| 186th Air Refueling Wing | |
|---|---|
 186th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 | |
| Active | 1962–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Mississippi |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Air Refueling |
| Size | About 1200 |
| Part of | Mississippi Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Key Field Air National Guard Base,Meridian Regional Airport |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Cynthia Smith |
| Insignia | |
| 186th Air Refueling Wing emblem |  |
| 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group emblem |  |
| Tail Stripe |  |
The186th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of theMississippi Air National Guard stationed atMeridian Regional Airport, Mississippi. The153d Air Refueling Squadron, assigned to the Wing's 186th Operations Group, was established on 18 August 1939 as the 153d Observation Squadron, one of the 29National Guard observation squadrons formed beforeWorld War II.
Thegroup was first organized in October 1962 as the186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group. It served in thereconnaissance role until 1992, when it receivedBoeing KC-135 Stratotankers and converted to anair refueling mission.
The186th Air Refueling Wing provides worldwide air refueling support to combat commands of the United States Air Force, and to other United States military forces and the military forces of allied nations flying the KC-135 Stratotanker. With over 1,200 officers and airmen, the 186th is made up of mostly traditional guardsmen, but about one third of the members are full-time air technicians or active Guardsmen or reservists. The 186th also supports aFairchild RC-26B Metroliner aircraft, modified to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.[1]
The2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended that the wing's KC-135R aircraft be transferred to the128th Air Refueling Wing,134th Air Refueling Wing and the101st Air Refueling Wing. Its fire fighter positions would move to the172d Airlift Wing atAllen C. Thompson Field Air National Guard Base, but its expeditionary combat support would remain in place.
In 2011, the wing began transferring its KC-135 aircraft in preparation for transition to an airlift wing as the Formal Training Unit for the C-27J Spartan aircraft. In 2013, this decision was reversed following a related decision to eliminate the C-27J from the Air Force and Air National Guard inventory. The wing retained its status as an air refueling wing and began re-equipping again with the KC-135.[2]
On 15 October 1962, the Mississippi Air National Guard 153d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and its support elements expanded to form a group, and the186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was activated. The 153d becoming the group's flying squadron. Other units assigned to the group were the 186th Material Squadron, 186th Combat Support Squadron, and the 186th USAF Dispensary. Initially equipped withRepublic RF-84F Thunderflash tactical reconnaissance aircraft, the group trained in normal peacetime operations.
In 1970 Tactical Air Command retired the group's Thunderstreaks and they were replaced by theMcDonnell RF-101C Voodoo.[3] In 1979 the Voodoos were again replaced byMcDonnell RF-4C Phantom IIs. In 1990 during the Gulf Crisis, several aircraft and support personnel were activated and deployed toDoha International Airport, Qatar, where they became part of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) duringOperation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
In 1992 the squadron's 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was realigned to anair refueling unit and its RF-4Cs were retired. The squadron was equipped withBoeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The group has seen worldwide duty with the KC-135, supportingOperation Display Determination,Operation Provide Relief,Operation Restore Hope,Operation Support Justice,Operation Deny Flight,Operation Northern Watch,Operation Noble Eagle,Operation Enduring Freedom andOperation Iraqi Freedom.
The wing's additional mission recalls its roots as a reconnaissance unit. Its RC-26 supports law enforcement agencies in their counterdrug efforts and also deploys overseas forimagery collection for combatant commanders. The C-26 program has worked directly with law enforcement agencies since 1996 providing National Guard support to battle illegal narcotics and illicit drugs. Overseas deployments have supported Department of Defense andUnited States Southern Command objectives in South America. The C-26 is manned full-time and the program is managed through theMississippi National Guard Counterdrug Coordinator's office.[1]
In September 2008 the Air Force and Air National Guard officials agreed to establish a temporary mission qualification training detachment within the wing called "Project Liberty" for theBeechcraft MC-12 Liberty aircraft at Key Field to bolster the Department of Defense's intelligence gathering capability inOperation Iraqi Freedom andOperation Enduring Freedom. On 29 April 2009, the first MC-12W arrived at Key Field. This mission, designated Project Liberty, will train approximately 1,000 students over a two-year period. All crewmembers, two pilots, a sensor operator and a signals intelligence specialist trained at Key Field.[citation needed]
In 2011, the 186th began converting to theC-27J Spartan in preparation to become the formal training unit for all C-27 crew training. However, cuts inDepartment of Defense spending eliminated the C-27J from the active inventory and in 2013, the wing returned to flying theBoeing KC-135 Stratotanker.[1]
During theCOVID-19 Pandemic, the Wing provided staff to assist with Covid-19 testing and, later, vaccinations.[4]
^108th Air Refueling Wing, 13 April 1993
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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