Accession Number:

AD1040700

Title:

THE DECENNIAL OF AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND'S ONLY GROUND BASED MISSILE WARNING CLASSIC ASSOCIATE UNIT: BENEFITS, DRAWBACKS, AND CHALLENGES

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLL MAXWELL AFB AL MAXWELL AFB United States

Personal Author(s):

• Haugen,Erik J.

Report Date:

2016-02-16

Pagination or Media Count:

64.0

Abstract:

On 14 April 2016, Clear Air Force Station AFS will celebrate a decade of operating its Ground Based Missile Warning GBMW radar under an Air Force and Air National Guard Classic Associate unit construct. The purpose of this paper is to examine what have been the benefits, drawbacks and challenges of this Total Force structure. This paper employs a case study methodology to explore the history of the unit, explain the GBMW mission, and identify how this construct could benefit the transition to a Space Mission Force concept for operating in the new Contested, Degraded, and Operationally Limited space environment. Amongst key findings were the benefits Guardsmen bring in continuity and experience level. Drawbacks were Military Personnel Appropriation day usage, delays in Guardsmen certification training, Guard officer career stagnation, and challenges of having two commanders. Based on the findings, this paper offers four key recommendations make all Continental United States CONUS GBMW sites Classic Associate units, make Missile Warning a Homeland Defense mission, create an Air National Guard GBMW career path, and assign one Dual Status Commander. A Classic Associate unit construct employed at all CONUS GBMW sites would provide the Combatant Commander with an adept, experienced GBMW crew force.

Descriptors:

• united states northern command
• united states strategic command
• space objects
• warning systems
• military personnel
• space situational awareness
• radar
• space surveillance
• defense systems
• space debris
• ground based
• homeland defense
• reconnaissance satellites
• AIR NATIONAL GUARD

Subject Categories:

• Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies
• Defense Systems
• Active and Passive Radar Detection and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE