WESTFIELD – The 104th Fighter Wing deployed approximately 100 Airmen on Thursday to Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases, Germany to integrate with the active-duty.
“This trip is an excellent opportunity for our personnel to work with our active duty counterparts, strengthen our partnerships, and expand our expertise. The training opportunity enhances our deployment readiness as well as our ability to excel at our day-to-day mission,” said Col. Ann Ware, Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing Mission Support Group.
This deployment gives wing members an opportunity to practice skill sets that may not be readily available at home station. The deployment is approximately two weeks long.
The 104th FW is an operational flying unit assigned to the Air Combat Command, and proudly claims the honor of being one of the oldest flying units within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Recently the 104th received “Air Control Alert Unit of the Year” by the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region – 1st Air Force (CONR-1AF/AFNORTH). A component of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) provides airspace surveillance and control and directs aerospace control activities for the continental United States (CONUS).
Tasked to provide operationally ready combat units, combat support units and qualified personnel for active duty, the 104th FW supports Air Force wartime contingency requirements and performs a variety of peacetime missions required by the Air Force and compatible mobilization readiness. One mission of the 104th is Aerospace Control Alert (ACA), providing armed fighters ready to scramble in a moment’s notice to protect the Northeast from any airborne threat. The unit is responsible for protecting a quarter of the nation’s population and one third of the Gross Domestic Product.
