Texas Air National Guard
Encyclopedia
The Texas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state
of Texas
and a component of the Texas Military Forces
(along with the Texas Army National Guard
and the Texas State Guard
). It is composed of airmen and officers assigned to three flying wings and three geographically separated units throughout Texas
.
From 2001 through 2007, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Texas were activated in support of the Global War on Terror
. Flight crews, aircraft maintenance personnel, communications technicians, air controllers and air security personnel deployed to Iraq
, Afghanistan
, Qatar
, Israel
, and other locations throughout Southwest Asia
. Additionally, in 2005 elements of all the units were activated to provide relief after Hurricane Katrina
and Hurricane Rita
.
in Austin
includes the state headquarters staff whose mission is to provide command and control of Texas Air Guard units.
in Fort Worth flies C-130H cargo aircraft carrying personnel and equipment around the world. Its main unit is the 181st Airlift Squadron
. The 531st Air Force Band is co-located with the 136th Airlift Wing.
with their command unit, the 254th Combat Communications Group. The function of the 221st Combat Communications Squadron is to provide communications in a deployed environment. Such requirements may include establishing a Local Area Network, Telephone Network, Wide Area Network, and Radio Communications. All this while ensuring reliable connectivity for those parties serviced and maintaining mission effectiveness.
, information management and combat support critical to war fighting capabilities. The 254th's primary mission is to provide planning and engineering for Combat Communications Squadrons that provide tactical (high-frequency radio, telephone, satellite and network) communications and terminal air traffic control services to support emergency U.S. Air Force requirements. The 254th provides a staff element for management of communications personnel and equipment when deployed in support of Air Force missions worldwide in locations where these capabilities don't exist, and are prepared to do so under hostile conditions and during peacetime as well. The 254th commands six squadrons across Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana - the 221st and 236th Combat Communications Squadrons and the 205th, 214th, 219th and 272nd Engineering and Installation Squadrons.
The 147th Reconnaissance Wing
, headquartered in Houston on the Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, provides a worldwide deployable reconnaissance capability in the battlefield tactical reconnaissance mission.
. The Squadron flies the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle
.
is headquartered in San Antonio on Lackland Air Force Base. The fighter wing is assigned to the US Air Forces Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and is one of the primary "school houses" for F-16 pilots.
is attached to the 149th Fighter Wing
. The Squadron flies the F-16C/D Block 30
dual-role fighter.
, El Paso
. They are one of few heavy weapons security forces units in the Air National Guard. Since the September 11 attacks, members of the 204th SFS have seen duty in central and southwest Asia
, in Africa
and even onboard ship in the Persian Gulf
. They have served on installations in several states in the U.S. and taught military base defense in Latin America
n countries. The unit still has members serving in the Iraq
area of operations as part of Aerospace Expeditionary Forces.
), provides support to two active duty units (23d Information Operations Squadron and 346th Test Squadron) conducting Information Operations tactics and testing to help defend United States Air Force networks. Securing the AF gateways against IO attacks. It is subordinate to the 149th Fighter Wing located on Lackland AFB.
at Lackland AFB, Texas. The 217th TRS is a GSU (geographically separated unit) and is located on Goodfellow AFB, Texas. The unit stood up officially on August 15, 2008 as a unit that works directly for and with the following active duty units: 315 Training Squadron, 316 Training Squadron, and 17 Training Support Squadron, under the 17th Training Group (TRG). 217 TRS instructors are integrated into the existing courses taught within the 17 TRG - primarily the 315 TRS. The main purpose of the unit is to provide additional instructors to Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and the 17th Training Group to further augment the active duty cadre, bring additional experience and continuity to the intelligence courses, and continue with the Department of Defense's vision of "total force integration". Although some 217th TRS instructors are drill status guardsmen, most are full-time air technicians. Lieutenant Colonel James W. Marrs became the first commander of the newly formed 217th Training Squadron upon its activation. Additionally, the 217 TRS will soon be a major training source for Incident Awareness and Assessment (a FEMA disaster response program) and the Geospatial Information Interoperability Exploitation-Portable (GIIEP)system. The unit will be responsible for training any Air National Guard units that require it in order for them to be better prepared to respond to local and national disasters.
directly supports and extends the mission and operations of the Texas Air National Guard and serves the State of Texas directly as a volunteer command in the Texas Military Forces
. Air Division units are embedded with their parent Texas Air National Guard units in San Antonio, Austin, Ft. Worth, Garland, Houston and La Porte.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and a component of the Texas Military Forces
Texas Military Forces
The Texas Military Forces is the combined military strength of the U.S. state of Texas. It is composed of three branches, the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard; all report to the state Adjutant General and are under the command of the Governor of...
(along with the Texas Army National Guard
Texas Army National Guard
The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army, the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces . Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support...
and the Texas State Guard
Texas State Guard
The Texas State Guard is one of three branches of the military forces of Texas, reporting to the Adjutant General, and under the command of the Governor. The other branches of the State Military Forces of Texas are the Texas Army National Guard, and the Texas Air National Guard.-History:The Texas...
). It is composed of airmen and officers assigned to three flying wings and three geographically separated units throughout Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
From 2001 through 2007, elements of every Air National Guard unit in Texas were activated in support of the Global War on Terror
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. Flight crews, aircraft maintenance personnel, communications technicians, air controllers and air security personnel deployed to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and other locations throughout Southwest Asia
Southwest Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East, which describes a geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than its location within Asia...
. Additionally, in 2005 elements of all the units were activated to provide relief after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina disaster relief
The disaster recovery response to Hurricane Katrina included federal government agencies suchas the Federal Emergency Management Agency , state and local-level agencies, federal and National Guard soldiers, non-governmental organizations, charities, and private individuals...
and Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
.
Texas Air National Guard Headquarters
Texas Air National Guard Headquarters at Camp MabryCamp Mabry
Camp Mabry is a military installation in Austin, Texas that houses the headquarters of the Texas Military Forces. Its original site, three miles northwest of downtown west of Mopac Expressway, was deeded from the city to the state in 1892. It was named for Brigadier General Woodford H. Mabry the...
in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
includes the state headquarters staff whose mission is to provide command and control of Texas Air Guard units.
136th Airlift Wing
The 136th Airlift Wing136th Airlift Wing
The United States Air Force's 136th Airlift Wing is an airlift unit located at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. The wing operates the Lockheed C-130H cargo/transport aircraft and is the parent unit of the 181st Airlift Squadron.-Mission:...
in Fort Worth flies C-130H cargo aircraft carrying personnel and equipment around the world. Its main unit is the 181st Airlift Squadron
181st Airlift Squadron
The 181st Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 136th Airlift Wing.-Major Command:*Air National Guard/Air Mobility Command...
. The 531st Air Force Band is co-located with the 136th Airlift Wing.
221st Combat Communications Squadron
The 221st Combat Communications Squadron is co-located in Grand PrairieGrand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
with their command unit, the 254th Combat Communications Group. The function of the 221st Combat Communications Squadron is to provide communications in a deployed environment. Such requirements may include establishing a Local Area Network, Telephone Network, Wide Area Network, and Radio Communications. All this while ensuring reliable connectivity for those parties serviced and maintaining mission effectiveness.
254th Combat Communications Group
The 254th Combat Communications Group is located in Grand Prairie and provides worldwide command, control, communications and computer systemsC4ISTAR
In military usage, a number of abbreviations in the format C followed by additional letters are used, based on expanded versions of the abbreviation C2 - command and control.C2I stands for command, control, and intelligence....
, information management and combat support critical to war fighting capabilities. The 254th's primary mission is to provide planning and engineering for Combat Communications Squadrons that provide tactical (high-frequency radio, telephone, satellite and network) communications and terminal air traffic control services to support emergency U.S. Air Force requirements. The 254th provides a staff element for management of communications personnel and equipment when deployed in support of Air Force missions worldwide in locations where these capabilities don't exist, and are prepared to do so under hostile conditions and during peacetime as well. The 254th commands six squadrons across Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana - the 221st and 236th Combat Communications Squadrons and the 205th, 214th, 219th and 272nd Engineering and Installation Squadrons.
147th Reconnaissance Wing
147th Reconnaissance Wing
The United States Air Force's 147th Reconnaissance Wing is a Texas Air National Guard reconnaissance unit located at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas.-History:The 147th Fighter Interceptor Group was activated in May 1958 by the Texas Air National Guard...
, headquartered in Houston on the Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, provides a worldwide deployable reconnaissance capability in the battlefield tactical reconnaissance mission.
111th Reconnaissance Squadron
The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron is attached to the 147th Reconnaissance Wing147th Reconnaissance Wing
The United States Air Force's 147th Reconnaissance Wing is a Texas Air National Guard reconnaissance unit located at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas.-History:The 147th Fighter Interceptor Group was activated in May 1958 by the Texas Air National Guard...
. The Squadron flies the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
.
149th Fighter Wing
The 149th Fighter Wing149th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 149th Fighter Wing is a Texas Air National Guard unit located at Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas.-Mission:...
is headquartered in San Antonio on Lackland Air Force Base. The fighter wing is assigned to the US Air Forces Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and is one of the primary "school houses" for F-16 pilots.
182d Fighter Squadron
The 182nd Fighter Squadron182nd Fighter Squadron
The 182nd Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Texas Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 149th Fighter Wing.-History:...
is attached to the 149th Fighter Wing
149th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 149th Fighter Wing is a Texas Air National Guard unit located at Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas.-Mission:...
. The Squadron flies the F-16C/D Block 30
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
dual-role fighter.
204th Security Forces Squadron
The 204th Security Forces Squadron located at Biggs Army Airfield, Fort BlissFort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
, El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. They are one of few heavy weapons security forces units in the Air National Guard. Since the September 11 attacks, members of the 204th SFS have seen duty in central and southwest Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and even onboard ship in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. They have served on installations in several states in the U.S. and taught military base defense in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n countries. The unit still has members serving in the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
area of operations as part of Aerospace Expeditionary Forces.
272d Engineering Installation Squadron
The 272d Engineering Installation Squadron, headquartered in La Porte, provides worldwide engineering, installation and relocation of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems.273d Information Operations Squadron
The 273d Information Operations Squadron, located in San Antonio (Port of San AntonioPort San Antonio
Port San Antonio is a multi-purpose, facility in San Antonio, Texas established to serve as an aerospace complex, international airport and industrial hub with two railroads and close access to three interstate highways...
), provides support to two active duty units (23d Information Operations Squadron and 346th Test Squadron) conducting Information Operations tactics and testing to help defend United States Air Force networks. Securing the AF gateways against IO attacks. It is subordinate to the 149th Fighter Wing located on Lackland AFB.
217th Training Squadron
The 217th TRS (Nighthawks) is an intelligence training unit that is subordinate to the 149th Fighter Wing149th Fighter Wing
The United States Air Force's 149th Fighter Wing is a Texas Air National Guard unit located at Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas.-Mission:...
at Lackland AFB, Texas. The 217th TRS is a GSU (geographically separated unit) and is located on Goodfellow AFB, Texas. The unit stood up officially on August 15, 2008 as a unit that works directly for and with the following active duty units: 315 Training Squadron, 316 Training Squadron, and 17 Training Support Squadron, under the 17th Training Group (TRG). 217 TRS instructors are integrated into the existing courses taught within the 17 TRG - primarily the 315 TRS. The main purpose of the unit is to provide additional instructors to Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and the 17th Training Group to further augment the active duty cadre, bring additional experience and continuity to the intelligence courses, and continue with the Department of Defense's vision of "total force integration". Although some 217th TRS instructors are drill status guardsmen, most are full-time air technicians. Lieutenant Colonel James W. Marrs became the first commander of the newly formed 217th Training Squadron upon its activation. Additionally, the 217 TRS will soon be a major training source for Incident Awareness and Assessment (a FEMA disaster response program) and the Geospatial Information Interoperability Exploitation-Portable (GIIEP)system. The unit will be responsible for training any Air National Guard units that require it in order for them to be better prepared to respond to local and national disasters.
Air Division
The Air Division of the Texas State GuardTexas State Guard
The Texas State Guard is one of three branches of the military forces of Texas, reporting to the Adjutant General, and under the command of the Governor. The other branches of the State Military Forces of Texas are the Texas Army National Guard, and the Texas Air National Guard.-History:The Texas...
directly supports and extends the mission and operations of the Texas Air National Guard and serves the State of Texas directly as a volunteer command in the Texas Military Forces
Texas Military Forces
The Texas Military Forces is the combined military strength of the U.S. state of Texas. It is composed of three branches, the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard; all report to the state Adjutant General and are under the command of the Governor of...
. Air Division units are embedded with their parent Texas Air National Guard units in San Antonio, Austin, Ft. Worth, Garland, Houston and La Porte.
Active aircraft
The following is a list of currently active aircraft:| Aircraft | Origin | Type |
|---|---|---|
| C-130 Hercules | Tactical Transport | |
| F-16C/D Fighting Falcon | Air Superiority Fighter | |
| MQ-1 Predator | Remote controlled UAV | |
Notable former personnel
- George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, 43rd President of the United States - Congressman Charlie GonzalezCharlie GonzalezCharles A. "Charlie" Gonzalez , is a Democratic politician from Texas. He has represented Texas's 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1999. The district includes more than half of San Antonio....
- Brigadier General David Lee "Tex" Hill
- Congressman Ron PaulRon PaulRonald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...