226th Combat Communications Group

226th Combat Communications Group
Active	1954–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Combat Communications
Part of	AFSPC / ANG
Garrison/HQ	Abston Air National Guard Station, Alabama, USA
Decorations	AFOUA

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.

Mission

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

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).

Emblem Description and Significance

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.

Assignments

Major Command/Gaining Command

• Air National Guard/? (1954-1960)
• Air National Guard/Military Air Transport Service (1960-1966)
• Air National Guard/? (1966-1971)
• Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1971-1992)
• Air National Guard/Air Combat Command (1992-2008)
• Air National Guard/Air Force Space Command (2008–Present)

Squadrons currently assigned

• 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron - Brunswick, Georgia
• 232d Combat Communications Squadron – Abston ANGS, Montgomery, Alabama
• 263d Combat Communications Squadron - New London ANGS, New London, North Carolina
• 265th Combat Communications Squadron - South Portland ANGS, South Portland, Maine
• 267th Combat Communications Squadron - Joint Base Cape Cod (formerly Otis ANGB), Massachusetts
• 269th Combat Communications Squadron - Springfield ANGS, Springfield, Ohio
• 271st Combat Communications Squadron - Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, Pennsylvania
• 280th Special Operations Communications Squadron - Dothan Regional Airport ANGS, Dothan, Alabama
• 282d Combat Communications Squadron - North Smithfield ANGS, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
• 283d Combat Communications Squadron - Dobbins ARB, Georgia
• 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron - MacDill AFB, Florida

Squadrons previously assigned

• 114th Combat Communications Squadron - Patrick AFB, Florida
• 115th Air Control Squadron - Dothan, Alabama
• 225th Combat Communications Squadron - Gadsden, Alabama
• 228th Combat Communications Squadron - McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Tennessee
• 240th Combat Communications Squadron - McEntire ANGB, South Carolina
• 241st Engineering Installation Squadron - Chattanooga, Tennessee
• 245th Air Traffic Control Squadron - McEntire ANGB, South Carolina
• 285th Combat Communications Squadron (? - 3 March 2012) - St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Previous designations

• 225th Radio Relay Squadron (June 1954-February 1971)
• 226th Mobile Communications Group (February 1971–March 1976)
• 226th Combat Communications Group (March 1976-August 1984)
• 226th Combat Information Systems Group (August 1984-October 1986)
• 226th Combat Communications Group (October 1986 – Present)

Bases stationed

• Abston ANGS, Montgomery, Alabama (1996–present)
• Martin ANGS, Gadsden, Alabama (1971–1996)

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • 1 January 1976 – 31 December 1977^[1]
  • 1 January 1989 – 31 December 1989^[2]
  • 1 January 1990 – 31 December 1990^[3]
  • 1 January 1991 – 31 December 1991
  • 1 January 1996 – 31 December 1997

References

1. Order number GB-636, 1978
2. Order number GA-061, 1990
3. Order number GA-074, 1991

External links

• Alabama ANG: 187th Fighter Wing