Robins wing makes Air Force history - Airman's World

Airman, Dec, 2002 by Tech. Sgt. Efrain Gonzolez

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- In addition to being the only Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, the 116th Air Control Wing is also the only blended -- active duty and Air National Guard -- wing in the Air Force.

On Sept. 30, the 116th Bomb Wing and the 93rd Air Control Wing ended one era and begin anew as the Air Force's first blended wing -- the 116th Air Control Wing -- in a ceremony attended by Air Force Secretary James Roche.

The 116th Air Control Wing is the first of its kind as part of the future total force initiative. This initiative focuses on active duty, Guard and Reserve members working side by side. The merger is expected to increase the combat effectiveness and organizational efficiency of the E-8C JSTARS [See "From the Ground Up," May 2002].

"We're making history and defining how the Air Force of the future will look," said Col. Tom Lynn, 116th Air Control Wing commander and former 116th Bomb Wing commander. "The outstanding professionals in both wings have worked extremely hard to make this a reality."

"Our two organizations consist of highly trained and highly motivated people who serve with distinction," said Col. David Fadok, former 93rd Air Control Wing commander. "Our people are professionals who will exceed expectations and set the standard for future total force wings."

With its 11 Air Force Outstanding Unit awards -- more than any other unit in the reserve component, and three Winston P. Wilson Trophy wins as the No. 1 fighter unit in the Air National Guard during its days of fighter wing operations, the 116th was a natural choice for the new blended wing.

The new unit supports the JSTARS mission, providing air and ground theater commanders information to gain and maintain control of the battle space. Its radar has a range of more than 150 miles, making JSTARS effective for supporting the full spectrum of roles and missions from peacekeeping operations to major theater war.