13th Air Force gains air support operations group

  • Published
  • By Capt. Genieve David
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  A redesignation ceremony moving the 1st Air Support Operations Group from under 12th Air Force into the hands of 13th Air Force occurred Oct. 1 at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, commander of 13th Air Force, assumed control of the 1st ASOG and its subordinate units at the ceremony, nearly tripling the group's assigned forces to 400 personnel in the process.

"We are focused on today's war with folks from all over our command deeply engaged in today's battle," General Utterback said. "We are organizing to bring the speed and flexibility that comes with airpower to the Pacific."

With the move from Air Combat Command to Pacific Air Forces, the 1st ASOG assumes three new squadrons, in addition to two previously assigned squadrons. The new squadrons include: the 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Wainwright, Alaska; the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron at Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii; and the 16th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

The 1st ASOG will continue to command two subordinate squadrons: the 1st Weather Squadron and the 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, both at Fort Lewis.

The mission of the 1st ASOG is to advise the I Corps commander at Fort Lewis and other Army units on employment of airpower, provide operational weather support, provide air liaison and terminal attack control, and plan and execute air component missions in support of I Corps objectives and contingency operations.

"We welcome the tremendous capability that comes with these squadrons," General Utterback said. "[The 1st ASOG exists] to bring the finest in combat capability to Army combat operations across the world, from joint tactical air control to battlefield weather. I am proud to be a part of that joint warfighting team."

The 1st ASOG was formed as the 1st Communications Squadron Air Support in 1942. After several combat campaigns in Asia during World War II, the unit was deactivated in 1945. It was reactivated in 1992 and redesignated with its current title in 1994.

"We are extremely excited and proud to be gaining the additional units in PACAF and to be joining such an outstanding organization as 13th Air Force," said Col. Vincent Savino, 1st ASOG commander.