Strategic Communications Wing One

Strategic Communications Wing One
Strategic Communications Wing One
	E-6B Mercury

Strategic Communications Wing 1 (STRATCOMMWING ONE) is a nuclear command and control wing of the United States Navy. Its TACAMO ("Take Charge and Move Out") mission provides airborne communications links to nuclear missile units of United States Strategic Command. It is located at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

The two operational squadrons,

VQ-4, prepared to move from their former Atlantic and Pacific bases in 1992-1993 and the wing was formally established on 29 May 1992.^[2] Captain Andy Riddile, first commander ("Commodore") of the wing, arrived in April 1992.^[3] A separate Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), VQ-7, was later established at Tinker AFB with EC-18 and TC-18

aircraft.

The wing consists of three squadrons and a wing staff, and employs over 1,300 active-duty sailors and 100 contractors to provide maintenance, security, operations, administration, training and logistic support for the

missile silos

enforcing the country's national security through nuclear deterrence.

The Wing provides a secure communications link designed to for use in the event of nuclear war or other major incident in order to maintain communications between the decision makers comprising the National Command Authority (NCA) and the triad of U.S. strategic nuclear weapon delivery systems, i.e., crewed bombers, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

The wing's primary mission is to receive, verify and retransmit Emergency Action Messages (EAMs) to US strategic forces. With the retirement of the USAF

Travis AFB, California and Naval Air Station Patuxent River

, Maryland.

STRATCOMWING ONE's subordinate squadrons include: