162d Combat Communications Group
Encyclopedia
The 162nd Combat Communications Group (CCG), headquartered at North Highlands Air National Guard Station (ANGS) in Sacramento
, California, USA, is one of eight Air National Guard Combat Communications Groups nationwide, which make up 80% of the U.S. Air Force tactical communications
capability. The 162nd CCG is one of five major organizations that make up the California Air National Guard
.
s and civil disturbances. When Guard units are in a non-mobilized status they are commanded by the governor of their respective state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Territory of Guam, Territory of the Virgin Islands, and the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. The governors (except in the District of Columbia) are represented in the chain of command by the adjutant general
of the state or territory.
STATE MISSION – ANG, under order of state authorities, provides protection of life and property, and preserves peace, order and public safety
. State missions, which are funded by the individual states, include disaster relief
in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires
; search and rescue
; protection of vital public services
; and support to civil defense
. The 162nd also provides the Adjutant General with voice and data communications throughout the state of California
during state emergencies or contingencies.
FEDERAL MISSION – Under its federal mission, the 162nd CCG trains, deploys, operates and maintains tactical communications-electronic facilities, and provides tactical command and control communications services for operational commands supporting US military
wartime contingencies. – Under its federal mission, the 162nd CCG trains, deploys, operates and maintains tactical communications-electronic facilities, and provides tactical command and control communications services for operational commands supporting US military wartime contingencies.
, Florida on 30 March 1944. Shortly thereafter, the unit moved to Oahu, Hawaii
, Hawaii. Some of its components saw action in the Marshall and Mariana Islands
during World War II
. The unit was deactivated on 29 July 1946, but was reactivated on 13 May 1948 as the 162nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group of the California Air National Guard.
On 1 May 1951 the unit mobilized to serve state side during the Korean War
until its deactivation on 6 February 1952. The following year, it returned to the State of California and was re-designated the 162nd Tactical Control Group, stationed at Van Nuys Air National Guard Base. At that time three of the presently assigned units (the 147th, 148th, and 149th) were Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons under the 162nd Group.
On 1 March 1961, the Group Headquarters moved to the North Highlands ANG Station in Sacramento, and was re-designated the 162nd Communications Group (Mobile). By that time the 222nd, 234th, and 261st units had joined the Group. In 1966 the Group was re-designated again, to the 162nd Mobile Communications Group. This designation they kept until 10 February 1976, when they were given their present designation of 162nd Combat Communications Group. The 162nd falls under the command of Air Force Air Combat Command at Langley AFB, Virginia.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, California, USA, is one of eight Air National Guard Combat Communications Groups nationwide, which make up 80% of the U.S. Air Force tactical communications
Tactical communications
Tactical communications are communications in which information of any kind, especially orders and decisions, are conveyed from one command, person, or place to another within tactical forces. In modern times, this is usually done by electronic means....
capability. The 162nd CCG is one of five major organizations that make up the California Air National Guard
California Air National Guard
The California Air National Guard is the air component of the California National Guard. The California Air National Guard is headquartered at Sacramento, California.One of the duties of the California Air National Guard is defense of the United States...
.
Mission
The ANG's MISSION, state and federal, is to provide trained, well-equipped men and women who can augment the active force during national emergencies or war, and provide assistance during natural disasterNatural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
s and civil disturbances. When Guard units are in a non-mobilized status they are commanded by the governor of their respective state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Territory of Guam, Territory of the Virgin Islands, and the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. The governors (except in the District of Columbia) are represented in the chain of command by the adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the state or territory.
STATE MISSION – ANG, under order of state authorities, provides protection of life and property, and preserves peace, order and public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
. State missions, which are funded by the individual states, include disaster relief
Emergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
; search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
; protection of vital public services
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
; and support to civil defense
Civil defense
Civil defense, civil defence or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery...
. The 162nd also provides the Adjutant General with voice and data communications throughout the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during state emergencies or contingencies.
FEDERAL MISSION – Under its federal mission, the 162nd CCG trains, deploys, operates and maintains tactical communications-electronic facilities, and provides tactical command and control communications services for operational commands supporting US military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
wartime contingencies. – Under its federal mission, the 162nd CCG trains, deploys, operates and maintains tactical communications-electronic facilities, and provides tactical command and control communications services for operational commands supporting US military wartime contingencies.
History
The 162nd's history goes back to the 599th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion activated at Drew Field in TampaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida on 30 March 1944. Shortly thereafter, the unit moved to Oahu, Hawaii
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, Hawaii. Some of its components saw action in the Marshall and Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The unit was deactivated on 29 July 1946, but was reactivated on 13 May 1948 as the 162nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group of the California Air National Guard.
On 1 May 1951 the unit mobilized to serve state side during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
until its deactivation on 6 February 1952. The following year, it returned to the State of California and was re-designated the 162nd Tactical Control Group, stationed at Van Nuys Air National Guard Base. At that time three of the presently assigned units (the 147th, 148th, and 149th) were Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons under the 162nd Group.
On 1 March 1961, the Group Headquarters moved to the North Highlands ANG Station in Sacramento, and was re-designated the 162nd Communications Group (Mobile). By that time the 222nd, 234th, and 261st units had joined the Group. In 1966 the Group was re-designated again, to the 162nd Mobile Communications Group. This designation they kept until 10 February 1976, when they were given their present designation of 162nd Combat Communications Group. The 162nd falls under the command of Air Force Air Combat Command at Langley AFB, Virginia.
Previous designations
- 162d Combat Communications Group (1 Oct 1986 – present)
- 162d Combat Information Systems Group (1 Jul 1985 – 1 Oct 1986)
- 162d Combat Communications Group (???-1 Jul 1985)
- 162d Mobile Communications Group (16 Mar 1968–???)
- 162d Communications Group (Mobile) (1 Oct 1960–1961)
- 162d Tactical Control Group (1 Feb 1953 – 1 Oct 1960)
Squadrons assigned
- 147th Combat Communications Squadron147th Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 147th Combat Communications Squadron is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at San Diego, California.-History:...
in San Diego, California - 148th Space Operations Squadron148th Space Operations SquadronThe United States Air Force's 148th Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit located at Vandenberg AFB, California. The 148th SOPS is tasked with back-up command and control of the MILSTAR satellite constellation.-Mission:...
at Vandenberg Air Force BaseVandenberg Air Force BaseVandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
, California - 149th Combat Communications Squadron149th Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 149th Combat Communications Squadron is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at North Highlands Air National Guard Station, California.-History:...
at North Highlands ANGS, California - 216th Operations Support Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force BaseVandenberg Air Force BaseVandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
, California - 222d Combat Communications Squadron in Costa MesaCosta Mesa, CaliforniaCosta Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, California - 234th Intelligence Squadron234th Intelligence SquadronThe United States Air Force's 234th Intelligence Squadron is an Air National Guard intelligence unit located at Beale AFB, California....
at Beale AFBBeale Air Force BaseBeale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
, California - 261st Combat Communications Squadron261st Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 261st Combat Communications Squadron is a Air National Guard combat communications unit located in California.-History:...
in Van Nuys, CaliforniaVan Nuys, Los Angeles, CaliforniaVan Nuys is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.-History:Look at the two photos of Van Nuys' first year—and then listen to what the Los Angeles Times wrote on February 23, 1911, the day after the Van Nuys town lot auction--"Between dawn and dusk, in the...