FORT STEWART, Ga. - When the Air Force was established in 1947, one of the main requirements to its division from the Army was that it would provide close air support and weather forecasting for the Army.
Fast forward to Sept. 18, 2009, and the 62nd birthday of the Air Force, and they are still providing that service, along with intelligence surveillance reconnaissance,s to the Army.
In fact, the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron, based at Wright Army Airfield, has been attached to Fort Stewart since 1972.
"Most people say 'We have Air Force here'' when we tell them," said Lt. Col. Robert "Rock" Nelson, commander of the 15th ASOS.
The 15th ASOS is an active-duty Air Force unit with 147 Airmen, including 29 stationed at Fort Benning. From A-10 pilots, F-15 E pilots and weapons operators, to bomber and Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircrew, the unit is made up of officers and enlisted Airmen who each volunteered to take the assignment at Fort Stewart.
"They don't have to be here," Lt. Col. Nelson said. "It's not easy to be an Airman on an Army installation, geographically separated from your fellow Airmen. But the entire Fort Stewart support has been excellent."
Senior Airman Cory Burns, who was recently named 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing Airman of the Quarter, is part of a two-man Tactical Air Control Party.
"This assignment (at Fort Stewart) is one of the opportunities I'll have as an Airman to be a forward air controller," he said. "This will be the only time in my career where I'll have the opportunity to do this kind of mission."
The mission of the 15th ASOS is to provide coordination for tactical air support to the 3rd Infantry Division. In peacetime, the squadron mans, equips, trains, and supports Tactical Air Control Parties that deploy to support the 3rd ID. The squadron also provides liaison between the division's maneuver commanders and the Air Force units supporting division training, as well as advice and guidance on planning for the employing airpower in their training and combat operations.
The unit is an essential part of the mission of the 3rd ID, as is shown in the Meritorious Unit Award they received for their service during their deployment to Iraq, Apr. 1, 2007-May 31, 2008. The award will be presented at the change of command ceremony Oct. 2, when Lt. Col. Nelson hands over command of the unit to Lt. Col. Bruce Munger.
The 15th ASOS was initially activated in 1972 as two separate units: Operating Location-AD, 507th Tactical Air Control Wing, and Detachment 5, 5th Weather Squadron, both assigned to Fort Stewart. The 507th TACW supported the U.S. Army Rangers, and the 5th WS supported Army Aviation activities at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field. In 1975, both units' names were changed to Detachment 2, 507th TACW and Detachment 21, 5th WS, respectively, with a mission to support the 24th Infantry Division Mechanized, which had recently moved to Fort Stewart. On June 1, 1992, the units' names were again changed, this time to Detachment 2, 18th Air Support Operations Group and Detachment 21, 1st Weather Group. On July 1, 1994, the two Detachments were combined to create the 15th ASOS. On Sept. 1, 2004, Operating Location-Bravo, supporting 3/3 BCT, split from the 17 ASOS and was attached to the 15th ASOS. Finally, on Oct. 1, 2008, the Weather flight (OL-ALPHA) was detached from 15th ASOS and was made Det. 3, 18th Weather Squadron.
Along with the commander's support staff, which provides personnel, and administrative support to unit members, the 15th Air Support Operations Squadron is comprised of six flights:
A Flight: Provides Brigade Combat Team and Battalion TACPs to support 1/3 BCT
B Flight: Provides BCT and Battalion TACPS to support 2/3 BCT
C Flight: Provides Division TACPS to support 3rd ID Headquarters
D Flight: Provides BCT and Battalion TACPS to support 4/3 BCT
OL-B Flight: Provides BCT and Battalion TACPs to support 3/3 BCT
Support Flight: Provides maintenance and supply support
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