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Air Force activates first Air Ground Operations Wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt Andrea Thacker
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The unit activation and assumption of command of the Air Force's first wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen took place during a ceremony here Jan 25.

The activation of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing marked the first of its kind for the Air Force.

"This is a historic day for the Air Force and Moody Air Force Base," said Brig. Gen. Michael Longoria, who assumed command of the 93rd AGOW during the ceremony. "With the stand-up of our first air ground operations wing, the Air Force is dedicating itself to providing a new level of support to our highly specialized battlefield Airmen.

"It's quite an honor to join the team here at Moody," General Longoria added. "Although this wing's units are spread throughout the country, they will know that there home will be here."

The 93rd AGOW consolidates the tactical air control party and battlefield weather specialties of the 3rd Air Support Operations Group at Fort Hood, Texas, the 18th ASOG at Pope AFB, N.C., and the specialized force protection capabilities of the 820th Security Forces Group at Moody. The new organization will provide Airmen specializing in these ground-combat missions with a single command and control structure.

Previously, the ASOGs reported directly to their numbered Air Forces, while the 820th SFG fell under Moody's 23rd Wing. With the consolidation of these units under the 93rd AGOW, they will be able to standardize their organizational processes.

"The AGOW is going to streamline how we organize, train, equip and employ our battlefield Airmen forces," said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Lucas, Air Combat Command's TACP and Air Support Operations Center functional manager. "The wing will provide us with a single point of contact for unit control and assist us with (personnel) tempo.

"It will also give us more predictability, since we operate outside the normal (deployment) cycles," said Chief Lucas, who has served as a TACP for more than 21 years.

Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the Air Force has realized the critical importance of these high-demand, low-density skill sets, said Maj. Gen. William Holland, 9th Air Force vice command and deputy commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces.

"Now more than ever, these battlefield Airmen are invaluable to the War on Terrorism," said General Holland, who officiated the ceremony. "Their actions speak volumes and they are critically important to the future of this great nation. They have answered our nation's call over and over again."

General Holland also said the Air Force didn't have to put much thought into selecting a wing commander for these warfighters.

"I believe (General Longoria) was born for this command position," he said. "He is experienced in everything required to lead this new wing. When I hand him the guidon, he will be 'cleared hot.'"