LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing inactivated three of its detachments and, in their place, activated three intelligence support squadrons June 1.
The inactivation of the detachments and subsequent activation of the squadrons standardizes the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System that used to fall under three separate Air Force commands.
The configuration is the latest step in the ISR transformation that began when then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley signed a memo Jan. 14, 2008, directing the transformation of Air Force ISR.
The newly activated units provide communication, computer, maintenance and logistics support to the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System, where intelligence operations take place worldwide in every theater of operations.
The new units are the 792nd Intelligence Support Squadron, which is assigned to the 692nd ISR Group at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii; the 693rd Intelligence Support Squadron, which is assigned to the 693rd ISR Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; and the 694th Intelligence Support Squadron, which is assigned to the 694th ISR Group at Osan AB, Republic of Korea.
All three squadrons held their activation ceremonies and passed the guidon in front of friends, family and Airmen.
At a ceremony in Hawaii to commemorate the event, the commander of the newly-activated 792nd ISS talked to squadron personnel about the bright future ahead.
"Today is a very monumental and exciting day because we have built this squadron, and we should be very proud of our achievement," said Lt. Col. Ramona Fulkerson. "As we grow in size over the next two years, the 792nd ISS will continue to expand our outstanding support of Pacific Theater missions."
More than 7,000 miles away in Germany, Lt. Col. Jason Winslow, commander of the 693rd ISS, spoke to his audience about the daunting challenge of standing up a new unit and how the hard work of his people ensured they are ready to deliver intelligence capabilities and maintenance support.
"Today, the ISS stands ready to prosecute Air Force and joint ISR operations, supporting and sustaining the fight against terrorism, all while feeding the insatiable appetite for intelligence that our nation requires," said Colonel Winslow. "The task is tough, but we stand ready, shoulder to shoulder with our intelligence brothers and sisters, fusing communications and intelligence in the cyberspace era to effectively utilize our shrinking forces."
Similar thoughts were held by his counterpart at the ceremony held in Korea.
"We are on the precipice of truly using cyberspace and ISR together in ways never imagined," said Maj. James Cropper, commander of the 694th ISS. "In the last two years we have increased our mission roles and capabilities dramatically. We are now capable of supporting the newest [remotely piloted vehicles], integrating with other [combat theaters] in real time and improving our coordination ... for the current and future fight."