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18th Air Support Operations Group
18th Air Support Operations Group
18th Air Support Operations Group
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18th Air Support Operations Group
18th Air Support Operations Group emblem[1]
Active1943–1944; 1945-1946; 1992–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir Operations Group
Part ofNinth Air Force
Garrison/HQPope Field, North Carolina
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award

The 18th Air Support Operations Group is a combat support group of the United States Air Force. It is located at Pope Field, North Carolina. The group was originally the 18th Air Support Communications Squadron and served in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations during World War II as an air communications squadron.

The 18th ASOG provides tactical command and control of air power assets for the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps. In this role its subordinate squadrons provide tactical combat command and control to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander.

History

[edit]

The organization was originally activated in April 1943 as the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron. The squadron trained in the southeastern United States under Third Air Force until February 1944, when it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and was assigned to XII Air Support Command. The unit was redesignated the 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron and moved to Italy in April. It was disbanded in Italy in June 1944.[1]

The squadron was reconstituted and activated in Germany on 15 April 1945, where it became part of Ninth Air Force. It returned to the United States in July and was inactivated in the summer of 1946. The squadron was disbanded while inactive in October 1948.[1]

In June 1992, the unit was reconstituted and redesignated as the 18th Air Support Group. It assumed much of the responsibilities of the inactivating 507th Air Control Wing. It was redesignated 18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994.[1]

Organization

[edit]

In addition to group headquarters, the 18th ASOG includes a number of subordinate squadrons. These units are located at Pope Field except as indicated and include the following.[2]

14th Air Support Operations Squadron (supports 82nd Airborne Division)
15th Air Support Operations Squadron
Fort Stewart, Georgia (supports 1st, 2nd & 4th Brigade Combat Teams, 3rd Infantry Division)
Fort Benning, Georgia (supports 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division)
18th Combat Weather Squadron
Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (supports 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps)
Detachment 1, Fort Drum, New York (supports 10th Mountain Division)
Detachment 2, Fort Polk, Louisiana (supports 10th Mountain Division)
Detachment 3, Fort Stewart, Georgia (supports 3rd Infantry Division)
Detachment 3 - Operating Location A, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia (supports 3rd Infantry Division)
Detachment 4, Fort Campbell, Kentucky (supports 101st Airborne Division)
Operating Location A, Shaw AFB, South Carolina (supports US Army Central Command)
Operating Location B, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (supports The Army Aviation Brigade)
Operating Location C, Fort Rucker, Alabama (supports United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence)
Operating Location D, Fort Benning, Georgia (supports United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence)
19th Air Support Operations Squadron
Fort Campbell, Kentucky (supports 101st Airborne Division) (Air Assault)
20th Air Support Operations Squadron
Fort Drum, New York (supports 1st, 2nd & 3rd Brigade Combat Teams, 10th Mountain Division)
Detachment. 1 Fort Polk, Louisiana (supports 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division)
818th Operations Support Squadron

Lineage

[edit]
  • Constituted as the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron on 24 March 1943
Activated on 1 April 1943
  • Redesignated 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron on 1 April 1944
  • Disbanded on 10 June 1944
  • Reconstituted on 19 March 1945
Activated on 15 April 1945
Inactivated on 12 August 1946
  • Disbanded on 8 October 1948
  • Reconstituted, redesignated 18th Air Support Group, and activated on 15 June 1992
  • Redesignated 18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994[1]

Assignments

[edit]

Stations

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

18th Air Support Operations Group

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from Grokipedia
The 18th Air Support Operations Group (18th ASOG) is a unit headquartered at , , that provides tactical air control party members, joint terminal attack controllers, combat controllers, air liaison officers, and battlefield weather support to enable the integration of air, space, and cyber power into joint military operations worldwide. Originally constituted as the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron on 24 March 1943 and activated on 1 April 1943 under III Air Support Command, the unit supported air-ground operations during World War II across theaters in North Africa, Italy, and Germany, including key campaigns such as Rome-Arno in 1944. Redesignated the 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron on 1 April 1944, it was disbanded on 10 June 1944, reconstituted and activated on 15 April 1945, inactivated on 12 August 1946, and disbanded on 8 October 1948. It remained inactive until reconstituted and redesignated as the 18th Air Support Group on 15 June 1992, activating under the 23d Wing at Pope Air Force Base to focus on modern air support coordination. Redesignated the 18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994, it realigned under Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), a component of Air Combat Command, in 1994 and became a key component of the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing upon the latter's activation on 25 January 2008 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, consolidating tactical air control and battlefield airman specialties from multiple groups. The group's mission emphasizes training and equipping airmen to conduct operational analysis, formulate strategies, and execute effects-based operations supporting national, theater, and tactical objectives, particularly for conventional, airborne, and special operations forces such as the at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). It comprises several squadrons, including the 17th, 19th, and 20th Air Support Operations Squadrons and the 18th Weather Squadron, which deploy tactical air control parties and joint terminal attack controllers to forward areas for and precision strikes. The 18th ASOG has earned numerous honors, including multiple Outstanding Unit Awards (e.g., 1 June 1993–31 May 1995, 1 June 2014–31 May 2015) and Meritorious Unit Awards (e.g., 1 June 2012–31 May 2013), as well as an Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device for the period 1 June 2001–31 May 2002, reflecting its role in global contingencies.

Overview

Mission and Role

The 18th Air Support Operations Group provides tactical for air power in joint operations, deploying air liaison officers, joint terminal attack controllers, tactical air control party members, and battlefield coordination line-of-sight terminals to integrate air support with ground forces. These personnel embed with units to coordinate , enabling precise delivery of munitions and enhancing during combat. The group supports the and other joint forces by delivering precision air, space, and cyber capabilities tailored for conventional, airborne, and missions. In peacetime, the 18th Air Support Operations Group focuses on training and equipping airmen to conduct operational analysis, formulate strategies, and execute integrated air-ground operations, ensuring readiness for rapid deployment alongside partners. This preparation emphasizes effects-based operations, where airmen develop expertise in synchronizing air assets with ground maneuvers to achieve theater objectives efficiently.

Current Structure and Command

The 18th Air Support Operations Group is headquartered at , , and is assigned to the 93d Air Ground Operations at , Georgia, which falls under the operational control of (9th Air Force), the air component to U.S. Central Command within . The group was assigned to the 23d from 15 until 1 , after which it transitioned to assignment under Ninth Air Force; on 1 March 2008, it was assigned to the 93d Air Ground Operations , reflecting enhanced joint air-ground integration. As of 2025, Colonel David M. Anderson serves as the group's commander, overseeing its mission to provide coordination. The group maintains over 19 geographically separated units, comprising active-duty squadrons, detachments, and operating locations that embed personnel with maneuver elements for seamless operations. The 18th Air Support Operations Group is closely integrated with the U.S. 's , headquartered at Fort Liberty, , to facilitate rapid airpower delivery in support of airborne and rapid deployment missions. This alignment enables the provision of air liaison officers, terminal attack controllers, and tactical air control parties directly to corps-level commands, enhancing and battlefield coordination during exercises and contingencies.

History

World War II Era

The 18th Air Support Operations Group's lineage traces its origins to the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron, which was constituted on 24 and activated on 1 at Birmingham Army Air Base, Alabama, under III Air Support Command. Initially focused on providing communication support for air-ground operations, the unit trained at stations including , starting 4 September 1943, and Morris Field, North Carolina, from 26 November 1943 to 15 January 1944. On 1 April 1944, it was redesignated as the 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron, reflecting its evolving role in . In February 1944, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, arriving at , , on 12 February 1944, and assigned to XII Air Support Command. It conducted operations from Ain-el-Turck, , beginning 10 March 1944, before relocating to , , on 9 April 1944, and then to , , on 11 April 1944. Throughout these deployments, the squadron facilitated critical air-ground communications, supporting Allied advances in until its disbandment on 10 June 1944 at . The unit was reconstituted on 19 March 1945 and reactivated on 15 April 1945 in , initially at Haltern, to support operations in the European Theater. It provided tactical air communications for XXIX Tactical Air Command from 3 July 1945, operating from Brunswick, , until July 1945, contributing to occupation and air support missions. In , the squadron returned to the , stationing at LeMoore Army Air Field, , on 24 , and Camp Pinedale, , from 8 , under and later Third and s. It was inactivated on 12 August 1946 at Biggs Field, . During its World War II service, the squadron participated in the Rome-Arno campaign of 1944 and earned service streamers for the American Theater and European Theater. The unit was formally disbanded on 8 October 1948.

Postwar Reactivation and Modern Service

The 18th Air Support Operations Group traces its postwar reactivation to 15 June 1992, when it was reconstituted and activated as the 18th Air Support Group at Pope Air Force Base, , under the 23d Wing. On 1 July 1994, it was redesignated the 18th Air Support Operations Group and reassigned to (later ), reflecting the post-Cold War emphasis on joint air-ground integration. This reactivation built on the need for enhanced tactical air control capabilities following the , positioning the group to equip and train personnel for operational analysis, strategy development, and execution of air support in national, theater, and tactical contexts. In the aftermath of the and through the 1990s and 2000s, the group expanded its role in joint operations, with subordinate tactical air control parties (TACPs) deploying to support missions in , , and . For instance, group members deployed to in September 1994 as part of , providing air liaison and control during multinational interventions. Similarly, TACPs from the 18th ASOG supported Operation Iraqi Freedom starting in 2003 and , coordinating in dynamic combat environments across multiple rotations. These deployments underscored the group's evolution into a key enabler for maneuver forces, operating from 19 geographically separated units to deliver real-time airpower effects. On 1 March 2008, the 18th ASOG realigned under the newly activated 93d Air Ground Operations Wing at , Georgia, consolidating tactical air control and battlefield airman specialties from multiple groups to enhance joint air-ground integration. Into the , the 18th ASOG has adapted to contemporary threats by integrating cyber and domains into its air support operations, allowing joint terminal attack controllers to synchronize effects across air, , and for multi-domain missions. This includes participation in exercises like the 2024 Dragon Challenge at , New York, from 18–20 June, where TACP teams honed skills in contested environments alongside Army and joint partners; a short-notice long-range communications exercise from February 10-14, 2025, across eight U.S. locations to test rapid command and control setup; and Scarlet Dragon 2025 at Fort Liberty, where TACP specialists coordinate air support. The group also supported global XVIII Airborne Corps missions, with routine change of command ceremonies in 2025—such as the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron's event on 6 June.

Organization

Subordinate Squadrons

The 18th Air Support Operations Group comprises six primary subordinate squadrons, each focused on delivering specialized air-ground integration, weather support, and operational enablement to U.S. forces across the . These units embed tactical air control parties (TACPs), joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs), and other specialists with Army divisions to coordinate , intelligence, and multi-domain effects during joint operations. The 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, headquartered at , , specializes in providing TACPs to support airborne and rapid deployment Army units, such as the . Its personnel train for high-mobility missions, including parachute insertions to secure airfields and direct through forward-based nodes. These TACPs integrate airpower with ground maneuvers, employing mobile systems to enhance battlefield communication and targeting precision. The 15th Air Support Operations Squadron, located at Fort Stewart, Georgia, delivers TACP support to mechanized and expeditionary forces, including the 3rd Infantry Division. It emphasizes joint all-domain effects, training JTACs to execute , armed reconnaissance, and counterfire missions in conventional operations. Squadron members facilitate air-to-ground , enabling synchronized strikes against enemy positions to protect advancing ground troops. The 19th Air Support Operations Squadron, based at , , focuses on air-ground integration for conventional forces, including support to the (), embedding TACPs to advise on air operations and coordinate distributed . Its specialists conduct and joint fires integration, supporting maneuver units in large-scale combat scenarios through real-time airspace deconfliction and effects delivery. The 20th Air Support Operations Squadron, based at , New York, provides TACP expertise to and mountain warfare units like the . It advises on all aspects of air operations, including and battlefield coordination, to enhance ground force lethality in austere environments. The squadron incorporates multi-domain capabilities to integrate air effects with ground maneuvers. The 18th Combat Weather Squadron, stationed at , offers dedicated battlefield weather support for joint and operations, forecasting environmental conditions for corps-level and subordinate units. Its Airmen provide tactical decision aids, such as weather impacts on and maneuver, to enable mission planning and execution in dynamic conditions. This includes embedded special weather observers who deliver real-time to commanders. The 818th Operations Support Squadron handles , , and for the entire group, freeing operational squadrons to focus on core missions. It manages communications, , cyber, , and sustainment functions, including vehicle and supply chains, while support personnel in Army-integrated skills like operations. This squadron ensures seamless readiness and deployment of TACP assets across geographically separated locations. Across these squadrons, TACPs and JTACs rely on specialized equipment like the multiband tactical radio for secure, beyond-line-of-sight communications, enabling precise coordination of air strikes and fires. emphasizes exercises to hone integration with units, prioritizing conceptual proficiency in multi-domain operations over exhaustive metrics.

Detachments and Operating Locations

The 18th Air Support Operations Group maintains five detachments and six operating locations dispersed across nine states to ensure integrated air-ground operations with U.S. forces. These geographically separated units deliver tactical air control party (TACP) personnel, joint terminal attack controllers, air liaison officers, and battlefield weather support directly to divisions, facilitating , fire coordination, and joint training. In total, the group commands and controls 19 such units along the East , enabling seamless integration of into ground maneuvers. Detachment 1, located at , New York, provides TACP specialists and air support integration to the , enhancing light operations in rugged terrains through forward-deployed air control during exercises and deployments. Detachment 3 at , Georgia, focuses on close coordination with the 3rd Infantry Division, embedding air controllers to support mechanized and rapid-response missions with real-time capabilities. Detachment 4, based at , , delivers specialized airborne-qualified TACP teams to the (), ensuring air-ground synchronization for operations, training, and contingency responses. Additional detachments and operating locations, such as those at Fort Liberty, , and other East Coast installations, extend this network to support units like the and further enable rapid airpower deployment for joint exercises and operational readiness. Through these elements, the group ensures persistent forward presence, allowing for immediate air control in training scenarios and high-tempo contingencies across Army commands.

Lineage and Honors

Lineage

The lineage of the 18th Air Support Operations Group traces its origins to , with subsequent periods of inactivation and reactivation in the postwar era, culminating in its modern designation under .
  • Constituted as 18th Air Support Communication Squadron on 24 March 1943.
  • Activated on 1 April 1943.
  • Redesignated as 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron on 1 April 1944.
  • Disbanded on 10 June 1944.
  • Reconstituted on 19 March 1945.
  • Activated on 15 April 1945.
  • Inactivated on 12 August 1946.
  • Disbanded on 8 October 1948.
  • Reconstituted and redesignated as 18th Air Support Group on 15 June 1992, with activation on the same date.
  • Redesignated as 18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994; the unit has remained active since.
The group's emblem was approved on 15 February 1996.

Assignments

During , the 18th Air Support Operations Group, initially activated as the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron, was assigned to III Air Support Command (later redesignated III Reconnaissance Command) upon its activation on 1 April 1943. It transferred to I Tactical Air Division on 3 , supporting tactical operations in the European and Mediterranean theaters. On 12 February 1944, the unit came under XII Air Support Command (later XII Tactical Air Command), where it provided critical air-ground coordination until its disbandment on 10 June 1944. Following its reactivation on 15 April 1945, the group was assigned to , serving in this capacity through the end of the war and into the postwar period until 12 August 1946. During this time, it also fell under XXIX (Provisional) from 3 July 1945 and on 24 August 1945, before transferring to on 8 March 1946. The unit remained inactive until its reconstitution and redesignation as the 18th Air Support Group on 15 June 1992, when it was assigned to the 23d Wing under . On 1 February 1994, following its redesignation as the 18th Air Support Operations Group, it transferred to . It was assigned to the 93d Air Ground Operations Wing on 1 March 2008, which has provided oversight under () since that date.

Stations

The 18th Air Support Operations Group traces its stations through its World War II-era predecessors, the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron (later redesignated as the 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron), and its postwar reactivation as the 18th Air Support Group before its current designation. Following activation on 1 April 1943, the unit was initially based at . It relocated to , on 4 September 1943, and then to Morris Field, , from 26 November 1943 to 15 January 1944. Deploying overseas, it operated from , beginning 12 February 1944 (with a noted presence on 1 April 1944), Ain-el-Turck, , from 10 March 1944, , from 9 April 1944, and , from 11 April to 10 June 1944. In the final months of the war and immediate postwar period, the unit moved to Haltern, , on 1 April 1945, and Brunswick, , from May to July 1945. Returning to the , it was stationed at LeMoore Army Air Field, , from 24 August 1945, followed by Camp Pinedale, , from 8 September 1945, and finally Biggs Field, , from 9 March to 12 August 1946, prior to inactivation. The unit remained inactive until reactivation on 15 June 1992 at Pope Air Force Base (later redesignated Pope Field), , where it has been headquartered continuously since that date.

Awards and Campaigns

The 18th Air Support Operations Group earned campaign credits during World War II, including participation in the American Theater as a service streamer and the Rome-Arno campaign from 1944. No armed forces expeditionary streamers are associated with the group. The group has received multiple unit decorations for meritorious service and operational excellence. It was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device for the period from 1 June 2001 to 31 May 2002, recognizing distinguished performance in combat operations. Meritorious Unit Awards were bestowed for the following periods: 15 February 2005 to 17 January 2006; 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013; and 1 June 2013 to 31 May 2014. The Outstanding Unit Award was earned on several occasions, including 1 June 1993 to 31 May 1995; 1 June 1997 to 31 May 1999; 1 June 1999 to 31 May 2001; 25 January 2008 to 31 May 2009; 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2010; 1 June 2010 to 31 May 2011; 1 June 2011 to 31 May 2012; and 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015.

References

  1. https://www.moody.af.mil/93d-AGOW/
  2. https://www.pope.af.mil/About-Us/Display/Article/2290866/col-jonathan-king/
  3. http://usafunithistory.com/PDF/10-19/18%20AIR%20SUPPORT%20OPERATIONS%20GP.pdf
  4. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/124492/air-force-officials-activate-first-air-ground-operations-wing/
  5. https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/200167/airmen-provide-critical-ground-support-to-soldiers/
  6. https://www.pope.af.mil/News/Pope-News/Article/3153317/team-pope-units-welcome-new-commanders/
  7. https://www.pope.af.mil/About-Us/About-Us/
  8. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/18asog.htm
  9. https://www.pope.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/
  10. https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/200993/acc-commander-visits-18th-asog/
  11. https://usafunithistory.com/PDF/10-19/18%20AIR%20SUPPORT%20OPERATIONS%20GP.pdf
  12. https://dp.la/item/f4fb863700a33883b684ae087dc9be9c
  13. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/130585/18th-asog-airman-praised-for-selfless-service/
  14. https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/661143/comacc-addresses-budget-education-with-pope-airmen/
  15. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD1083186.pdf
  16. https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Video/videoid/929647/
  17. https://www.moody.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4067601/93d-agow-tacp-airmen-execute-short-notice-communications-exercise/
  18. https://www.war.gov/Multimedia/Photos/igphoto/2003402140/
  19. https://www.facebook.com/PopeAAF/posts/as-the-2025-change-of-command-season-continues-for-teampope-the-14th-air-support/1252534313584567/
  20. https://www.pope.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/242897/tacps-providing-crucial-battle-field-communication-link/
  21. https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3690622/bamboo-eagle-24-1-tacp-14-asos-teams-implement-forward-based-mobile-c2/
  22. https://home.army.mil/stewart/units/tenant-units/15th-air-support-operations-squadron-usaf
  23. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/443080/15-asos-honors-20-year-anniversary-operation-iraqi-freedom
  24. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/19asos.htm
  25. https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4068756/tacp-conduct-target-acquisition-distributed-c2-operations-during-exercise-bambo/
  26. https://www.moody.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/209689/cohesion-key-to-joint-ops-during-mountain-peak/
  27. https://www.pope.af.mil/News/Pope-News/Article/2354105/18th-weather-squadron-adds-combat-to-name/
  28. https://www.557weatherwing.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3045644/93-agow-activates-first-ever-combat-weather-group-in-dod-history/
  29. https://www.moody.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/1838191/93d-agow-stands-up-operations-support-squadrons/
  30. https://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Display/Article/384231/3rd-asos-in-action/
  31. https://www.pope.af.mil/About-Us/Display/Article/2290937/cmsgt-bryan-r-manchester/
  32. https://www.pope.af.mil/News/Pope-News/Article/1216997/18th-asog-welcomes-new-commander/
  33. https://www.moody.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1341198/acc-commander-witnesses-integrated-readiness/
  34. https://flightlineinsignia.com/product/18th-air-support-operations-group-ocp-multicam/
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