Mission:
The 729th Air Control Squadron provides the theater Air Force commander a rapid reaction mobile air control system and control and reporting center during worldwide contingencies. It also provides command and control of joint air operations through surveillance, identification, weapons control, theater missile defense, battle management and theater communications data links.
Personnel and Resources:
Approximately 400 air battle managers and support personnel are assigned to the squadron. They maintain and operate 220 tactical vehicles and manage over $250 million in assets.
History:
The squadron was activated February 16, 1951, as the 729th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, and assigned to the 507th Tactical Control Group. The entire group was later transferred to Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico, then to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia from December 6, 1953, to July 15, 1958, when it was deactivated. While at Robins the 729th was redesignated the 729th Tactical Control Squadron, and six detachments were assigned to support the unit's mission. The detachment units stretched from Homestead Air Force base, Florida, to as far west as Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The unit reactivated as the 729th Tactical Control Squadron on January 6, 1964, at Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Airfield Number Three, Florida, where it remained until it was once again deactivated on June 15, 1969. The unit was reactivated a few months later and from October 15, 1969 to November 30, 1979, the 729th was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, where it earned two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards before being deactivated.
The squadron was once again reactivated on October 1, 1985, under the 602nd Tactical Air Control Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona and assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. On June 26, 1987, the squadron declared initial Operating Capability at hill Air Force Base, Utah. In October 1991, the squadron was renamed the 729th Air Control Squadron. In May 1992, the squadron was put under the control of the 388th Operations Group, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
The 729th supported Operation Noble eagle, and in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2001 the unit deployed to Kuwait to monitor the southern no-fly zone in support of Operation Southern Watch. From November 2002 to March 2003, the 729th deployed to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, to monitor the southern no-fly zone in support of Operation Southern Watch. Then from March to June 2003, the 729th deployed again to Ali Al Salem Air Base to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Modern Highlights:
August 2000 - Air Warrior, Fort Irwin, California
September 2000 - Joint Service Training Exercise, Buckley AFB. Colorado
October 2000 - Training Deployment, Wendover, Nevada
January 2001 - Desert Pivot, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
February 2001 - 388th Fighter Wing Phase I (ICC)
March 2001 - Training Deployment, Wendover, Nevada
April 2001 - Joint Service Training Exercise 01-01, FORSCOM/12th Air Force
May 2001 - Roving Sands, Augment 109th Air Control Squadron
July 2001 - 388th Fighter Wing Phase I/II, DR to Wendover, Nevada
August - December 2001 - Operation Southern Watch, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
February - March 2002 - 2002 Winter Olympics Security
February 2002 to present - Operation Noble Eagle
November 2002 - March 2003 - Operation Southern Watch, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
March - June 2003 - Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
(Current as of Feb 2014)