| 170th Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1964–1993; 2007–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Nebraska |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Type | Group |
| Role | Training and operations support |
| Size | 80 personnel |
| Part of | Nebraska Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska |
| Motto | Global Readiness |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Col. Wendy Squarcia |
| Insignia | |
| 170th Group emblem |  |
| 170th Tactical Airlift Group emblem |  |
The170th Group is a unit of theNebraska Air National Guard, stationed atOffutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. If activated to federal service, thegroup would be gained by theUnited States Air ForceAir Combat Command.
The group was originally activated in theNew Jersey Air National Guard as the170th Air Transport Group, a strategicairlift unit in 1964. It served in various airlift roles until 1977 when it was redesignated the170th Air Refueling Group and performed theair refueling mission until it was inactivated in 1993 when theAir National Guard adopted the Air Force's Objective wing organization.
The 170th Group (170 GP) grew out of Detachment 1 of Headquarters Nebraska Air National Guard, which was established in June 2002. It gathers members of theNebraska Air National Guard stationed atOffutt Air Force Base into a single administrative unit as part of the "Future Total Force Initiative." Through this initiative, Guard instructoraircrew integrate with the338th Combat Training Squadron (338 CTS) to provide initial qualification, requalification and upgrade training to active duty USAF and Air National Guard aircrew members in theRC-135 RIVET JOINT, COMBAT SENT and COBRA BALL aircraft and theE-4B NIGHTWATCH aircraft. These instructors are assigned to the 238th Combat Training Squadron.
Likewise, Guardsmen integrate into the 55th Operations Support Squadron (55 OSS) to support the global operations of the55th Wing (55 WG), providing training and operational support to the active dutywing's global command and control and intelligence missions.[1][failed verification] Areas supported include requirements, weapons and tactics, intelligence, base operations, weather, and aviation resource management. These Guardsment form the 170th Operations Support Squadron (170 OSS). Overall, the 170th Group is authorized 80 personnel, including 35 full-time and 45 traditional Guardsmen.
The 170th was reactivated in a ceremony on 6 July 2007 atOffutt Air Force Base.[2]
The group was first activated atNewark Municipal Airport on 18 January 1964 as the170th Air Transport Group to provide a headquarters for the150th Air Transport Squadron and its supporting units. The group initially operatedLockheed C-121 Constellation long-distance transports, primarily for passenger movements to Europe. Eighteen months after its formation, the group moved toMcGuire Air Force Base.
The 170th also flew to the Caribbean and, during theVietnam War, to Japan, Thailand, South Vietnam, Australia and the Philippines. In 1966, whenMilitary Airlift Command replacedMilitary Air Transport Service, the group became the170th Military Airlift Group. From 1969 the group focused on airlifting patients, and became the170th Aeromedical Airlift Group.
The Constellations were retired in 1973, and were replaced withde Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou light transports, which were returning from service in the Vietnam War. The C-7s were used for carrying small payloads in forward areas with unimproved airstrips.
In 1977 the 170th receivedBoeing KC-135 Stratotankers and became the150th Air Refueling Squadron. On 1 October 1993,[2] the 170th Air Refueling Group was combined with the108th Air Refueling Wing at McGuire when the New Jersey Air National Guard implemented the Air Force's Objective Wing organization, which called for all units on a base to be assigned to a single wing. The group was inactivated while its 150th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to the 108th Operations Group as its second KC-135 squadron.
In 2007, the group was activated as the170th Group atOffutt Air Force Base, Nebraska to unify Air National Guard support for the55th Wing.[3]
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| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2009 – 31 May 2010 | 170th Group[4] |
| Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2014 – 31 May 2015 | 170th Group[4] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 April 1966 – 23 September 1970 | 170th Military Airlift Group[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 4 April 1971 – 1 April 1972 | 170th Aeromedical Airlift Group[4] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1979 – 30 June 1981 | 170th Air Refueling Group[4] |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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