251st Combat Communications Group
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 251st Combat Communications Group (251 CBCG) is an Air National Guard
combat communications unit located at Springfield ANGB, Ohio
.
requirements, and to provide timely and reliable communications and engineering and installation in support of state emergencies.
Installation Squadrons and Combat Communications Squadrons. While the organization was charged with providing, installing, operating, and maintaining communications equipment for deployed flying units, it did so from "scratch", with a greater variety of small components than today's relatively complete tactical capabilities. Beginning in 1953, the headquarters planned and directed Group-Wide Exercises at locations across the country, beginning with Annual Training at Stewart AFB, New York, in August of that year. In 1954, the organization was authorized with its first full-time officer Air Technician: Capt (later Lt Col) Herbert E. Moore. In that year, the headquarters strength increased to nine officers and nine enlisted personnel. The current mission of the Headquarters, 251CCG is to command, organize, equip, train and administer assigned and attached forces to ensure readiness in order to provide command communications and engineering and installation services to support emergency USAF requirements and to provide a staff element for management of Communications and Electronics (C-E) personnel when deployed in support of Air Force taskings.
To train for its wartime mission, the 251CCG has been deploying to Exercises since 1976, with its first overseas exercise involvement occurring in 1978. Since its first deployment to these Joint Command System (JCS) and overseas exercises, the 251CCG has deployed personnel and equipment to Korea, the European Theater, the US Southern Command, and to South West Asia. During Operation DESERT SHIELD and Operation DESERT STORM, the 251st provided over 1,500 workdays in voluntary direct support, both in the Area Of Responsibility
(AOR) and in back-fill roles stateside.
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 251st Combat Communications Group (251 CBCG) is an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
combat communications unit located at Springfield ANGB, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Mission
The mission of the 251st CBCG is to command, organize, equip, train and administer assigned and attached forces to ensure complete mission readiness in support of emergency USAFUnited 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...
requirements, and to provide timely and reliable communications and engineering and installation in support of state emergencies.
History
Headquarters, 251st Combat Communications Group (CCG) was constituted at Springfield, Ohio, on 5 October 1952. Commanded by Major Charles R. Stahl, the Headquarters had an initial strength of five people. Of the existing ANG communications groups and five active duty groups, the 251CCG is the oldest, and it is also the parent unit of two other ANG combat communications groups: The 226CCG in Alabama and the 254CCG in Texas. At its inception, the group had twelve subordinate units in Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas. The mission of the 251st initially was a composite of the missions of today's Engineering –Installation Squadrons and Combat Communications Squadrons. While the organization was charged with providing, installing, operating, and maintaining communications equipment for deployed flying units, it did so from "scratch", with a greater variety of small components than today's relatively complete tactical capabilities. Beginning in 1953, the headquarters planned and directed Group-Wide Exercises at locations across the country, beginning with Annual Training at Stewart AFB, New York, in August of that year. In 1954, the organization was authorized with its first full-time officer Air Technician: Capt (later Lt Col) Herbert E. Moore. In that year, the headquarters strength increased to nine officers and nine enlisted personnel. The current mission of the Headquarters, 251CCG is to command, organize, equip, train and administer assigned and attached forces to ensure readiness in order to provide command communications and engineering and installation services to support emergency USAF requirements and to provide a staff element for management of Communications and Electronics (C-E) personnel when deployed in support of Air Force taskings.
To train for its wartime mission, the 251CCG has been deploying to Exercises since 1976, with its first overseas exercise involvement occurring in 1978. Since its first deployment to these Joint Command System (JCS) and overseas exercises, the 251CCG has deployed personnel and equipment to Korea, the European Theater, the US Southern Command, and to South West Asia. During Operation DESERT SHIELD and Operation DESERT STORM, the 251st provided over 1,500 workdays in voluntary direct support, both in the Area Of Responsibility
(AOR) and in back-fill roles stateside.
Major Command/Gaining Command
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(1992 – present) - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
/Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(???-1992)
Commanders
- Colonel Norman A. Poklar (2003 – present)
- Col Robert A. Meyer (1996–2003)
- Col William R. Reilly (1992–1996)
- Col Henry S. Youd (1989–1992)
- Col David F. Howard (1983–1989)
- Col Richard E. Bennett (1982–1983)
- Col Pasquale A. Gicale (1968–1982)
- Col Charles R. Stahl (1952–1968)
Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 2007
- 2005
- 1 Aug 1999-31 Jul 2001
- 1 Apr 1997-31 Mar 1999
- 1 Jan 1991-31 Dec 1993
- 1987
- 1982
- 1975
- 1973
Awards
- NGAUS Distinguished Mission Support Award
- 2007
- Tappen Trophy for Most Outstanding Unit in the State of Ohio
- 1980
- McClelland Award for Most Outstanding C-E Unit in the USAF
- 1981
- Hungarian Defense Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1999
- NGB ANG Communications Systems Achievement Award
- 1992
- Colonel Pasquale A. Gicale Outstanding Support Unit in the State of Ohio
- 1990
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1999
- 2003
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- Individual Readiness Award Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) in the State of Ohio
- 2007
- Mission Readiness Award GSU in the State of Ohio
- 2008