BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Almost 50 years after it was retired, a guidon bearing the unit numbers "718th " was unfurled once again at a ceremony, June 7, 2011, acknowledging the activation of the 718th Intelligence Squadron, a new Air Force Reserve Command unit at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
The new squadron is a geographically separated unit assigned to the 940th Wing, an emerging missions Reserve wing located at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The 718th IS joins the 940th Wing's 50th Intelligence Squadron in bringing Reserve support to the Air Force's Distributed Common Ground System mission.
"Our Reservists at the 718th will bring continuity and long-term experience to the DCGS mission, providing timely, relevant Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance support to warfighters at every level of combat," said Col. Jonathan M. Ellis, 940th Operations Group commander.
Through Total Force Initiative, the 718th IS will integrate with the 497th ISR Group, working alongside active duty and Air National Guard counterparts in support of Distributed Ground System-1 at Langley.
The DCGS, which includes DGS-1, is the Air Force's premier globally networked ISR weapon system that produces, exploits and disseminates intelligence information collected from multiple sources, including the U-2 Dragonlady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator, in direct support of overseas contingency operations.
"I'm incredibly excited about our mission and the great blend of personnel we've recruited thus far," said Lt. Col. Lynnette Hebert, 718th IS commander. "We're bringing a highly educated and mature group of people to the mission. They're extremely bright and highly motivated to serve."
The squadron has already hired approximately a third of their manning requirement of a hundred traditional and full-time Reservists, according to Hebert. She said about half of the unit's members will be cross-trainees from other intelligence positions within the reserves, while others being recruited to the new unit are coming straight off of active duty.
In addition, several highly skilled personnel already working in the Intelligence field in other capacities, such as contractors, have also been hired, Hebert said.
"These are personnel who already have great jobs, but miss serving their country in uniform. Joining our squadron gives them the opportunity to fill this void."
"We have an important, unique and challenging mission, and our members will be a critical part of our success," said Hebert. "We intend to carry on the great legacy of the 718th."