ACC takes CSAR under wing

  • Published
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  Air Combat Command took administrative control of select Air Force Combat Search and Rescue assets from Air Force Special Operations Command today as part of a realignment announced in February.

The transfer ensures the Air Force core competency of Combat Search and Rescue is directly linked to the Combat Air Forces and the personnel they support, consolidating the management of limited Air Force resources and providing a clearer presentation of force in theater. Under ACC, CSAR assets can be mobilized faster during a national crisis, integrated into combat training, and tasked to support all AEF rotations.

Moving the CSAR mission under ACC will be completely transparent to the warfighter. They will continue to gain CSAR capability from the owning major command in the same way they did before.

The transfer will affect most active duty operational HC-130s, HH-60s, and most combat rescue officers and pararescuemen, as well as the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Langley AFB, Va. Units transferred from AFSOC to ACC will not relocate.

In addition, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units will remain administratively controlled by Air Force Reserve Command and their respective states, but will be gained by ACC or PACAF when fully mobilized.

Active duty units affected by the transfer are the 347th Rescue Wing, Moody AFB, Ga., and all subordinate units; the 563rd Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. and all subordinate units, the HH-60G Combined Test Force at Nellis AFB, Nev. and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Langley AFB, Va.

AFRC units affected are the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla., and the 943rd Rescue Group, Davis-Monthan, Ariz., and its subordinate squadron, the 304th Rescue Squadron at Portland IAP, Ore.

Affected ANG units are the 106th RQW, Gabreski, NY, and the 129th RQW, Moffett, Calif.

CSAR assets and personnel assigned to PACAF and U.S. Air Forces Europe will not be affected by the transfer.

Further actions associated with the transfer, including a routine site visit and funding actions, will occur over the next few months. ACC, with assistance from AFSOC, will complete the programmatic actions associated with the transfer by October.