Unveiling the Dynamic Force of the 482nd Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Reserve Base

The 482nd Fighter Wing is the largest unit stationed at Homestead Air Reserve Base. The unit belongs to the US Air Force Reserve Command. Its higher headquarters in 10th Air Force is located at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Texas.

Commanded by Colonel Joshua Padgett, the wing has over 1200 Fulltime and Traditional Reservists, active-duty personnel and civilians. Not only ensuring that assigned individuals, units, and equipment are trained and ready to deploy in the Nation’s defense, the wing also functions as the host unit supporting all other units and organizations at the Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB).

By email, Col. Padgett told the SDNL, “HARB is uniquely positioned to support a wide variety of mission sets. We are geographically positioned to respond to anything from regional disasters to peer adversaries operating in Central and South America. Additionally, our superior airspace provides an unmatched resource to train in advanced fighter aircraft tactics.”

To accomplish these diverse missions the Wing has 3 assigned Groups. Focused on flight training and tactical operations, the 482nd Operations Group consists of the 482nd Operations Squadron, the 93rd Fighter Squadron (Makos) and the active-duty pilots and maintainers of the 367th Fighter Squadron.

Supporting the operation of both the Wing and the Base, the 482nd Mission Support Group has assigned the 482nd Civil Engineering, Communications, Logistical Readiness, Force Support, and Security Forces Squadrons. It also has assigned the 70th Aerial Port Squadron.

The 482nd Maintenance Group with its 482nd Maintenance Operations, Maintenance, and Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons, provides maintenance for both aircraft and other equipment. Falling directly under Wing Headquarters, the 482d Medical Squadron ensures that military personal are medically fit and ready for the mission. With traditional reservists training one weekend each month and one active duty training event each year, there is a premium on time management and focused effort.

The 482nd’s Command Chief, Chief Master Sergeant Jeremy Allen told the News Leader via Email, “Our Airmen and their families are our most valued resource. We are a highly experienced workforce comprised of Reserve Citizen Airmen, Active Duty, and civilians, providing combat power to win, anytime… anywhere.”

Command Chief Allen’s words are borne out by the many successful combat and training deployments by units and individuals of the 482nd Fighter Wing since its activation in 1981. Over the next months we will publish articles highlighting the individual units and how they accomplish their missions.