36th Wing

36th Wing
Unit name	36th Wing
Dates	1948–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Airlift and multipurpose operations
Garrison	Andersen Air Force Base
Battles	Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

36th Wing is a wing-level formation of the United States Air Force responsible for expeditionary operations, airlift, and support functions in the Indo-Pacific region. Assigned to the Pacific Air Forces, the wing provides forward presence, strategic reach, and integrated combat support for joint and combined operations. It maintains partnerships with regional allies such as Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, and Philippines while operating from strategic locations including Andersen Air Force Base and other Pacific installations.

History

The wing traces its lineage to post-World War II reorganization when the United States Army Air Forces transitioned into the United States Air Force. Early elements participated in the Korean War under Far East Air Forces command and later supported operations during the Vietnam War from bases like Bien Hoa Air Base and Da Nang Air Base. During the Cold War, the wing contributed to deterrence against Soviet Union advances in the Pacific theater and participated in exercises with Seventh Fleet units and United States Pacific Command planners.

In the late 20th century, the wing supported contingency operations during the Gulf War and provided logistics and airlift for humanitarian missions following natural disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Elements deployed to Al Udeid Air Base and Bagram Airfield to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, integrating with units from Air Mobility Command and United States Central Command.

Post-9/11 restructuring emphasized expeditionary basing and joint interoperability with allies including Republic of Korea Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Air Force. The wing’s deployments and exercises have included Cope North, Red Flag-Alaska, RIMPAC, and bilateral maneuvers with Royal New Zealand Air Force and Philippine Air Force elements.

Mission and Role

The wing’s primary mission centers on providing ready airlift, aerial refueling, and contingency response capabilities in support of Pacific Air Forces objectives and joint force commanders. It enables power projection, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and theater sustainment across the Indo-Pacific region, interoperating with commands such as United States Indo-Pacific Command and United States Transportation Command.

Strategically, the wing supports rotational presence for platforms including strategic bombers from Air Force Global Strike Command and carrier strike groups from the United States Navy. It provides critical forward logistics for expeditionary operations, exercises, and crisis response, coordinating with allied headquarters like NATO-aligned liaison elements and regional partners including ASEAN defense counterparts.

Organization and Units

The wing is organized into operations, maintenance, mission support, and medical groups that integrate squadrons and detachments for air mobility and combat support. Its operations group includes airlift and refueling squadrons formerly associated with aircraft models from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Sikorsky. Maintenance units sustain readiness and coordinate depot-level repairs with contractors such as Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

Embedded liaison and intelligence elements coordinate with agencies including the Defense Intelligence Agency, United States Indo-Pacific Command, and regional air forces like Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy. Training and readiness are maintained through partnerships with institutions such as the Air University, Pacific Air Forces training centers, and joint exercises with Marine Corps Forces Pacific.

Aircraft and Equipment

Over its history, the wing has operated legacy transport and tanker aircraft including models from Douglas Aircraft Company and McDonnell Douglas, transitioning into modern fleets such as the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, and rotary-wing support from Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk variants. Electronic warfare, command-and-control, and intelligence platforms have integrated mission systems from suppliers like Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Technologies.

Ground support equipment includes logistics vehicles by Oshkosh Corporation and loadmaster systems interoperable with United States Transportation Command standards. Force protection and base defense integrate technologies from vendors such as General Dynamics and coordination with United States Air Force Security Forces Center procedures.

Stations

Principal stationing has included strategic Pacific locations with a long-term presence at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. During its history, the wing and predecessor units were based at locations across East and Southeast Asia such as Osan Air Base, Kadena Air Base, Yokota Air Base, and forward-deployed sites including Clark Air Base in the Philippines and expeditionary locations at Al Udeid Air Base and Bagram Airfield.

The wing’s basing strategy emphasizes dispersal, readiness, and rapid projection, coordinating with host-nation facilities and regional logistics hubs like Diego Garcia and Singapore Changi Airport military coordination elements.

Decorations and Awards

The wing and its subordinate units have received multiple honors, including the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and foreign citations such as the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. Individual squadrons and aircrews have been recognized with campaign streamers for participation in the Korean War, Vietnam War, and operations in Southwest Asia, as well as humanitarian commendations following responses to regional disasters.

Category:Wings of the United States Air Force