Summer 2001

AF Reserve Command

459th Airlift Wing (AFRC)

The 459th Airlift Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Andrews. The wing is equipped with nine C-141C Starlifter aircraft, the mainstay of the AFRC airlift fleet. The 459th and its predecessor units have been based at Andrews since 1954. It is the only flying AFRC unit in the greater Washington, D.C., area. The wing is also a six-time recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Providing both strategic, long-range airlift support to the active duty Air Force and training for assigned Reservists, the 459th is, during peacetime, under the command and control of Headquarters, AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga., through 22nd Air Force. In war or during times of national emergency, the 459th is under the direction of Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill., through 21st Air Force at McGuire AFB, N.J.

Recently, the 459th celebrated its 55th anniversary. A full-time civilian and Air Reserve Technician staff of approximately 220 people provide day-to-day administration and management of the 459th.

Many noteworthy missions have been flown by 459 AW crews. During Operation DESERT STORM, almost 1,000 459 AW members were called to active duty. In 1990, the President activated the 756th Airlift Squadron. Also activated were the wing's Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Medical Squadron, 69th Aerial Port Squadron, and Airlift Control Flight, as well as the wing's then-assigned 907th Airlift Group at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, and its then-assigned 913th Airlift Group, Willow Grove Air Reserve Facility, Pa. All units were released from active duty in the spring of 1991.

In 1992, wing personnel flew supplies to the victims of Hurricane Andrew in Florida; medical equipment and supplies to Minsk, Belarus, as part of Operation PROVIDE HOPE; and food, medicine, supplies and medical personnel into Somalia in support of Operation RESTORE HOPE.

In 1993, the 459th continued to support Operation SUPPORT HOPE. For its heroic efforts in Somalia, a 756th aircrew was awarded the Air Force Association's President's Award for Outstanding Air Force Reserve Crew.

The pace has not changed. The wing provided humanitarian airlift relief in Rwanda and in support of the Cuban refugees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In addition, 459th personnel supported Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti as well as various other significant missions around the globe. Aircrews and ground support personnel with the 459th were responsible for successful airlift of humanitarian relief to South American countries after Hurricane Mitch ravaged their region. In October 1999, this unit flew resupply airlift into Izhevsk, Russia to support Defense Threat Reduction Agency on-site inspection teams as they oversee the deactivation and retirement of Russia's nuclear forces.

Air National Guard

Air National Guard Readiness Center

The Air National Guard Readiness Center develops, manages and directs Air National Guard programs which implement national-level policies set by the Department of Defense, the Air Force and the National Guard Bureau. It also performs operational and technical functions to ensure combat readiness of ANG units and is a channel of communication between the NGB and the states on ANG operational activities.

The commander, ANGRC, is responsible for four detachments and 23 operating locations with an authorized strength of 734 military and civilian personnel. Its mission is to provide service and support to the ANG and help accomplish its total Air Force mission.

When established in August 1977, ANG staff-policy functions and operational functions were officially separated. The building is a three-story structure with 87,300 feet of office space.

On June 1, 1979, the old ANG Field Support Center at Edgewood Arsenal, Md., was inactivated as a named activity and, concurrent with inactivation, the Headquarters ANG Support Center was constituted at Andrews as a direct reporting unit and assigned to the United States Air Force.

The ANG Support Center was redesignated as a field operating agency of the National Guard Bureau in 1989 as a result of an internal reorganization. In late 1990, the NGB at Andrews was redesignated as the Air National Guard Readiness Center.

113th Wing (DCANG)

Andrews has been the home of the 113th Wing and associated District of Columbia Air National Guard units since 1946. Over the years, the 113th has flown nine different fighter aircraft, including the F-100 Super Sabre in which the unit conducted the first all-Air National Guard deployment to Europe in 1964. Four years later the 113th aviators employed the F-100 in combat in Vietnam following the Pueblo call-up.

Wing members were also called to active duty in the Korean War, the 1961 Berlin crisis and most recently Operation DESERT STORM.

The wing flew the F-105 Thunder-chief for 10 years before it converted to the F-4D Phantom II fighter in 1981. The 113th now flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon and only recently the C-21 Learjet and C-22 Boeing 727, as a result of the DCANG unit reorganization when the 201st Airlift Squadron became part of the wing in October 1995.

Formerly Detachment 1, Headquarters DCANG, the 201 AS performs operational airlift missions for the National Guard Bureau, the Air Force and the Department of Defense.

Training for air combat and operational airlift for national defense is the 113th's primary mission. However, as part of its dual mission, the 113th provides capable and ready response forces for the District of Columbia in the event of a natural disaster or civil emergency. Members also assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking in the District of Columbia.

At Andrews, the 113th Wing, its associated DCANG units, and their people are full partners with the active Air Force.

121st Weather Flight (DCANG)

The 121st Weather Flight is an Air Combat Command-gained Air National Guard unit which provides operationally ready weather observers, forecasters and officers for contingency support to First United States Army Headquarters, Fort Gillem, Ga, Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, N.C., and the D.C. Air National Guard assigned units in the event of war or national emergency.

The 121 WF performs crisis and consequence management weather support for Headquarters, First United States Army and backfill weather station support for Simmons Army Air Field when the 18th Weather Squadron there deploys.

The primary peacetime mission is to train personnel, providing weather support through observations of current weather conditions, forecasts, weather watches/warnings, staff and aviation briefings, climatology and astronomical data. The flight uses automated data retrieval systems such as the Automated Meteorological Information System, the Meteorological Information Standard Terminal, Next Generation (Doppler) Radar, laser beam ceilometer (cloud base measuring device), fixed and tactical satellite receivers, internet connective data bases and Air Force and Navy meteorological dial-in data retrieval systems.

The flight has called Andrews home since it was organized in 1953. One of only 33 ANG weather flights and the smallest independent unit in the DCANG, the flight has been recognized as a leader in the ANG weather flight program with the Maj. Gen. John W. Collens Award for Outstanding ANG Weather Unit, Non-Tactical, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1993-1995.

231st Combat Communications Squadron (DCANG)

The 231st Combat Communications Squadron is an Air Combat Command gained unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. The unit has federal and state missions.

The federal mission is to deploy, install, operate, and maintain Communications and Electronic facilities in support of USAF worldwide operations.

The state mission is to support applicable contingencies in the District of Columbia. There are 125 people assigned to the unit; 23 of whom are full time civil service technicians and active duty guard members who maintain the unit at a high level of readiness.

The 231st maintains tactical communications to include satellite, microwave, electronic telephone switching, communications center and computer server support. The unit is active in the Washington area supporting many DOD agencies and received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for 1994-95 and 1995-96.

Air Education and Training Command

317th Recruiting Squadron (AETC)

The 317th Recruiting Squadron, headquartered at Andrews AFB, is an Air Education and Training Command tenant unit and is responsible for recruiting highly qualified Air Force personnel from throughout a four-state area and the District of Columbia. The squadron recruits non-prior service, prior service, officer training school candidates, and all health professions personnel as well as potential candidates for reserve officer training courses, nurse and health professions scholarships. Fifty-five recruiters maintain operations from offices in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and North Carolina. Squadron members also process applications at two Military Entrance Processing Stations (Baltimore and Richmond).<

Air Force Office of Special Investigations HQ AFOSI

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is a field-operating agency with headquarters at Andrews AFB. It has been the Air Force's major investigative service since Aug 1, 1948. The agency reports to the office of the Inspector General of the Air Force and provides professional investigative services to commanders of all Air Force activities.

The primary responsibilities of AFOSI are criminal investigative and counterintelligence services. The organization seeks to identify, investigate and neutralize espionage, terrorism, fraud and other major criminal activities that may threaten Air Force and Department of Defense resources.

AFOSI is also the Department of Defense's executive agent for both the Defense Computer Forensics Laboratory and the Defense Computer Investigations Training Program, located near Baltimore.

AFOSI Washington Field Office

The 70-member 33rd Field Investigations Squadron, also known as the Washington Field Office, addresses investigations and issues of high concern in the National Capital Region. The WFO is located at Andrews AFB and consists of three subordinate detachments at Andrews, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., and Fort George G. Meade, Md. The WFO's Tactical Operations Center conducts all counterintelligence, force protection, and protective service operations in the National Capital Region. It also provides investigative support to other AFOSI units and has a worldwide counterintelligence and terrorism surge capability.

U.S. Air Force Special Investigations Academy

The U.S. Air Force Special Investigations Academy is located at Andrews. The academy instructs AFOSI agent trainees, as well as U.S. federal and allied country investigators in basic investigating skills. The Special Investigators Course focuses on military law, criminal and fraud investigations, and counterintelligence services. Advanced training is also offered in such areas as fraud, environmental crime, criminal technical services, protective service operations, counterintelligence and counterespionage. The academy's instructional staff is composed of education specialists, Special Agent officers and senior NCOs who have experience across the full AFOSI missions spectrum, and Combat Arms Training and Maintenance NCOs.

Civil Air Patrol

Detachment 2 CAP-USAF (AETC)

The regional headquarters of the Air Force Liaison of the Civil Air Patrol (Official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force) is located on Andrews AFB. Detachment 2 is one of eight regions nationwide. Here, Air Force and civilian personnel provide advice, assistance, liaison and oversight to the Civil Air Patrol in emergency services (search and rescue, disaster relief), cadet programs and aerospace education. Detachment 2 includes the Civil Air Patrol wings in Delaware, Maryland, the National Capital Area, Virginia, West Virginia and North and South Carolina. Each year, the region sponsors a variety of programs in support of the Civil Air Patrol.

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Aviation Administration personnel at Andrews are responsible for the airway facilities and air traffic control over and around Andrews.

There are 32 air traffic controllers and 25 airway facilities technicians assigned to Andrews. The FAA provides services for approximately 160,000 aircraft operations each year at Andrews, including movements of the president (Air Force One), vice president (Air Force Two), foreign heads of state and all types of aircraft from the Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army, Coast Guard and their reserve forces, as well as civil aircraft and commercial airliners.

The FAA men and women control and service the vast and complex network of air navigation and air traffic control facilities as part of the national airspace system. Their mission is the safe movement of air traffic in the nation's airspace.

Naval Air Facility

Naval Air Facility, Washington, D.C.

A Naval Air Facility on an Air Force base? That's the situation at Andrews.

Naval Air Facility, Washington, D.C., is a Naval Air Reserve training facility operating under the commander, Naval Reserve Force.

NAF's mission is to train assigned Naval Air Reserve units for their mobilization assignments and to provide administrative coordination and logistics support for these units. The secondary mission is to provide Naval air operations support for the Naval District of Washington, including any foreign Naval dignitaries.

NAF's mission is carried out by 451 active duty members and 155 civilian employees. In addition, there are more than 800 personnel assigned to NAF's 10 tenant commands. That group is complemented by more than 2,000 reservists who drill here every month.

The history of NAF can be traced to Anacostia, an area in southeast Washington where, in 1918, the Navy began testing its new seaplanes. Forty years later, when the Anacostia facility could no longer meet the needs of the Navy's local flying community, it was decided the functions of the air station would be moved to nearby Andrews AFB.

After four years of transition, a dedication ceremony in January of 1962 marked the official birth of the Naval Air Facility, Washington, D.C.

NAF has been dubbed "The Crossroads of the Navy" due to its high volume of air traffic bound for Naval air stations worldwide.

A variety of Naval aircraft can be seen on NAF's flight line. Regular sightings include P-3 Orions, C-20 Gulfstreams, C-130 Hercules, T-39 Sabreliners and F/A-18 Hornets.

On a pedestal next to NAF's operations building sits a World War II-era F-6F Hellcat fighter as a tribute to the Naval aviators of the Washington area.

Marine Aircraft Group 49, Det. A

In the best tradition of the Marine Corps, a "few good men and women" support two combat-ready reserve units at Andrews AFB.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 321, a Marine Corps Reserve squadron, flies the sophisticated F/A-18 Hornet. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 49, Detachment A, provides maintenance and supply functions necessary to maintain a force in readiness.

Additionally, the Marine Aircraft Support Detachment flies the C-12 and C-20 providing support for the commandant of the Marine Corps and other VIPs in the Washington, D.C., area.