Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) Center (see Agencies below): 29 July 1997 – 30 April 2002. On 17 June 2010, the GCIC was officially redesignated the Air Force Command and Control Integration Center or AFC2IC as a direct reporting unit to Air Combat Command (ACC).^[2]

Air Force Contingency Supply Support Office (later, Air Force Contingency Supply Squadron; ACC Regional Supply Squadron; Combat Air Forces Logistics Support Center): 12 June 1992 – 1 July 1994; 1 December 1998 – present

Air Warfare (later, USAF Warfare) Center: 1 June 1992 – present

Agencies

Air and Space Command and Control Agency (later, Aerospace Command and Control Agency; Aerospace Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center; Air Force Command and Control & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center): 29 July 1997 – 30 April 2002.

Air Intelligence Agency: 1 February 2001 – present

Groups

Air Combat Command (ACC) Air Force Targeting Center: 2008–present

Air Combat Command (ACC) Communications Group: 1 June 1992 – present

Air Combat Command (ACC) Logistics Support Group: 1 July 1994 – 16 September 1999.

source for lineage, assignments, stations, components^[3]

Operational history

Air Combat Command was created 1 June 1992 after the inactivation of the Tactical Air Command (TAC), Strategic Air Command (SAC) and Military Airlift Command (MAC). Upon activation, ACC assumed control of all fighter resources based in the continental United States, all bombers, reconnaissance platforms, battle management resources, and Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Furthermore, ACC had some tankers and C-130s in its composite, reconnaissance, and certain other combat wings. In 1993 control of the ICBM force was transferred to the Air Force Space Command.^[4]

Following the inactivation of SAC at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, a new unified command, the United States Strategic Command, was activated at Offutt, created to manage the combined strategic nuclear forces belonging to the Air Force and the Navy.^[4]

Historically, combat command was an earlier air unit designation. During 1941 and early 1942, the tactical air units of the War Department, formerly known as the GHQ Air Force, formed the Air Force Combat Command. The AFCC was dissolved in the reorganization of the United States Army, effective 9 March 1942, which created the United States Army Air Forces as a major and semi-independent component.^[4]

Mission Realignments

Combat search and rescue

Not long after activation, ACC underwent organizational and mission changes. The first such major change was the transfer of the combat search and rescue mission (CSAR) from Air Mobility Command to ACC. With the realigning of search and rescue units, ACC gained additional resources, as well as a new mission. The formal transfer took place on 1 February 1993, when the Air Rescue Service (ARS) was assigned to ACC. On 2 July of the same year, the ARS was redesignated the USAF Combat Rescue School and was assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada.^[4]

Flight training

One of the most significant changes for Air Combat Command resulted from an overhaul of flying training responsibilities. Following its activation, ACC was responsible for aircraft-specific aircrew training, including initial weapon system and continuation training. On 1 July 1993, the 58th and 325th Fighter Wings—F-16 and F-15 training units transferred from ACC to Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Concurrently, Luke AFB, Arizona, and Tyndall AFB, Florida, for which those respective wings were the host units, also moved from ACC to AETC ownership. However, on 1 October 2012, both Tyndall AFB and the 325th Fighter Wing returned to the control of ACC.^[4]

Tanker and airlift

The next major organizational change resulted from a fine-tuning of aerial refueling and airlift resources. From its activation, Air Combat Command had assumed ownership of some C-130 Hercules theater airlift assets and KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotankers. Just as ownership of overseas C-130 resources had already been transferred to USAFE and PACAF commanders, it was decided that all C-130s based in the CONUS would be under the control of ACC, while at the same time, almost all KC-135 tankers would be assigned to Air Mobility Command.^[4]

There was historical precedent for the reassignment of C-130s to Air Combat Command. During the earliest days of Tactical Air Command (TAC), the command had carried out the "tactical" or combat airborne aspect of airlift operations, leaving the "strategic" or logistical mission to Military Air Transport Service (a precursor of AMC). The tactical airlift mission included logistical airlift, airborne operations, aeromedical evacuation, and air support for special operations. This division of the airlift mission continued until 1 December 1974, when TAC transferred its CONUS-based tactical airlift units, including ANG and Reserve units, to Military Airlift Command (MAC). MAC gained the overseas units from theater commands on 31 March 1975.^[4]

On 1 October 1993, all AMC C-130s were transferred to ACC and all ACC KC-135 tankers except those at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, which supported the fighter and bomber aircraft of the composite wing stationed there, transferred to AMC. The command also kept two KC-135s at Offutt AFB Nebraska and Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, transferred to AMC on 1 October 1993, with McConnell AFB, Kansas, and Fairchild AFB, Washington, transferring in January and July, respectively, 1994.^[4]

Operational deployments

In Southwest Asia, Air Combat Command provided active duty and reserve component forces for Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch to deter Iraqi aggression. In October 1994, ACC also demonstrated its ability to react quickly to the buildup of Iraqi troops near the border of Kuwait. In addition, ACC, from its inception, has provided indispensable support to counter-drug operations, including Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, as well as radar and connectivity assets.^[4]

Participation in humanitarian operations has also been a recurring theme. Air Combat Command supported the humanitarian efforts of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), deploying active duty and air reserve component forces to Provide Promise and Deny Flight in Eastern Europe and Operation Provide Comfort out of Incirlik AB, Turkey. Provide Promise offered humanitarian relief airlift support to the city of Sarajevo, while Deny Flight enforced the "no-fly" zone against Serb air attacks on Bosnian civilians. Operation Provide Comfort, another humanitarian operation, also provided relief to Kurdish inhabitants of northern Iraq who had undergone fierce repression by the Iraqi government.^[4]

In addition, ACC supported United States Atlantic Command's humanitarian relief to Haitian refugees associated with Operation GTMO at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. Similarly, the command supported Operation Safe Haven and the processing of Cuban refugees during the latter part of the summer of 1994. Across the Atlantic, Air Combat Command units participated in Operation Restore Hope, largely an Air Mobility Command humanitarian operation intended to provide food for Somalia. Also, ACC regular and gained C-130 Air National Guard units deployed to Uganda and Kenya to participate in Support Hope. This operation, conducted by the United States European Command, comprised part of the United Nations effort to provide humanitarian relief to victims of the civil war in Rwanda.^[4]

In keeping with its global responsibilities, ACC initiated a series of "Global Power" missions in 1993. ACC's bomber wings are required to perform out-of-CONUS training flights to demonstrate the capability to perform their "quick reaction" worldwide mission. On one of the global power missions, two B-1 Lancer aircraft of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, set a B-1 flying time record on the first leg of their round-the-world flight, 11–13 August 1993. The following year, two B-52s from the 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, circumnavigated the globe in 47.2 hours, the longest jet aircraft flight in history.^[4]

Global war on terrorism

Air Combat Command units flew operational missions during the 2002 Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The task of developing a comprehensive listing of ACC units present in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat areas is particularly difficult as the events of 11 September 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly difficult. The USAF seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies as to the extent of American operations, therefore a listing of which units deploying where and when is unavailable.^[4]

However, it is certain that ACC units are actively flying combat missions currently over both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Predecessor units merged into Air Combat Command 1992

See also

• Predecessor Organizations:

Tactical Air Command

Strategic Air Command

Military Airlift Command

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Much of this text in an early version of this article was taken from pages on the Air Combat Command website, which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be a public domain resource.

External links

• Air Combat Command website
• Air National Guard website
• Tenth Air Force website