The 233d Space Group (233 SG) is a unit of the

Colorado Air National Guard The Colorado Air National Guard (CO ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Colorado, United States of America. It is, along with the Colorado Army National Guard, an element of the Colorado National Guard. The units of the Colorado Air Natio ...

located at Greeley Air National Guard Station, Greeley. The 233d Space Group provides immediate, worldwide missile warning, space launch and detection in the event of an attack against the United States. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...

Space Command A space command is a military organization with responsibility for space operations and warfare. A space command is typically a joint organization or organized within a larger military branch and is distinct from a fully independent space force. ...

Overview

The 233d Space Group operates the Air Force's strategic survivable, mobile

Defense Support Program The Defense Support Program (DSP) is a program of the United States Space Force that operated the reconnaissance satellites which form the principal component of the ''Satellite Early Warning System'' used by the United States. DSP satellite ...

ground station. The group provides endurable missile warning detection to the National Command Authority and has the ability to survive and operate through all phases of trans/post attack. In addition, the satellites provide immediate, worldwide missile warning, space launch, and nuclear detonation detection.137th SWS Official Site and Mission Statement
Accessed/updated: 2011-11-15.

History

The history of the 233d Space Group is not so much in the unit designation, but in the equipment operated. The 233d Space Group activated 1 October 1995, assuming the mission of the 4th Space Warning Squadron (4 SWS),

Holloman AFB Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base established in 1942 located six miles (10 km) southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, and a census-designated place in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. ...

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

Mobile DSP Communications

The mobile Defense Support Program (DSP) communication mission began on 1 October 1983, as the 1025th Communications Squadron (Mobile). The 1025 CS spent its first three years testing the new mobile satellite communications equipment and training its people. On 1 November 1985, administrative operations were transferred to the 1st Space Wing, part of the newly formed

Air Force Space Command The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...

. The 1025th Space Communications Squadron was redesignated as the 4th Satellite Communications Squadron on 1 August 1986. During an Air Force-wide reorganization, the 1st Space Wing and the 3d Space Wing were inactivated, and their assets merged into the newly renamed

21st Space Wing The 21st Space Wing (21 SW) was the United States Space Force's ground–based missile warning and space control wing. The 21st Space Wing was assigned to Space Operations Command and headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The 21 ...

, at Peterson AFB, Colorado. The unit was renamed the 4th Space Communications Squadron. Finally, on 1 October 1992, the 4th SCS's mission was declassified. When the duties of the 4th SWS transferred to other space projects, the mobile DSP mission was transferred to the newly formed 233d Space Group, activated in 1995.

Assignments

Major Command/Gaining Command

Air National Guard The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...

(1995 – present)

Previous designations

* 1 October 1983 – The 137th SWS activated as the 1025th Satellite Communications Squadron (SCS) * 1 August 1986 – The 1025th SCS was redesignated as the 4th SCS. * 1 October 1992 – The 4th SCS's mission was declassified and became the 4th Space Warning Squadron. * 1 October 1995 – The 137th Space Warning Squadron activated * 1 March 2012 – The 137th Space Warning Squadron was redesignated as the 233d Space Group

Equipment Operated

*Mobile Ground System (MGS) of the

(1995 – present)

References

External links

140wg.ang.af.mil: ''137th SWS Awards''Buckley.af.mil: ''Team Buckley Security Forces team dominates at Guardian Challenge''Buckley.af.mil: ''460th Space Wing (137thSWS) competing in Guardian Challenge 2010''
{{Colorado Groups of the United States Air Force Space units and formations of the United States Air Force Military units and formations established in 2012 Military units and formations in Colorado