Bagram Airfield officials have added four new squadrons to their growing
list of units during an assumption of command ceremony here May 5.
More than 1,200 joint expeditionary tasking and provincial reconstruction team Airmen deployed to more than 40 forward operating bases and camps throughout Afghanistan will now be assigned to 655th, 755th, 855th or 955th Air Expeditionary Squadrons under the 755th Air Expeditionary Group.
"As our mission roles have increased, it became obvious we needed to reorganize the 755th AEG," said Col. James Reed, the 755th AEG commander, before unfurling the new unit guidons. "These squadrons will be instrumental in taking care of our Airmen working side by side with the Army, coalition forces and the Afghan people fighting terrorism in Afghanistan."
Colonel Reed said the leadership, management and expertise of the new squadron commanders and staff will provide greater accountability, administrative control and support for Airmen.
The four squadrons coincide with International Security Assistance Force's regions of responsibility and provide support for Airmen in more than 130 different Air Force specialty codes.
The 655th AES located at Forward Operating Base Sharana and will oversee more than 200 Airmen at more than 20 locations within Regional Command East.
The 755th AES located at Kandahar Airfield will command approximately 300 Airmen in Regional Commands South and West.
The 855th AES located at Camp Phoenix will have more than 525 Airmen in the Regional Command Capital area in and around Kabul.
The 955th AES will have more than 600 Airmen in Regional Command North to include Bagram Airfield.
In March, U.S. Air Forces Central also stood up the 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group here to provide command and control over more than 125 air liaison officers, tactical air controllers and combat weather Airmen supporting missions throughout the country.
Jason Lake (AFNS)
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