Shaw's oldest squadron bids farewell

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  In light of Shaw Air Force Base's 70th anniversary, the installation's oldest squadron began its official farewell to the base July 22.

The 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron was originally designated the 682nd Direct Air Support Center Squadron and was activated on December 1, 1971 at Shaw AFB, S.C.

"It's a long history of why we've been here," said Col. Dale Sinnot, former 682nd ASOS commander. "It dates back to those years when the Air Force had air divisions and tactical air control wings. We've always been here."

The overall role of the 682nd ASOS is to provide theater air support and process requests for close air support and tactical air reconnaissance. They plan, coordinate and control allocated theater air forces during operations. They differ from most ASOSs in that they are one of five squadrons in the Air Force that perform the role of an Air Support Operations Center.

The squadron contains 23 different career fields to support the ASOC capability that range from vehicle operations to tactical air control party members.

Though the relocation ceremony was held July 22, the squadron actually began the process of moving to Pope Field, N.C., June 15, said Maj. Alex Heyman, 682nd ASOS operationing location alpha commander. It will take approximately a year before all the people and equipment have departed Shaw because of deployment cycles. Until that time comes, the 682nd ASOS will continue to keep some operations here to ease the transition. On June 1, 2012 the 682nd ASOS will officially be at Pope Field.

The 682nd ASOS and the 20th Fighter Wing have both benefitted in many ways from each other being on the same base.

Part of the mission of the 20th FW is to provide close air support, said Lt. Col. Mike Lay, 20th Operations Group deputy commander. This is primarily how the 20th FW has interacted with the 682nd ASOS. They provide joint terminal attack controller expertise and integrate with the fighter squadrons on a routine basis in order for us to prepare each other for when we go downrange and support the ground forces.

F-16 pilots go through several phases in their training cycles, said the 20th OG deputy commander. When they come to the CAS phase, they often will call up the 682nd ASOS for TACP support.

"It's been invaluable, the training opportunities we've had with an ASOS unit on our installation to be the best at CAS," Lay said. "Being able to train and deploy precisely and lethally is one of the most satisfying missions and being able to help out our guys on the ground. The 682nd ASOS has helped provide that."

The training has also helped out the 682nd ASOS as well.

"Being co-located with fighter squadrons has allowed us to train with digital close air support, which is a more secure and faster way to pass information on electronically," said Maj. Bill Lee, 682nd ASOS commander. "We also have had the advantage to just walk on over for briefs as we further build and define the ASOC and to grow leaps and bounds technically."

"We've been very fortunate to have the 682nd ASOS so centrally located that we can set up local training operations and facilitate briefs and debriefs," Lay said. "When you can have that face-to-face, it makes the training much more effective. It's been nice to have those guys in our backyard, so to speak."

Though there have been many benefits to being on a base with fighter squadrons, it will be more beneficial for the 682nd ASOS at Pope Field, remarked Lee. This move has been in the works since the 90's.

The move to Pope will allow the 682nd ASOS to perform more realistic training as they will be co-located with the 18th Airborne Corps, the Army unit they are attached to, to further integrate the Army into their training, said Lee. It will also give them better connectivity with the 18th Air Support Operations Group and their wing. Another bonus to being at the new installation is that they will have the opportunity to come up with new procedures to work with the joint air-ground integration cell.

"The vision has finally become a reality," Lee said. "But we could not have done it without the 20th FW's help."