Overview
The United States Department of the Air Force announced the activation of the 95th Wing, a new wing headquarters, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, on September 4, 2024. The creation of the 95th Wing is part of the Air Force’s ongoing efforts to reorganize for Great Power Competition, ensuring enhanced readiness and the delivery of strategic capabilities in times of conflict.
Purpose and Role
The 95th Wing will fall under the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and is intended to provide effective command of forces, ensuring readiness to deliver national-level capabilities to multiple combatant commanders and warfighters. This wing will be particularly critical for improving the readiness of key missions including:
- The 595th Command and Control Group’s (CACG) National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC)
- Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3)
Additionally, the wing will offer a consolidated enterprise view of Command and Control (C2) capabilities. This will facilitate better leadership, resource allocation, training, and readiness across associated units.
Key Missions and Partnerships
The 95th Wing will foster a Total Force partnership to support missions of the 253rd Combat Communications Group (CACG) and the 610th Command and Control Squadron (CACS). Specifically:
- The 595th CACG at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, will continue its vital role in NAOC and NC3.
- The 253rd CACG, part of the Wyoming Air National Guard, stationed at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, will maintain its operational focus.
- The 610th CACS, assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, will contribute to broader C2 efforts.
The creation of a unified command structure will streamline the organization’s ability to lead and advocate for resources and readiness across these commands.
Total Force Command Relationship
One of the key objectives of the 95th Wing is to establish a Total Force command relationship. This will involve associating units from the Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard with the Regular Air Force under AFGSC. By doing so, the wing aims to improve C2 capabilities while normalizing funding pathways to organize, train, and equip these units.
Personnel and Infrastructure Changes
The activation of the 95th Wing will not result in any manpower movement from the 253rd CACG or the 610th CACS. However, the new mission will add approximately 70 new military authorizations at Offutt Air Force Base over the coming years. Personnel are expected to begin arriving in the spring of 2025, with the wing reaching full operational capability by 2027.
Conclusion
The activation of the 95th Wing is a significant development in the Air Force’s reorganization for modern strategic challenges. By integrating key components of Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Force Reserve Command, and the Air National Guard, the 95th Wing will play a crucial role in enhancing the United States’ ability to project power and maintain national security.
References
- Air Force to establish Global Strike wing at Offutt AFB, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, September 4, 2024.
- Department of the Air Force, Arlington, Va.