226th Combat Communications Group

The United States Air Force's 226th Combat Communications Group is a combat communications headquarters unit located at Abston Air National Guard Station in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. The Group is one of two Air National Guard Combat Communications Groups nationwide, which together constitute over 60% of the U.S. Air Force's tactical communications capability. The 226 CCG is one of three major organizations that make up the Alabama Air National Guard.

Alabama Air National Guard AN/TRC-170 at Roving Sands 1997
Active1972–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeCombat Communications
Part ofAlabama Air National Guard
Garrison/HQAbston Air National Guard Station, Alabama, USA
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
226th Combat Communications Group emblem (1991)[note 1]
226th Combat Communications Group emblem (1982)

Mission

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The mission of the 226th Combat Communications Group is to command, organize, equip, train and administer assigned and attached forces to ensure complete mission readiness in support of emergency USAF requirements, and to provide timely and reliable communications and engineering and installation in support of state emergencies.

History

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The 226 CCG was originally organized on 18 June 1954 as part of the 225th Radio Relay Squadron. The 225th was initially organized in March 1953 in Greenville, Mississippi, as part of the Mississippi Air National Guard. The unit was formally organized on 18 June 1954, and was eventually transferred to the Alabama Air National Guard and relocated to Gadsden.

On 22 February 1971, an element of the 225th was reorganized as the Headquarters, 226th Mobile Communications Group and allotted to the National Guard Bureau. (The remainder of the 225th eventually became the 225th Combat Communications Squadron.) The unit received federal recognition on 29 September 1971. In 1986, the 226th was renamed, becoming the 226th Combat Communications Group.

The group headquarters moved to Abston Air National Guard Station in February 1996.

The 226th gained seven additional squadrons on 1 October 2013, when the 281st Combat Communications Group was inactivated (30 September 2013).

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 226th Mobile Communications Group and allotted to the Air National Guard on 22 February 1971
Federally recognized on 13 September 1971
Redesignated 226th Combat Communications Group on 1 April 1976
Redesignated 226th Combat Information Systems Group on 1 July 1985
Redesignated 226th Combat Communications Group on 1 October 1986

Assignments

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Major Command/Gaining Command

Components

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Currently assigned / aligned
Previously assigned / aligned

Stations

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Awards and campaigns

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Award streamer Award Dates Notes
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1976 – 31 December 1977 [1]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1989 – 31 December 1989 [2]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1990 – 31 December 1990 [3]
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1991 – 31 December 1991
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1996 – 31 December 1997
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2012 – 30 September 2014
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2014 – 30 September 2016
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2016 – 30 September 2018
  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2018 – 30 September 2020

Equipment operated

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References

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Blue and yellow are the Air force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The red "X" is reminiscent of the Alabama state flag and reflects the unit’s home location. The sword surmounting the globe represents the Group’s support to the tactical units and their ability to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world. The large star at the pommel of the sword handle stands for the Group’s headquarters. The six smaller stars denote the subordinate elements of the Group and the lightning flashes symbolize the electronic connectivity provided between the Group’s headquarters and its field units.
Citations
  1. ^ Order number GB-636, 1978
  2. ^ Order number GA-061, 1990
  3. ^ Order number GA-074, 1991
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