310th Space Wing Activates

  • Published
  • By Ed White
  • Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - --  From perfecting "skip bombing" techniques against bridges and railroad targets in World War II to using space to fight the war on terror, the 310th Space group has a unique history in the Air Force. Today they added another honor as the unit activated as a wing, the first, and only Air Force Reserve Space Wing in the Air Force. 

"This activation is an indication of our continued growth in the Air Force space missions, and it validates the contribution of the Air Force Reserve in the fight against terror," said Col. Jeff Ansted, commanding officer of the wing. 

"The wing encompasses 16 units supporting such agencies as the U.S. Department of Commerce, Air Force Space Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Cyber Command, the Space Innovation and Development Center, 14th Air Force and the 50th, 21st and 460th Space Wings," said Colonel Ansted. 

Chief Master Sgt. Darin Miley, the wing's superintendent, sees the activation as a very real plus for the command in practical terms. 

"As a wing, it is easier to get our manpower requirements met. We are authorized over 800 personnel and we now have about 600. We are now getting personnel to do jobs that we used to have to take out of hide. That makes us more efficient, effective and mission ready," he said. 

Chief Miley also believes that the space mission will only keep growing and that could mean another Reserve Space wing sometime in the future. 

The space wing has a wide variety of missions and several subordinate units. One in particular is the 7th Space Operations Squadron located at Schriever AFB, CO. Lt. Col. John D. Hunt is the commander and he explained the unit's mission. "First of all, the seventh was the first squadron in the wing. We are very proud of that distinction. We have experience with flying the Global Positioning System and the Defense Satellite Program and we are currently involved in work with Research and Development satellites," he said. 

They also have a booster launch operation and provide support and telemetry data from Delta II vehicles. And, the squadron will soon be operating the one-of-a-kind satellite operations center focused on the rapid fielding of cutting-edge space technologies for warfighters," he added. 

The wing is made up of the full spectrum of Reserve positions, from the Support Group at Buckley AFB, the Security Forces units, and the space operators at Schriever and Vandenberg AFBs, all are working together to get the job done. 

Staff Sgt. Diana Wilson is the training manager for the headquarters. She is a full time Reservist and is from the Colorado Springs area. "This is a great job for me. It is close to home, it is something I really enjoy doing and the Reserves are so family oriented. It is really great working for the Reserves." 

There was little fanfare to note the activation. There will be a ceremony on April 4 here, but the importance of the day is felt strongly throughout the unit as it quietly goes about the business of providing world-class space support to those it serves.