Air Force Communications Command Structure/Patches

[dag]

I would like to start (restart actually) a collection of USAF patches, and I want to focus (this time) on Communications/Information Systems Squadrons/Groups. I was in the Air Force from 1979 to 1986, and in units under the Air Force Communications Command (formally Service). And after doing some research on the groups I was in, and others like them, I wonder if there has been some significant changes in the structure of the Air Force in this area.

 

The three units I served in were the 1998th Communications Squadron (McGuire AFB), 2064th Information Systems Squadron (Shemya AFB), and 1973rd Information Systems Group (Maxwell AFB). In looking at these and similar patches I've seen for sale, seems the unit numbers range from about the 1700's to about the 2100's (excluding "Combat Communications" units). But there are some lower numbered units too called a Communications Squadron/Group. Can anyone tell me how these units have changed (if at all) since the 1980's? When I see Communications/Information Systems Squadrons/Groups patches with unit numbers from the 1700's to 2100's, does that indicate units that predate a certain timeframe? I would like to collect patches similar to those in existance when I served, of units similar to those in which I served, now I'm confused of the unit numbering schemes on under the Air Force Communications Service/Command in both the 1980's and now.

 

Thanks,

David

[Teamski]

I would like to start (restart actually) a collection of USAF patches, and I want to focus (this time) on Communications/Information Systems Squadrons/Groups. I was in the Air Force from 1979 to 1986, and in units under the Air Force Communications Command (formally Service). And after doing some research on the groups I was in, and others like them, I wonder if there has been some significant changes in the structure of the Air Force in this area.

 

The three units I served in were the 1998th Communications Squadron (McGuire AFB), 2064th Information Systems Squadron (Shemya AFB), and 1973rd Information Systems Group (Maxwell AFB). In looking at these and similar patches I've seen for sale, seems the unit numbers range from about the 1700's to about the 2100's (excluding "Combat Communications" units). But there are some lower numbered units too called a Communications Squadron/Group. Can anyone tell me how these units have changed (if at all) since the 1980's? When I see Communications/Information Systems Squadrons/Groups patches with unit numbers from the 1700's to 2100's, does that indicate units that predate a certain timeframe? I would like to collect patches similar to those in existance when I served, of units similar to those in which I served, now I'm confused of the unit numbering schemes on under the Air Force Communications Service/Command in both the 1980's and now.

 

Thanks,

David

 

 

I'm not sure when the Information Systems designation came around and replaced Communications, but I believe it happened in the early 90's as one of those McPeak things. Board member Thorsted can probably pinpoint when these changes came about. The Info Systems Squadrons were redesignated Comm squadrons again sometime in the late 1990's- 2000's. They were then renumbered to reflect the operational wing they belonged to as they were no were no longer part of a Comm group (which handled several bases). For example the 27th Comm Sq was stationed at Cannon until Special Ops took over the base last year.

 

-Ski

[Teamski]

....I will have to see what I have in my trade bag.

 

-Ski

[Mark1]

- Air Force Communications Service 7/1/61 (became a major command)

- Air Force Communications Command 11/15/79 (changed from a major command to a field agency 7/1/91)

- Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency 5/28/93

- Air Force Communications Agency 6/13/96

- Air Force Network Integration Center 7/15/09 (changed from a field agency to a subordinate unit of the Air Force Space Command)

 

- squadrons and groups changed from communications to information systems in the mid 80's then back to communications in the late 80's

- in the early 90's they dropped the 1000 series of unit numbers

[Teamski]

- Air Force Communications Service 7/1/61 (became a major command)

- Air Force Communications Command 11/15/79 (changed from a major command to a field agency 7/1/91)

- Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency 5/28/93

- Air Force Communications Agency 6/13/96

- Air Force Network Integration Center 7/15/09 (changed from a field agency to a subordinate unit of the Air Force Space Command)

 

- squadrons and groups changed from communications to information systems in the mid 80's then back to communications in the late 80's

- in the early 90's they dropped the 1000 series of unit numbers

 

 

Mark is absolutely right. Information Systems Squadrons were from 1985-1987. Sorry for the misinformation.

 

-Ski

[dag]

- Air Force Communications Service 7/1/61 (became a major command)

- Air Force Communications Command 11/15/79 (changed from a major command to a field agency 7/1/91)

- Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency 5/28/93

- Air Force Communications Agency 6/13/96

- Air Force Network Integration Center 7/15/09 (changed from a field agency to a subordinate unit of the Air Force Space Command)

 

- squadrons and groups changed from communications to information systems in the mid 80's then back to communications in the late 80's

- in the early 90's they dropped the 1000 series of unit numbers

 

Thank you so much. This is exactly what I was hoping to learn. All of this makes sense, it flows with the changes I saw while I was in between 1979 and 1986, and makes sense with what I see now with Air Force patches I see being displayed and being sold and Air Force information I find on the internet. This is excellent reference information, I have just printed off a copy for future reference.

Thanks again,

David

[dag]

- Air Force Communications Service 7/1/61 (became a major command)

- Air Force Communications Command 11/15/79 (changed from a major command to a field agency 7/1/91)

- Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency 5/28/93

- Air Force Communications Agency 6/13/96

- Air Force Network Integration Center 7/15/09 (changed from a field agency to a subordinate unit of the Air Force Space Command)

 

As a followup question. I thought it would interesting to obtain a patch for those successors to the two major commands I saw when I was in the Air Force - I was in during "Air Force Communications Service" and "Air Force Communications Command", and have a few patches of each. But in searching for patches for the others, I don't see any. Were any made/used of these others? Did they continue to use Air Force Communications Command patches, or none at all or just higher level command patches?

 

David

[Mark1]

the Air Force Network Integration Center uses the same shield as the AFCS and AFCC. do not know if a patch was ever made

[dag]

And I've also seen a hat pin for the Air Force Communications Agency, again, with the same design. But haven't seen any patches for that one either.