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Grand Forks Air Force Base

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Grand Forks Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation in northeastern North Dakota, located approximately 16 miles west of Grand Forks. The base is home to the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, which operates RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft and serves as one of two control stations for the High Frequency Global Communications System (HFGCS).

History

Grand Forks Air Force Base was established on December 1, 1955, with construction beginning that fall. The base was occupied on January 28, 1957, and was named after the neighboring city of Grand Forks[1].

Strategic Air Command Era

On September 1, 1958, Strategic Air Command (SAC) established the 4133d Strategic Wing at Grand Forks as part of its plan to disperse B-52 heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The 4133d Strategic Wing was redesignated as the 319th Bombardment Wing on February 1, 1963[1].

During the Cold War, the 319th Wing placed aircraft on peacetime quick reaction alert duty and conducted global bombardment training for Emergency War Order operations and air refueling operations. On September 28, 1991, the wing pulled its B-1B bombers and KC-135R tankers from quick reaction alert duty, ending nearly three decades of such activity at Grand Forks AFB[2].

Transition to Reconnaissance

On March 1, 2011, the wing was redesignated as the 319th Air Base Wing. The first RQ-4 Global Hawk arrived in May 2011 and was assigned to the 69th Reconnaissance Group. On June 28, 2019, the 319th Air Base Wing was redesignated the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, with the RQ-4 mission transferred directly to the wing[2].

The wing was reassigned from Air Mobility Command to Air Combat Command on June 13, 2017, reflecting its transition to a reconnaissance-focused mission[2].

Current Mission

The 319th Reconnaissance Wing is assigned to the 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) under Air Combat Command. The wing operates RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft through the 348th Reconnaissance Squadron and provides decisional advantage to warfighters and the nation[3].

High Frequency Global Communications System

Grand Forks Air Force Base serves as one of two Centralized Network Control Stations (CNCS) for the High Frequency Global Communications System (HFGCS), alongside Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The 319th Communications Squadron, part of the 319th Mission Support Group, operates the CNCS facility[4][5].

The HFGCS is the U.S. Department of Defense's single global, strategic, high-power HF Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) network. Radio operators at the Grand Forks CNCS use position consoles to remotely control HFGCS ground stations located around the world, transmitting and monitoring signals and Emergency Action Messages for senior leader communications up to the President of the United States and all DoD agencies[5].

Grand Forks became the operational second control station by 2016, replacing the original plan from the mid-2000s to establish the second CNCS at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. A 2016 government contract document confirms that HFGCS ground stations "are remotely controlled and operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by radio operators from two net control stations (NCS) located at Andrews AFB, MD and Grand Forks AFB, ND"[4].

In May 2023, the 319th Communications Squadron hosted the first-ever HFGCS open house to familiarize airmen and their families with the global communication support provided by HFGCS at Grand Forks and Joint Base Andrews[6].

Organization

The 319th Reconnaissance Wing consists of several groups and squadrons:

  • 319th Operations Group - Operates the RQ-4 Global Hawk mission
    • 348th Reconnaissance Squadron
  • 319th Mission Support Group - Provides base support services
    • 319th Communications Squadron - Operates the HFGCS control station
    • 319th Civil Engineer Squadron
    • 319th Contracting Squadron
    • 319th Force Support Squadron
    • 319th Logistics Readiness Squadron
    • 319th Security Forces Squadron
  • 319th Medical Group - Provides medical services

The wing reports to 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), which is part of Air Combat Command[3].

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Forks_Air_Force_Base
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/319th_Reconnaissance_Wing
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.16af.af.mil/About-Us/Unit-Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1963031/319th-reconnaissance-wing/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://sam.gov/opp/908928bfa9cbd87e17bd44874d6a380f/view
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://www.grandforks.af.mil/About-Us/Units/videoid/941423/dvpTag/help/
  6. ↑ https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7833466/319th-cs-hosts-high-frequency-global-communications-system-open-house
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