226th Combat Communications Group
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 226th Combat Communications Group is a combat communications unit located at Abston Air National Guard Station in Montgomery
, Alabama, USA.
The 226th Combat Communications Group, based at Montgomery's Abston Air National Guard Station, will take over for the security center, or NOSC, in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, Air Force officials say.
"It's really a huge deal", said Maj. Mike Dyer, flight commander for the 226th. "The Air National Guard and active duty will be working hand in hand."
According to a report from the Ninth Air Force and the U.S. Central Command Air Forces, the NOSC, based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, is responsible for analyzing, protecting, monitoring and managing communications throughout the central command's 25-nation area. That area includes Southwest Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa.
As the Iraqi conflict began to wind down, the report said, military communications experts determined there was a need for an alternate NOSC for times in which the South Carolina NOSC could not handle its duties. Maj. Paul Griggs, public affairs spokesman for the Air National Guard, said the station in Montgomery became a viable choice because of the communications expertise Guardsmen here have.
"They have vast experience in computer networking", Griggs said. "Montgomery was a perfect fit."
As such, it becomes the only one of its kind in the world, Dyer said.
"This is the first facility of this type that the Air National Guard will man", Dyer said. "All other NOSCs – there is one in Europe, in the Pacific and in Virginia – are handled by active military."
The Montgomery facility will be the only A-NOSC in the world, he said. It will be manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There will be about 15 or 16 people on duty at any given time.
"There are only 35 people in the 226th", Dyer said. "But there are also subordinate squadrons, totaling between 600 and 800 people."
Subordinate squadrons that report to the 226th combat group are as close as Dothan and as far away as St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, Dyer and Griggs said.
Dyer said the 226th's new duties would be a good way to foster a better relationship between Air National Guard troops.
"Guard troops in general need to work more closely than they have in the past", he said.
The guest speaker for this month was Colonel Frank W. Barnett, Commander, 226th Combat Communications Group, Montgomery, Alabama. Col Barnett discussed the Total Force effort required to establish essential communications in the aftermath of Katrina. The efforts of the 226th and 228th Combat Communications Groups were critical in the establishment of key communications capabilities to the Gulf Coast after more than three million phone lines and the majority of cell towers in the region were destroyed.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 226th Combat Communications Group is a combat communications unit located at Abston Air National Guard Station in Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, Alabama, USA.
History
Members of the Alabama Air National Guard will be assuming a more active role in the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts, becoming the backup to the force's Network Operations Security Center.The 226th Combat Communications Group, based at Montgomery's Abston Air National Guard Station, will take over for the security center, or NOSC, in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, Air Force officials say.
"It's really a huge deal", said Maj. Mike Dyer, flight commander for the 226th. "The Air National Guard and active duty will be working hand in hand."
According to a report from the Ninth Air Force and the U.S. Central Command Air Forces, the NOSC, based at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, is responsible for analyzing, protecting, monitoring and managing communications throughout the central command's 25-nation area. That area includes Southwest Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa.
As the Iraqi conflict began to wind down, the report said, military communications experts determined there was a need for an alternate NOSC for times in which the South Carolina NOSC could not handle its duties. Maj. Paul Griggs, public affairs spokesman for the Air National Guard, said the station in Montgomery became a viable choice because of the communications expertise Guardsmen here have.
"They have vast experience in computer networking", Griggs said. "Montgomery was a perfect fit."
As such, it becomes the only one of its kind in the world, Dyer said.
"This is the first facility of this type that the Air National Guard will man", Dyer said. "All other NOSCs – there is one in Europe, in the Pacific and in Virginia – are handled by active military."
The Montgomery facility will be the only A-NOSC in the world, he said. It will be manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There will be about 15 or 16 people on duty at any given time.
"There are only 35 people in the 226th", Dyer said. "But there are also subordinate squadrons, totaling between 600 and 800 people."
Subordinate squadrons that report to the 226th combat group are as close as Dothan and as far away as St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, Dyer and Griggs said.
Dyer said the 226th's new duties would be a good way to foster a better relationship between Air National Guard troops.
"Guard troops in general need to work more closely than they have in the past", he said.
The guest speaker for this month was Colonel Frank W. Barnett, Commander, 226th Combat Communications Group, Montgomery, Alabama. Col Barnett discussed the Total Force effort required to establish essential communications in the aftermath of Katrina. The efforts of the 226th and 228th Combat Communications Groups were critical in the establishment of key communications capabilities to the Gulf Coast after more than three million phone lines and the majority of cell towers in the region were destroyed.
Squadrons assigned
- 228th Combat Communications Squadron228th Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 228th Combat Communications Squadron is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Tennessee.-Major Command/Gaining Command:...
- 232d Combat Communications Squadron232d Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 232d Combat Communications Squadron is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at Abston Air National Guard Station, Montgomery, Alabama.-External links:...
- 240th Combat Communications Squadron
- 241st Engineering Installation Squadron
- 245th Air Traffic Control Squadron
- 280th Combat Communications Squadron280th Combat Communications SquadronThe Air National Guard's 280th Combat Communications Squadron is a combat communications unit located at Dothan Regional Airport, Alabama...
- 285th Combat Communications Squadron285th Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 285th Combat Communications Squadron is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at St Croix ANGS.-History:...
Bases stationed
- Abston ANGS, MontgomeryMontgomery, AlabamaMontgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, Alabama (1996–present) - Martin ANGS, GadsdenGadsdenGadsden may refer to:In geography:*Gadsden, Alabama**Gadsden Depot, a United States Army Depot in the city of Gadsden, Alabama*Gadsden, Arizona*Gadsden, Indiana*Gadsden, Tennessee*Gadsden County, Florida...
, AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(????–1996)