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The 917th is a composite wing, which operates both the A-10A Thunderbolt II and the B-52H Stratofortress. Located at Barksdale, the wing employs approximately 1,700 Air Force Reserve personnel. The mission of the 47th Fighter Squadron is to train student pilots to fly the A-10. The primary mission of the 93rd Bomb Squadron is to conduct strategic heavy bombardment and maritime operations in the B-52.
RED HORSE: Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer. As an Air Force Reserve Unit, this squadron provides heavy engineering capability to include bare base development, major force bed down, heavy engineering operations and heavy runway damage repair.
The RED HORSE mission takes members to locations throughout the world, including Alaska, the Bahamas, Germany, Japan, Korea, Canada, Antigua, Spain, Haiti, multiple southwest Asia locations and the middle east. The unit provided disaster support following Hurricane Hugo, Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Katrina and provided fresh drinking water to a remote Indian Tribe located in the badlands of South Dakota and emergency water well restorations to multiple drought stricken south Texas communities.
The 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron conducts B-52 operational test and evaluation on new generations of conventional weapons, as well as offensive, defensive and aircraft hardware and software upgrades. The 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron also manages, executes and reports on Air Combat Command’s $50 million annual nuclear weapon system evaluation program, ensuring the reliability of all nuclear weapon systems associated with USAF aircraft including the B-52, F-15E, F-16, and provides analytical support to the B-2. The squadron evaluates operational effectiveness and reliability of nuclear weapons including air launched cruise missiles and gravity bombs. The results of these tests support acquisition decisions and provide the basis for nuclear war planning by the U.S. Strategic Command.
The 548th Combat Training Squadron provides Air Combat Command-directed support to the U.S. Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center located at Fort Polk, La. The 548th CTS accomplishes air liaison duties for the JRTC commander, exercises operational control of deployed fighter units to Barksdale, provides deployed unit maintenance and munitions support, schedules and controls exercise airspace, controls close air support missions, builds exercise scenarios, provides observers and controllers to evaluate tactical air control operations and replicates Air Force command and control from division through Joint Task Force level.
The 548th CTS serves as host to active Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Marine and Navy units in stressful, realistic combined arms training for both Army and Air Force contingency forces under conditions of low- to mid-intensity conflicts. Squadron members assist in the planning of Air Force operational support and participation in each exercise.
The Air Force supports deployments of personnel and equipment with strategic airlift and sustainment of forces in their operational area by theater airlift. Tactical aircraft provide the close air support to the Army contingent on the ground. Important to maintaining the ability to fight and win is tough, demanding force-on-force training. The events occurring in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghanistan is representative of the kind of realistic training experience our combat units receive, and it’s what the 548th CTS and the JRTC are all about.
The Area Defense Counsel office provides legal defense services to all active-duty military members facing courts-martial, Articles 15s, administrative discharges and other adverse actions. The ADC is a licensed attorney, certified for military practice and appointed to the
position by the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. The office is completely independent from all other units on base (to include the Numbered Air Force), ensuring that all clients are zealously represented and receive the best defense available within the law. All contacts
with the ADC are strictly confidential and subject to the attorney-client privilege. The ADC office is located on the third floor of Bldg. 4714, and
can be reached at 456-8355.
The Office of Special Investigations is a unit of the 2d Field Investigation Region, Langley Air Force Base, Va. It conducts investigative operations concerning major crimes, fraud and counter intelligence against U.S. Air Force resources and members located within a 250 mile radius of Barksdale. The OSI also provides protective service to distinguished visitors to the area.
Training Detachment 5 of the Air Education and Training Command’s 372nd Training Squadron, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, is responsible for providing on-site advanced technical training for B-52 maintenance technicians assigned to the 2d Bomb Wing and 917th Wing. It also serves as the regional training center for other B-52 units. The instructors and staff members ensure the 28 courses taught, entailing 11 separate Air Force specialties and provide students with the highest quality training possible.
Detachment 3 of Air Combat Command’s 29th Training Systems Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is responsible for combat air forces’ aircrew training devices from inception through research, development, production, operation and maintenance.
Personnel are responsible for the evaluation of all software and hardware modifications to the B-52 aircrew training devices. They are also responsible for monitoring test procedures, engineering design reviews, program reviews, physical configuration audits and source selections
to contract proposals so that they comply with specifications. The 29th Training Systems Squadron is part of the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group and the 53rd Wing.
Detachment 13 is part of Air Combat Command’s Training Support Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and reports directly to the Air Combat Command Director of Operations.
Detachment 13 is responsible for B-52 operational training development, long-range training plans, managing the B-1/B-52 Contract Aircrew Training and Courseware Development contract, applying Instructional Systems Development to all formal B-52 courseware, ensuring a range of B-52 aircrew training devices are available from static hands-on trainers to computer-driven interactive trainers, maintaining 12 Formal Training Unit syllabi and administering the ACC/A3 Graduate Evaluation program.
Detachment 13 personnel are members of the ACC/A3 Operational Training Development Team for the B-52 and, as such, work closely with ACC/A3T to manage future training needs for the B-52 weapons system.
Future hardware and software modifications as well as future weapons capabilities all require training plans and it is the responsibility of Detachment 13 to coordinate on and provide these vital training programs to B-52 operational units.
The Air Force Audit Agency is a separate operating agency headquartered in the national capital region. The South Central Area Audit Office
Team G is located at Barksdale. Team E is responsible for Barksdale as well as Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units in Louisiana.
The office provides independent, objective and constructive evaluations of the economy, effectiveness and efficiency with which managerial responsibilities at Barksdale are executed. They report the results of their findings and make recommendations to Air Force management for improvements.
NMCB-28 operates a Readiness Support Site, or RSS, and its command headquarters at Barksdale. At the RSS during the drill weekend the personnel of NMCB-28 train to their primary mission area and contingency operations including military operations other than war. The Battalion Fleet Manning level is 24 officers and 787 enlisted personnel.
NMCB-28’s mission is to provide responsive military construction support to Navy, Marine Corps and other forces in military operations. They are trained and equipped for general construction of advanced bases, including buildings, airfields, roads, waterfront structures, utilities, fuel installations and are capable of conducting defensive and limited offensive operations. In addition to standard wood, steel, masonry and concrete construction, NMCB’s also perform specialized construction such as well drilling, bridging and battle damage repair. They are able to work and defend themselves outside of their base camps and convoy through unsecured areas. In times of emergency or disaster, NMCB’s conduct disaster control and recovery operations. When deployed with the Marine Expeditionary Force or assigned to a Marine Air Ground Task Force they provide rear area security and operational assistance to the combat forces in the battle space. Their motto is: “We Build – We Fight.”
The Navy Construction Office or Resident Officer in Charge of Construction Barksdale is responsible for military construction projects on Barksdale and the Shreveport and Texarkana Navy and Marine Corps Reserve centers. Previous projects include new dormitories and the two bay fuel cell hangar. Recently completed projects include the new air traffic control tower and repairs to 8th Air Force Headquarters. The ROICC office is located at 3701 Range Road near the Airman Leadership School.
The 26th OWS provides 24-hour, direct mission support products and services to Air Force, Army and other Department of Defense operations flying in the southern region of the United States. The squadron supports more than 90 DoD locations in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and portions of Florida. The unit produces regional-scale, site-specific, and flight mission products essential for operational shaping, planning, and execution of diverse missions, and the protection of multibillion dollars of DoD assets in “Tornado Alley.” The 26th OWS is one of four Continental United States squadrons providing operational forecast training for all first-term weather airmen.
The Barksdale Air Force Base Guide is published by Benchmark Publications Incorporated, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Barksdale AFB. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Benchmark Publications, Incorporated of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Barksdale AFB Guide is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-81. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Barksdale AFB. All photos are provided by the Public Affairs Office unless stated otherwise.
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FROM COTTON FIELDS 
