281st Combat Communications Group
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 281st Combat Communications Group is a Rhode Island Air National Guard
combat communications unit located at Smithfield
, Rhode Island, USA.
(JFACC) and the Air Force Forces (AFFOR) Commander.
State: To be organized, equipped, and trained to function effectively in the protection of life, property and the preservation of peace, order, and public safety under competent orders of Rhode Island state authorities.
and TSC-38B high frequency radios
. The MRC-113 was the largest and had the longest range and channel capacity of any USAF Tactical Wideband radio system. The TSC-38B provided secure record traffic and a telephone switch in addition to its HF radio cababilities. The 263 CBCS was part of the 251CCG from Springfield, Ohio and had the contingency squadron mission. They possessed a variety of analog communications equipment, including high frequency and line-of-sight radios
, technical control, record communications center, tactical switchboards, and a Digital Subscriber Terminal. In 1985, the 281 CCG was selected as the USAF Component of the Tactical Contingency Communications Equipment – Central Area (TCCE-CA) in support of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM).
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 281st Combat Communications Group is a Rhode Island Air National Guard
Rhode Island Air National Guard
The Rhode Island Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is, along with the Rhode Island Army National Guard, an element of the Rhode Island National Guard...
combat communications unit located at Smithfield
Smithfield, Rhode Island
Smithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville...
, Rhode Island, USA.
Mission
Federal: To install, operate, and maintain combat ready equipment and personnel packages, to provide deployable communications and information (C&I) capability in support of the United States Air Force Joint Forces Air Component CommanderJoint Forces Air Component Commander
Joint Force Air Component Commander , is a United States Department of Defense doctrinal term.It refers to an individual of general officer rank that is responsible for air forces within a joint operations environment. The term "air forces" encompasses aircraft of Air Force and Naval variants, not...
(JFACC) and the Air Force Forces (AFFOR) Commander.
State: To be organized, equipped, and trained to function effectively in the protection of life, property and the preservation of peace, order, and public safety under competent orders of Rhode Island state authorities.
History
The 281st Combat Communications Group (281 CCG) was established as the 281st Tactical Air Control Group on 1 April 1976. The Group Headquarters, the 282 Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS), and the 283 CBCS were formerly Tactical Air Control units. The 263 CBCS was assigned to the Group in 1988. In 1993, the 118 CBCS was assigned to the Group Hqs. The 118th was a NATO Air Base Support (NABS) organization and recently converted to an Initial Beddown mission in NATO. Prior to the new Tactical Contingency Communications Equipment – Central Area (TCCE-CA) mission, the 282CBCS and 283 CBCS provided the entire USAF inventory of MRC-113 wideband radiosWideband
In communications, wideband is a relative term used to describe a wide range of frequencies in a spectrum. A system is typically described as wideband if the message bandwidth significantly exceeds the channel's coherence bandwidth....
and TSC-38B high frequency radios
High frequency
High frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
. The MRC-113 was the largest and had the longest range and channel capacity of any USAF Tactical Wideband radio system. The TSC-38B provided secure record traffic and a telephone switch in addition to its HF radio cababilities. The 263 CBCS was part of the 251CCG from Springfield, Ohio and had the contingency squadron mission. They possessed a variety of analog communications equipment, including high frequency and line-of-sight radios
Line-of-sight propagation
Line-of-sight propagation refers to electro-magnetic radiation or acoustic wave propagation. Electromagnetic transmission includes light emissions traveling in a straight line...
, technical control, record communications center, tactical switchboards, and a Digital Subscriber Terminal. In 1985, the 281 CCG was selected as the USAF Component of the Tactical Contingency Communications Equipment – Central Area (TCCE-CA) in support of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM).
Major Command/Gaining Command
- Rhode Island Air National GuardRhode Island Air National GuardThe Rhode Island Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is, along with the Rhode Island Army National Guard, an element of the Rhode Island National Guard...
/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 ....
(1 June 1992 – present) - Air National Guard/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...
(1976–1 June 1992)
Squadrons assigned
- 202nd Engineering and Installation Squadron
- 213th Engineering and Installation Squadron
- 263d Combat Communications Squadron263d Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 263rd Combat Communications Squadron is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at the Stanly County Airport Air National Guard Station in Albemarle, North Carolina.-Mission:...
- 282d Combat Communications Squadron
- 283d Combat Communications Squadron